C’s Chat – 2026 Vancouver Canadians OF #16 Mathieu Vallée – C's Plus Baseball

C’s Chat races around the bases with 2026 Vancouver Canadians outfielder Mathieu Vallée.

Born in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Vallée’s first entries on his baseball resumé came when he attended Saint-Gabriel High School in Sainte-Thérèse near his hometown of Saint-Joseph-du-Lac and played for Academie Baseball Canada where he took part in a number of Perfect Game events.

Vallee headed to junior college at Miami, Oklahoma, the home of the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen. His 2020 freshman season saw him play just 16 games due to COVID. However, Vallée made a great first impression by hitting .396 with a .508 on-base percentage and stole 21 bases while only getting caught once. That was followed up by an even better second season at NEO in which he slashed .434/.538/1.202 with 18 doubles, five home runs and 37 stolen bases in 40 tries. Vallée did not commit an error in 40 games and was awarded All-Region Team and All-Region Gold Glove honours. He reported to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League that summer and got to play for former major league outfielder Coco Crisp where he got on base at a .424 clip over 31 contests.

A transfer to Division I baseball was next for Vallée in 2022 as he headed to Dallas Baptist University. One of the big reasons for heading to the Lone Star State was to join his NEO teammate and fellow Canadian Tyler Small from Mississauga, Ontario. Vallée only entered 13 games with the Patriots and he would enter the transfer portal again to go to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

After batting .288 with a .763 OBP and 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts for the Salukis in 2023, Vallée was even better in 2024 with a .341 batting average, a .902 OPS and swiped 15 bags in 16 tries. He was named to the MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) All-Tournament team. Vallée headed back to La Belle Province to join the Trois Rivières Aigles of the Frontier League for the latter part of the 2024 campaign. In just 21 games, Vallée batted .341 and was successful in seven of his nine attempts in the stolen base department.

That was a sampler for what was in store as Vallée enjoyed a record-breaking season in 2025 with the Aigles. Baseball may not be the final frontier but Vallée did boldy go where no man has gone before. He set the Frontier League record in buts volés by pilfering 83 bags and getting caught just six times. Among the highlights were stealing six bases in a game against the Down East Bird Dogs on July 3 before stealing seven bags in a game against Tri-City Valley Cats on July 18, bettering the Frontier League record he had established 15 days earlier. Vallée was the Frontier League Player of the Week by going 16-for-27 with a .607 OBP in early August and was also an FL All-Star.

According to Steve Ewen of The Province, the Arizona Diamondbacks had expressed an interest in signing Vallée to a professional contact but the Toronto Blue Jays secured Vallée’s services in the end after being scouted by Vice President of International Scouting and Baseball Operations Andrew Tinnish. The signing took place on February 19 of this year.

Vallée would join the Vancouver Canadians for Opening Day to begin his professional career and he got his first hit and stolen base out of the way in the team’s second game of the year at Tri-City on April 4. Unfortunately, his second game was cut short due to a high ankle injury and he was placed on the injured list.

After being sidelined for just over two months, Vallée returned to the field with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays on June 8. In six games, he batted .294 with a .420 OBP and stole seven bases in eight attempts. Four of those steals came came against the FCL Phillies on June 15.

Vallée rejoined Monty’s Mounties in Hillsboro for their series in late June and recorded a three-hit game, doubling twice and stealing a base in a 3-for-5 effort in a win against the Hops on June 28.

In the Max Scherzer game in which the Toronto Blue Jay hurler made a rehab appearance at Nat Bailey Stadium against the Eugene Emeralds on June 30, Vallée laid down a key pinch-hit sacrifice bunt that he almost beat out to push two runners in scoring position in the team’s final at-bat. Those runners came in to score to provide the margin of victory in Game 1 of that doubleheader.

Though he and Victoria, BC native Sam Shaw appeared in the box score together for the first time in the aforementioned contest, they would line up in the outfield for the first time against Eugene on July 5 in center field and right field, respectively. The Canadian content came through for the C’s that day with Shaw belting a two-run home run and Vallée contributing two hits, a stolen base and a huge running catch in the eighth inning to help preserve a two-run victory. Another multi-hit game came on July 11 when Vallée had a three-hit game and scored the tying run in a one-run victory against Everett. On July 12, he was perfect at the dish by going 2-for-2 with a two-run double, a bases-loaded walk and a stolen base, scoring the tying run again to help the C’s erase a 7-0 deficit and knock off the AquaSox 9-8.

July 22 saw Vallée drive in a career-high four runs that included a two-run single, a bunt single to bring home another run and a stolen base to help the C’s rally from a 6-2 deficit to overcome the Hops in Hillsboro. After the team concluded its six-game set in Hillsboro, the C’s would head back home without Vallée as he was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire after batting .310 with seven steals in 21 games with Vancouver. In his first three games with the Fisher Cats, Vallée has five hits in his first 12 at-bats, including a three-hit performance and his first Double-A double in a win at Hartford on August 2.

C’s Plus Baseball was able to speak with the 25-year-old Vallée during the team’s July homestand against Eugene. This interview has been edited for clarity.

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C’s Plus Baseball – Let’s take it back to how you found out you were going to be in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. How did that all develop?

Mathieu Vallee – Well, it was pretty much after the season I had last year in the fall. I had some interest by the Blue Jays and then early, I think it was in January, I got the call that my contract was getting bought, that I was going to be a Blue Jay. It was nice news knowing that my career was going to take a step up and that I would have the chance to come and play for the Blue Jays.

CPB – Was that really extra special for you being signed by the Blue Jays?

MV – Yeah, 100%. Being Canadian, I think every Canadian kid is really dreaming about getting signed by the Blue Jays. Obviously, growing up, I was watching a bunch of games, cheering for them, just like my buddies and my family, so it was pretty special to share it with them too.

CPB – How you got started in baseball?

MV – I started pretty young. I think I was about 7 or 8. I grew up pretty much playing hockey, baseball and soccer. My early years then, I kind of fell in love with baseball and played in high school and then obviously from there, college and then the professional side of things too.

CPB – When you look back on your amateur career, what stands out for you? Any special memories?

MV – I think just my time in the States was super fun. I did five years of college at three different colleges. Everywhere I went, I had a great time with meeting new people and just bouncing around from state to state, just seeing different parts of the States, seeing different faces, new people.

CPB – What was that like going through so many changes? You made the rounds, that’s for sure.

MV – Yeah, I’ve been to places now. I’ve been on a lot of different teams. As I said, it’s fun to meet new people. When you’re on a baseball team, it’s just always great vibes with everyone. We’re here to play a game, so it’s super fun all the time.

CPB – Southern Illinois, how did you wind up there?

MV – Well, I went in the transfer portal whenever I was done at DBU. I’ve known the coaches there for a while before that, so I decided I was going to end my (college) career there.

CPB – You were with Dallas Baptist before that and Northeastern Oklahoma. What did you take away from those experiences?

MV – Well, my two junior college years, I would say, were the most fun I’ve had just because it was so different from the life going from Montreal to Oklahoma. Those two years were amazing. I just met a bunch of great people there. The funny thing about those two years, I think we had like seven, eight, nine Canadians both years. It was kind of funny because it was a bunch of Canadians with a bunch of guys from Oklahoma. Then, yeah, I had a great year at DBU too. I met a bunch of great people and two years at SIU also. I think what was kind of interesting with SIU, we were kind of like a bunch of older guys, a bunch of juniors and seniors.

CPB – You also played for Coco Crisp in one of the MLB Draft League. What was that like?

MV – It’s funny that you mention him because, I mean, he’s kind of like the same type of player I was, just really relying on the speed and great defense, putting the ball in play. I’ve learned a lot from him just talking to him. Even though it was only a couple of months, it was a great time with him and with the guys over there too. I’m glad he got to coach me for a couple of months because of the way he played and how it really translates to my game.

CPB – I’m sure he gave you lots of advice, but is there maybe one piece of advice that really sticks with you to this day from Coco Crisp?

MV – I can’t remember exactly one. If I could really pinpoint one thing probably on the either the bunting side of things or base running, stealing bases. I remember working with him in pregame about those two types of things. Obviously, he’s done it at a really high level for a long time, so obviously he knows what he’s talking about. It’s fun to hear from him.

CPB – You get to the Frontier League at Trois Rivières. Talk about your time there.

MV – I did about a month in ’24 and then obviously last year I did the whole year. Yeah, it was different. Coming out of college is a little different because you play more games at the professional level. I had a blast last year really like playing six days a week like in the outfield, like playing every day. I mean, obviously if you want to play in that in Indy ball, you got to love baseball because it’s such a grind, but I like playing so many innings, having so many ABs and just playing baseball every day, waking up, driving up to the field and just being there all day.

CPB – And you got to play in Ottawa and all the other Canadian teams in that league. What is the level of play like in the Frontier League?

MV – I mean, it’s pretty good. I would say it’s a melting pot, a lot of different players, you know? We’ve had guys who made it in big leagues and then you get guys like me that that come out out of college. It was the first time I saw such a big difference in the age gaps where you walk in there, you’re like 23-24 but you got guys that are mid-30s. It’s a melting pot talent wise, a lot of different levels and a just different amount of experience.

CPB – Do you recall some of the former major leaguers that you came across?

MV – I played with with Jesen Therrien who pitched for the Phillies and (in) the Dodgers (organization). There’s a couple maybe on each team or like a couple here and there but I can’t really remember the names.

CPB – Now let’s get to your playing style. I noticed you had one game with seven stolen bases and another with six stolen bases. What was that like basically being able to steal bases at will?

MV – Yeah, I mean, those two games is just a combination of a lot of things. Just getting on base maybe four or five times in that game and being able to get like good jumps but yeah, I think early on during the year, I just realized the new rules like only two pickoffs and the (pitch) clock which makes it a little different in college. I just kind of realized that like I could steal a lot of bases using those two things. When you get any experience stealing bases, I feel like there’s a big learning curve too, a lot of things you can learn. Whenever you go week by week, you kind of feel better about yourself every week and just feel smarter about that part of the game.

CPB – Obviously, the legs were feeling really good those games but how do you prepare for that as that does take a toll on your legs and body? How do you prepare to get ready for games like that where you can steal a few bags?

MV – Yeah, I feel like during my career, it’s really a lot of trial and error. Whatever makes you feel good like pregame, I feel like I gotta stretch a lot. I mean, pretty much every muscle in the legs I like to stretch a lot. It’s just really like also in the weight room, I’ve learned during my career what makes me feel good on the field so I’m trying to really keep those type of exercises as part of my routine. The past few years, stretching has been the key thing about feeling good every day.

CPB – What is your process when you’re getting ready to steal a base? What is it that you look for and how do you go through trying to get the best of the pitcher and the catcher?

MV – Yeah, I mean, that’s the great thing about here we have. We’re like so prepared about all those type of things we get. I would say the big thing would be to to know like how fast the pitcher and the catcher are to making that play. The pop-time of the catcher, how fast the pitcher is to the plate. Obviously, there’s a lot of things you can look on a pitcher’s body to know if either he’s picking (attempting a pickoff) or if he’s going to the plate or when is he actually going to throw that ball and then get a good jump off of it.

CPB – Stolen bases, do you get the green light most of the time or are you just told ‘No’?

MV – It kind of depends but obviously I get the green light a lot because because that’s my number one thing I can do baserunning wise, so yeah, I get the green light a lot.

CPB – And being the Frontier League stolen base champion, what did that mean to you to set that mark in that league?

MV – It was pretty fun, especially you know when I was getting close to it last year. Everybody was talking about it. I hope somebody beats it pretty soon because it’s a great feeling to do it. For now, I have it. It was nice to really do that with the guys too and just do it for that team that gave me a chance at Indy ball too.

CPB – Coming to Vancouver, you were here for Photo Day and you played the first series in Tri-City. Unfortunately, you didn’t get to play here at Nat Bailey Stadium until recently. Can you talk about what happened at Tri-City and do you feel you’re all the way back from that setback?

MV – Yeah, I hit the wall when I was playing center field so I hit the wall on a ball in the gap behind me. I had a high ankle sprain but it’s totally fixed now. I don’t even think about it whenever I play anymore so yeah, it’s good to be back. It’s been a long two months but I’m glad to be back and make the most out of it.

CPB – You went to Dunedin and played a few games at the FCL. I noticed one game you had four stolen bases so I guess obviously you were feeling really good and back to 100%.

MV – Exactly, I think it was fun to be back out there. I played two weeks in the FCL, so yeah it’s fun to get back on the bases and try to swipe a couple of bags in that game.

CPB – How do you feel you’re now settling in here with the Canadians now that you’ve been here for a few days?

MV – It’s been great. Just talking to a lot of guys and you know, I feel like home here too. Nicer weather, reminds me of Montreal more than Dunedin so it’s fun to be back in Canada and playing a couple of games now and at our stadium and just hearing the crowd, it’s fun to play in front of a pretty decent crowd.

CPB – How would you describe yourself as a player if you had to give a scouting report of yourself?

MV – I would say probably, I like to put the ball in play, make things happen and I pride myself in being a really good base runner and making good plays in the outfield. Just being reliable in the outfield as well.

CPB – How have you found playing the outfield here at The Nat. We’ve seen you in center and right, do you have a preference?

MV – Not really. I mean, my two years in Indy ball, I played the three positions and I feel great, I feel 100% confident in three positions.

CPB – Do you find it a lot of fun here to play the outfield because there is a lot of ground here?

MV – Yeah, there is a lot of ground. I think it’s a big park, especially in right. I haven’t tried left yet but you see the ball well too off the bat here so that’s always a big bonus.

CPB – How have you found it hitting here? Does it really affect you as far as hitting here or how you approach things?

MV – I mean from the ABs I’ve gotten so far, I think you see the ball pretty well and I’ve had conversations with the guys too and they think it’s a good park to hit in in terms of like seeing the ball. They see the ball well here so that’s a good thing too.

CPB – What is your approach when you step into the batter’s box?

MV – I mean, it changes for a lot of guys but obviously, I would be looking at whatever (the pitcher) throws the most and just don’t miss that pitch because he’s going to come with it. But it definitely changes with a lot of guys and obviously I want to be able to get hits and then walks as much as possible. I want to have a good on-base (percentage) to showcase my number one tool obviously.

CPB – And we did see you drop down a butt and nearly beat it out. How important is that for you know to have that as part of your arsenal in being able to drop down a bunt?

MV – Yeah obviously, it’s a plus. If you have like really good speed, in my opinion, you got to be able to drop down a bunt because it’s such a big weapon. Bunting, I’m 100% confident with it so I’m glad it’s part of my toolbox and I’m going to use a lot if I can.

CPB – You were here for Canada Day and you’re here with Sam Shaw from Victoria, BC. Does that give you an extra amount of pride being with a fellow Canadian on the Canadians?

MV – Yeah, it was. July 1st, it was super nice to be in this stadium and to hear people sing the national anthem. Both of us have talked about it. It was a really nice day to see that many people in the stands and to be proud to be Canadian.

CPB – You were wearing number 2 to start the year and now you’re 16 with Sam Shaw now wearing number 2. Was there a big controversy about that?

MV – No, there wasn’t really because it’s the first time ever wearing number 2 and I got hurt in my second game. I was like, ‘Maybe I don’t want to wear number 2 anymore.’ So whenever we showed up to Hillsboro, they had like 32 or 16 so I was like, ‘I’ll take 16’. I was 6 in Indy ball so I was like just put a ‘1’ in front of it. I was like, ‘I don’t want number 2 anymore.’

CPB – When you first arrived with the Blue Jays, was there anybody you hit it off with right away as far as teammates or coaches?

MV – I wouldn’t pinpoint anyone because I didn’t really know anyone but it was super easy going with whoever I was with in groups. The guys are super welcoming. I mean, in professional baseball, things can change a lot so you got to be open to getting to know people and welcoming new people so it was just an easy thing.

CPB – The Player Development Complex in Dunedin. What stood out to you when you first walked inside?

MV – Just everything’s like perfect. Everything is so clean whether you’re outside or inside. Every room is so well maintained and brand new. I mean, there’s no words to describe it. It’s incredible in there whether it be like the weight room, the (batting) cage is like super super clean. You look left, you look right and everything’s super clean and brand new. It’s crazy to see it.

CPB – Was there maybe one piece of technology that stood out? I’ve heard about the Trajekt.

MV – Yeah, I was about to say the Trajekt. Just everything in that hitting lab. It’s insane how many TVs you get in there and just how many pieces of equipment there are in there.

CPB – Who would say is the funniest teammate on the team?

MV – Funniest teammate? I think P-Willy (Peyton Williams) makes me laugh a little bit. I think he’s got a great personality.

CPB – You have your own walkup song. Is there anyone else’s song on the team you like as well?

MV – I haven’t been paying attention to a lot of them. I’ll have to skip on this one because I can’t remember anyone’s. I feel like that’s not something that kind of sticks out to me.

CPB – Fair enough. Your walk-up music, why did you choose that and how does that help you get ready for an at-bat?

MV – I didn’t choose a walk-up song. I’ve been like that the past few years where I just let them play whatever they want. I just go up to the plate and hit.

CPB – So it’s not a big concern for you?

MV – I don’t really have a walk-up song. I’ll be hearing it sometimes I’ll be like, ‘I kind of like this song.’ But I don’t put really much importance to it. I feel like if you got the same songs for weeks and weeks, I feel like I would get bored of it so I just let (the DJ) play whatever they want.

CPB – Okay, fair enough. Finally, the Canadians have lots of different uniforms—white, red, black, blue, gray and The Nat. Do you have a favourite?

MV – I feel like the classic white ones are really nice, the one saying Canadians right up the middle. I think those are really clean so I like them. I kind of like the Lumberjacks too, it’s different but I feel like it’s a really Canadian thing to do. I kind of like the look of it and the thought behind it.

Mathieu Vallée File

Born – August 8, 2000, in Saint-Eustache, Quebec
Height/Weight – 5’9’’, 175 pounds
Bats/Throws – Left/Right
Uniform Numbers – Wore number 3 with the Northeastern Oklahoma Norseman in 2020 and 2021, wore number 27 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League in 2021, wore number 8 for the Dallas Baptist Patriots in 2022, wore number 5 for the Southern Illinois Salukis (Carbondale) in 2023 and 2024. Wore number 20 for the Trois Rivières Aigles in 2024 and number 6 in 2025. Wore number 2 for the Vancouver Canadians and wore number 11 for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2026.
Instagram – @mvallee8
Twitter – @MathieuValle5
Professional Debut – April 4, 2026, for the Vancouver Canadians at the Tri-City Dust Devils.
First Professional Hit – April 4, 2026, for Vancouver at Tri-City. Singled off Zachary Redner to highlight 2-for-3 night with a stolen base.
Fun Fact – Vallée attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, the same school Toronto Blue Jays legend Dave Stieb attended as an outfielder/pitcher.
The More You Know – Like Vallée, 2024-2026 C’s outfielder Brennan Orf attended Southern Illinois University but Orf was at the Edwardsville campus.
The More You Know Part 2 – Before Vallée’s arrival in YVR, infielder Nash Knight (2016) and catcher Andrés Sosa (2022-2023) also played at Dallas Baptist University before playing for the C’s.