Exclusive: UBC Star Jonny McGill Climbs from NAIA World Series Success to MLB Draft League Dreams

From the opening pitch of the 2025 baseball season in Florida in late January to the final out of their NAIA World Series run in Lewiston, Idaho — a 12-9, double-elimination loss to Loyola New Orleans on May 24 — University of British Columbia (UBC) left fielder Jonny McGill says one moment stands above the rest. 

For McGill, the pinnacle of the Thunderbirds’ campaign came with their victory in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a win that secured their spot in the NAIA World Series and marked a historic high point for the program.

A big accomplishment for the UBC outfielder

“That win felt like it was five years in the making. A bunch of us had been part of the UBC Baseball program since the fall of 2020, so to finally break through and do it with that group made it a really special moment and definitely the highlight of my season," McGill, who is currently playing baseball for the West Virgina Black Bears in the MLB Draft League, told SportsBoom.com. 

The 5’ 11” 210-pound UBC outfielder who studies Kinesiology felt like the experience of the group of teammates coupled with the overall team culture and chemistry helped the baseball program get to where it wanted to be ending the season as regular season conference champions and then making it to the World Series. 

“Being regular season conference champs for the first time since 2010 and making it to the World Series for the first time since 2006 says a lot about the direction of the program and the culture we’ve built. This year felt very veteran-led, there were a bunch of us in our fourth or fifth year, and we took pride in leaving the program in a better place than when we got here.” 

"Starting the season off rough in Florida and then battling all the way to the World Series shows the resilience and buy-in of this group. It was a testament to the leadership from both the players and coaches, and to the character and chemistry we had on our roster."

"This season, my role on the team was to be a player who could be counted on, leading by example through my preparation and habits both on and off the field. In my fifth year at UBC, I drew on that experience to improve my own performance and set a strong example for the younger guys.” 

A native of Richmond, B.C., McGill came through the ranks of the Langley Blaze, a powerhouse program in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (BCPBL) known for producing Major League talent. Alumni include Brett Lawrie, selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, and Tyler O’Neill, a third-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2013. 

McGill hopes to follow in their footsteps — and by all accounts, he’s well on his way. He launched his 18th home run of the season with a two-run shot against Loyola on May 24 in Game 7 of the Avista NAIA World Series, and just a day earlier, he delivered a multi-hit performance and an RBI in Game 4 against Georgia.

Overall, the 23-year-old combined for 18 home runs and 56 RBI’s with a .492 on base percentage for the 2024/2025 baseball campaign which has been his best season to date as a member of the UBC Thunderbirds baseball program. 

Adding value on and off the field

McGill proved that he belonged on the field showing his offensive and defensive capabilities being named as part of the Third-Team All Americans. 

"Being named a NAIA All American is a great honor and something that I can be really proud of. It represents the work I’ve put in over the years and the support I’ve had around me at UBC. I think this can show the baseball world that UBC Baseball is a program that has the resources, facilities, and coaches to allow you to develop into the best version of yourself while still providing you with opportunities to receive a world class education.” 

“I also hope it puts more eyes on Canadian baseball and proves that players from Canada can compete with top talent across college baseball. More than anything, I hope this recognition brings positive attention to the program and helps it continue to grow”, he told SportsBoom.com. 

Not only does the NAIA baseball All-America selection committee see McGill’s talents flourish out on the diamond, with it being just the second year this honour is bestowed to baseball athletes at this level, but UBC Thunderbirds Head Coach Chris Pritchett saw the UBC 4th year Kinesiology student as an integral part of the team chemistry and overall dynamics for the team.

"Coach Pritchett has always emphasised the importance of defence, and that’s something I really focused on and improved this season compared to years past. I take a lot of pride in making plays in the outfield and doing my part to support our pitching staff."

"Offensively, it’s been great to contribute in big moments and help the team win games, especially on a stage like the World Series. I think the team and Coach Pritchett recognise the value I bring on both sides of the ball, and that trust motivates me to keep finding ways to impact the game."

On the defensive side of the ball, McGill has had four assists from the outfield which has helped him earn an .970 fielding percentage for the 2024/2025 baseball season. 

Making it to the 2025 NAIA World Series

The graduate of J.N. Burnett Secondary School based out of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada feels his participation in the 2025 NAIA World Series has helped his overall development, and growth as a baseball player. 

“Participating in the 2025 NAIA World Series was a very cool experience. From the first day of fall practice, our goal was to be just the second team in UBC history to make it there, so to actually do it was a pretty rewarding feeling. It felt like all the work we put in throughout the year paid off."

“Having a good game against Georgia and then hitting my 18th home run of the season against Loyola definitely gave me a boost, but more than that, I think it gave our whole team a bit more confidence. It was one of those moments where we all realised that we’re not just here to take part, we’re good enough to be here and to win,” McGill added. 

He plans to keep getting better and showing those in the baseball circles that he belongs pointing to his offensive capabilities as his main asset.

“I’d say the main strength of my game is definitely the offense I bring to the team. This past offseason, I put in a lot of work using the resources we have at UBC Baseball, like the pitching machines, weighted bats from Driveline, and video analysis, to improve my bat speed and refine my mechanics. That work paid off. I came into the season feeling more confident and consistent at the plate, and I think that growth showed throughout the spring. Offence is where I feel I can make the biggest impact for our team,” told the fourth-year UBC Kinesiology student.

McGill is focused on getting better and improving his game wanting to become a better all around baseball player trying to hone his skills. 

“In the offseason, I plan to keep training in a way that gives me the best chance to play professional baseball. I’ll continue to do things like focusing on building strength in the weight room, improving my speed and running mechanics, improving my swing, and working on my defence and arm strength."

“Having a kinesiology degree from UBC and five years of college baseball training experience has given me a good understanding of how to prepare at a high level. I’m going to use that knowledge to develop into the best version of myself and work towards my goal of playing professional baseball."

“To get to the next level in my baseball career, I need to continue to develop every aspect of my game and prove I can consistently compete against top-level players. Playing for the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League right now gives me that opportunity. My plan is to trust the process I built at UBC and lean into it throughout this summer season,” he concluded.