As Baseball Canada reunites for awards banquet, WBC roster questions loom

TORONTO – Josh Naylor liked his first expertise taking part in for Canada at World Baseball Classic again in 2017. The Cleveland Guardians slugger was simply 19 then, about to hit high-A for the primary time and pinch-hit twice throughout an expertise designed, partly, to prep him for the following version of the event, which is arising in March.

“It’s an honour to be there facing incredible competition,” mentioned Naylor, now 25. “That’s why I play this game – you want to face the best of the best and I feel like it helps you as a player mentally and physically. You learn a lot about yourself. And hopefully you just win, man. That’s the goal, to win and enjoy yourself and the teammates while you do it.”

Still, as a lot as he desires to be a part of the group that can face off towards the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Great Britain in Phoenix, his standing for the Classic’s fifth instalment may be very a lot within the air. And as he gathered with fellow nationwide crew members previous, current and future Saturday evening throughout Baseball Canada’s first awards banquet because the pandemic, the best way it’s tearing on the hard-hitting first baseman/outfielder was clear. 

“I don’t know,” Naylor mentioned quietly when requested if he’ll be out there, an uncertainty pushed by the grotesque harm he suffered June 27, 2021, when suffered a closed fracture and dislocation of his proper ankle together with torn ligaments. 

Though Naylor appeared in 122 video games for Cleveland – batting .256/.319/.452 whereas including a memorable homer off Gerrit Cole in the course of the post-season, everybody desires to be good about how the wear and tear and tear of taking part in for Canada so early within the spring might doubtlessly impression his ankle.

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After spending all of final winter rehabilitating, he described this low season as “normal-ish,” and needs to make sure he’s able to go when the Guardians start defence of their AL Central title.

“I’m still kind of rehabbing it along the way. It’s not to a point where I can stop rehabbing,” Naylor mentioned of the ankle. “I am focusing on different aspects of the off-season, whether it’s different body movements or different workouts. But I still rehab it kind of every day. I still want to make sure I check that box off and take care of it because if I keep getting it stronger over the years, it’s just going to benefit me and I can get back to 100 per cent healthy.”

Naylor’s dilemma can also be the nationals crew’s dilemma, one all-too-familiar for a baseball nation with loads of elite expertise however not sufficient depth to counter each the sport’s inevitable attrition, and the politics gamers should navigate between membership and nationwide crew.

Joey Votto, working his manner again from main surgical procedure on his left shoulder, additionally desires to play however is unlikely to be out there even when he’s prepared in time. Jameson Taillon, who began for Canada towards the Americans within the 2013 event, is a no-go after signing a $68-million, four-year cope with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent this winter.

Then there’s former all-star Mike Soroka, the Atlanta right-hander who has primarily missed the previous three seasons after twice rupturing his proper Achilles tendon, who desires to play within the Classic “more than ever” however understandably can’t.

“Obviously with injuries the last couple of years, it wouldn’t be a great thing for where I need to be in my career and re-establishing myself as just being able to play baseball,” he mentioned. “Just getting back together with these guys makes you feel like this is the team that keeps going. This is your family. You can’t get traded from this one. It’s the one that is always going to feel like home. I know a lot of us feel the same way and we want to go out and fight for our country.”

The Canadians nonetheless seem poised to be formidable, regardless.

As issues stand, they seem set to line up across the diamond with Freddie Freeman at first base, Abraham Toro at second, Otto Lopez at shortstop, Charles Leblanc at third base, Bo Naylor (Josh’s youthful brother) at catcher, Jacob Robson in left area, Tyler O’Neill in centre and Jared Young in proper. 

Edouard Julien, a fast-rising Minnesota Twins prospect, may have his position decided by what occurs with Josh Naylor. Another up-and-comer, Owen Caissie, will likely be on the bench within the learning-opportunity position Josh Naylor had again in 2017.

Anchoring the pitching employees are starters Cal Quantrill and Nick Pivetta and relievers Matt Brash, Rowan Wick and Rob Zastryzni. Prospects like Jordan Balozovic and Mitch Bratt may have a task whereas veterans like John Axford, Andrew Albers, Phillippe Aumont and Adam Loewen will likely be on the membership if prepared and in a position.

A brand new addition to the teaching employees will likely be Russ Martin, who performed within the 2009 event and served as an honorary coach in 2017 when he wasn’t granted permission to go well with up. 

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“This is going to be a fun experience,” mentioned Martin. “I’m going to be in the bullpen helping Cal’s dad (Paul Quantrill) run that show. Obviously I’ve got a lot of learning to do, I’m new to the whole coaching gig, but I’ll definitely be sharing the experience that I have from behind the plate, whether it’s part of preparing a plan to beat a certain lineup or anything, really. There to have a good time to help our team win a couple of games and move on to the next round.”

Ernie Whitt returns as supervisor and he plans to have Martin additionally work carefully with Bo Naylor, the 22-year-old Guardians backstop who broke by to the majors on the finish of final season. 

“I told Russ I’d like him to work on game-planning with him along with the pitchers,” mentioned White. “There’s a lot of experience there that hopefully will help.”

Players like Bo Naylor generally discover themselves able the place collaborating within the Classic dangers affecting their capacity to make a crew – reliever Zach Pop’s have to win a job on the Toronto Blue Jays, as an illustration, is protecting him from taking part in this time.

The catcher is on steadier floor.

“There’s an understanding that I was going to make this commitment if granted the opportunity and a lot of the guys over there have wished me luck for this experience,” he mentioned. “I’m very fortunate and I’m very grateful to be able to be in this position.”

That leaves the uncertainty for older brother Josh, who overcame one set of hurdles to return to the majors final season and should now be sure that he retains clearing them.

A key level of progress for him was “playing without any fear (about his ankle) and not letting that hold me back or stop me from pursuing opportunities or trying different things.”

“Just pushing myself with that whole leg situation,” added Josh, “was my biggest thing last year.”

This yr, Canada’s ache could also be needed for the Guardians’ acquire.

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