SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It will be a busy summer for Matthew Dunaway as the pitcher recently signed to play professionally for the Sioux Falls Canaries out of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official partner of Major League Baseball.
"Matt had a great career at Western Oregon. We are excited he will be able to earn the opportunity to continue to compete at the next level," Head Coach Kellen Walker said.
Dunaway spent time both as a starter and reliever in 2022, before settling in as a closer down the stretch. The right-hander earned All-GNAC honors once again after leading the team with five saves. He appeared in 15 games that included four starts, posting a 3.37 ERA in 34.2 innings, tallying 51 strikeouts to just 10 walks and holding opponents to a .131 batting average against.
"I was very excited for the opportunity to play professional baseball. With the MLB Draft being pushed back to July and cut back to 20 rounds, this is a great opportunity to get in front of more scouts and get more looks before the draft," Dunaway said.
He started the season recording 12 strikeouts in a six inning start against Stanislaus State. Dunaway added a few more top strikeout games in starts against Eastern Oregon going five innings and collecting eight strikeouts and then four innings against Fresno Pacific with nine strikeouts. He recorded at least two strikeouts in 10 appearances, going for at least four in five games. Dunaway allowed no earned runs in nine appearances and threw multiple innings in 10 games.
"Really excited to face professional hitters. I can tell that these are professional hitters in the approach and preparation. They approach with the intent to hit the ball hard, not giving any sub-par at-bats and putting good swings each time. I have to be good and mistakes I made in college, those are big mistakes now at this level; need to be pitching well," Dunaway added.
Dunaway hit his stride down the stretch allowing no runs in five straight appearances that totaled eight innings, with 12 strikeouts, no walks and just four hits allowed. Four of those games were against Northwest Nazarene, with two coming in the GNAC Championships that both resulted in saves including the title-clinching game. He finished the season 63rd nationally and second in the GNAC in saves.
Current WOU assistant coach Grady Wood has a history playing and coaching for the Canaries. He served as the ace during the 2017 season and then returned in 2020 as a player and coach. Nate Etheridge, Connor McCord and Nyles Nygaard also have spent time playing for Sioux Falls.
Dunaway valued the importance of the connection that Wood had with Sioux Falls that led to this opportunity.
"It was very important. The baseball world is just like the business and corporate world. Connections and relationships you make can open more doors. The relationship I've made with Grady helped me with this opportunity. He put his name out there and got me the opportunity on the team. Now it's just me representing my family, Western Oregon and Coach Wood to the best of my ability."
Sioux Falls began their season in mid-May and will play into September. The Canaries play 11 other teams in the league mostly in the Midwest, but also travel to Canada to play the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Dunaway has been solid in six appearances already this summer. In 6.2 innings, he hasn't allowed a run, posting 10 strikeouts to just one walk and one hit. Dunaway has posted a strikeout in each appearance, including multiple strikeouts in four outings.
