Dodgers’ Freeman leads Canada into World Baseball Classic
TORONTO – Canada augmented a core led by Freddie Freeman, Tyler O’Neill, Cal Quantrill and Nick Pivetta with a handful of veterans and younger prospects, after being compelled by accidents and membership issues to dig deep into its expertise pool.
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Freeman, the all-star Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman, and O’Neill, the St. Louis Cardinals slugger, will anchor a lineup that may even embody breakthrough Guardians catching prospect Bo Naylor, on-the-cusp Twins expertise Edouard Julien, Brewers infielder Abraham Toro, Blue Jays depth utility-man Otto Lopez and Cubs outfielder Jared Young.
One of Quantrill, the gutsy Guardians starter, or Pivetta, the Red Sox rotation pillar, is predicted to start out Canada’s March 12 must-win opener in opposition to Great Britain to springboard their possibilities of advancing. Rob Zastryzny of the Pirates and Noah Skirrow within the Phillies system are prone to be the opposite two starters.
Mariners fireballer Matt Brash would be the nearer in a still-to-be-sorted bullpen set to incorporate John Axford, Adam Loewen, Scott Mathieson, Andrew Albers and Phillippe Aumont, skilled big-league veterans both not too long ago out of the sport or working to remain in it, plus a handful of stable arms working their option to the majors together with Trevor Brigden (Rays) and Curtis Taylor (Cubs).
The veterans will assist insulate a 30-man group that additionally consists of extremely touted however low minors prospects like Owen Caissie (Cubs), Denzel Clarke (Athletics) and Mitch Bratt (Rangers), every of whom was in A-ball final yr.
While they may have been on the workforce only for the expansion expertise regardless, they now have a extra of a pathway to taking part in time after Canada’s choices for the match have been once more whittled down by the mixture of well being considerations, insurance coverage points and membership issues.
Reds famous person Joey Votto, Atlanta ace Mike Soroka and Guardians slugger Josh Naylor are all coming off accidents, and might need been rejected by the match’s insurer even when that they had the blessing of their golf equipment.
Jameson Taillon, who pitched for Canada on the 2013 match, is little question compelled to stay in camp after signing a $68-million, four-year take care of the Cubs. All-star nearer Jordan Romano, Blue Jays teammate Zach Pop, Cubs reliever Rowan Wick and Marlins infielder Charles Leblanc, in the meantime, every had their very own private membership considerations, a part of the inherent push-and-pull on gamers within the match.
All of which means the Canadians, managed as soon as once more by Ernie Whitt, will should be good about how they map out their run in Pool C alongside the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Britain.
The high two groups advance to the single-game elimination quarter-finals and within the earlier 4 editions of the Classic, Canada didn’t advance past the primary spherical, a chunk lacking from Whitt’s spectacular nationwide workforce resume.
“The honour of representing Canada and managing these players is something that means a great deal to me,” Whitt stated in a press release from Baseball Canada unveiling the roster. “There’s nothing higher than worldwide baseball and the depth of the World Baseball Classic.
“I do know our workforce will probably be able to compete as soon as the match begins subsequent month”
The full roster:
Catchers (3) – Bo Naylor, Kellin Deglan, Andrew Yerzy
Infielders (5) – Freddie Freeman, Edouard Julien, Otto Lopez, Abraham Toro, Damiano Palmegiani
Outfielders (5) – Tyler O’Neill, Jared Young, Jacob Robson, Owen Caissie, Denzel Clarke
Starting Pitchers (4) – Cal Quantrill, Nick Pivetta, Rob Zastryzny, Noah Skirrow
Relief Pitchers (13) – Matt Brash (CL), John Axford, Adam Loewen, Scott Mathieson, Andrew Albers, Phillippe Aumont, R.J. Freure, Trevor Brigden, Curtis Taylor, Cade Smith, Indigo Diaz, Evan Rutckyj, Mitch Bratt
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