OSHAWA, Ont. - Two former Durham College men's baseball players have carved out careers that now stretch far beyond the diamond in Oshawa. In 2026, Josh Krstulovich and Chris Kemlo were both named to Bob Elliott's Most Influential Canadians in Baseball, a recognition that reflects years of work developing, identifying and advocating for elite talent across North America.
Their paths to this distinction followed different timelines, but both included a stop with the Durham Lords baseball program.
Krstulovich's Durham College playing career spanned the 2018 and 2019 seasons. A graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, he arrived as a versatile athlete capable of contributing both on the mound and at first base.
As a rookie in 2018, Krstulovich made plate appearances in seven games and logged 1.1 innings on the mound, allowing just one hit while striking out one.
His biggest impact came a year later. In 2019, he emerged as one of the Lords' most reliable arms, striking out a team-high 24 batters over 18.1 innings. He posted a 2.67 ERA and a 9.16 strikeouts-per-nine rate, numbers that hinted at a deeper understanding of pitching development that would later define his professional career.
After a freshman year at Waldorf University in, he returned home to complete his education while pitching for Durham College. From there, he transitioned into player development, spending two years at University of Arkansas at Little Rock as Director of Player Development.
Before joining the Chicago White Sox organization, Krstulovich served as a player/scout liaison with the Williamsport Crosscutters. His move into scouting soon paid dividends.
One of his most notable draft successes came when he drafted and signed right-handed pitcher Max Banks out of the University of Washington. Banks, a 14th-round selection, signed for a $150,000 bonus after going 7-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 13 starts for the Huskies, striking out 65 batters in 74.2 innings.
Living in Washington, Krstulovich also gained recognition for being among the first scouts to identify Canadian-passport holders Tyler Bremner, later selected second overall in North America by the Los Angeles Angels and Oregon high school outfielder Slater de Brun, taken 37th overall by the Baltimore Orioles.
Years before Krstulovich's time in green and gold, Chris Kemlo was anchoring the Lords' pitching staff. An Oshawa native and graduate of R.S. McLaughlin CVI, Kemlo pitched for Durham College during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
His playing career included a CIBA Gold medal in 2011 and a fourth-place finish at nationals in 2012, accomplishments that laid the foundation for a future built around evaluating and developing pitching talent.
Kemlo's influence has been felt most strongly through the professional draft. In 2020, he selected outfielder Owen Caissie from the FieldHouse Pirates in the second round, signing him to a $1,200,004 bonus. Caissie later joined elite company by winning the Canadian Baseball Network's top hitter in the minors award, an honour previously earned by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brett Lawrie and multiple-time winner Tyler O'Neill.
Kemlo followed that success with another key selection in 2021, drafting pitcher Garrett Hawkins out of Biggar, Saskatchewan. After recovering from Tommy John surgery, Hawkins surged through the system and earned a spot on the San Diego Padres 40-man roster. Across Class-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio, Hawkins combined to go 9-1 with a 1.50 ERA and 10 saves, striking out 80 batters in 60 innings.
Additional Kemlo selections continued to make an impact. Right-hander Vicarte Domingo, a 19th-round pick from the UBC Thunderbirds and the Edmonton Riverhawks, struck out 86 batters in 63 innings at Class-A Lake Elsinore.
Free-agent signee Braden Nett posted 116 strikeouts over 105.2 innings at Double-A San Antonio and Midland after being dealt to the Oakland Athletics. The Padres also signed Brandon Langley out of Western Carolina Catamounts, continuing a trend of Canadian talent advancing through the system.
While Krstulovich and Kemlo took different routes after Durham College, their inclusion on Bob Elliott's 2026 list underscores the same truth: the impact of Durham College baseball extends well beyond wins and losses. From scouting rooms to draft calls, both alumni have played a direct role in shaping the next generation of the game in Canada and beyond.
Stay in the know regarding Durham College Athletics and follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook. All home games are live streamed on the Durham Lords Network.
