Baseball Canada unveils roster with int'l experience for Olympic qualifier

Baseball Canada announced its roster for the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier, which will send the winning team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Manager Ernie Whitt, who will lead Canada for the 19th time in his career, selected these players:

PITCHERS (13) Andrew Albers, John Axford, Trevor Brigden, Ryan Kellogg, Chris Leroux, Scott Mathieson, Will Mc Affer, Brendan Mc Guigan, Dustin Molleken, Ben Onyshko, Scott Richmond, Evan Rutckyi, Travis Seabrooke.
CATCHERS (2) Kellin Deglan, JD Osborne
INFIELDERS (6) Wes Darvill, Jesse Hodges, Jonathan Malo, Josue Peley, Daniel Pinero, Eric Wood.
OUTFIELDERS (4) Michael Crouse, Tyson Gillies, Connor Panas, Jacob Robson.

"We have a lot of experience on this roster, players that are familiar with international baseball and know what tournament baseball is all about," said Whitt. "Our team realizes what’s at stake at this event so we’re highly motivated to compete for ourselves, our teammates and most of all, for Canada."

Andrew Albers, John Axford, Chris Leroux, Scott Mathieson, Dustin Molleken and Scott Richmond have all Major League Baseball (MLB) experience. Leroux, Molleken and Richmond amongst the 12 players (the others being Michael Crouse, Wes Darvill, Tyson Gillies, Ryan Kellogg, Jonathan Malo, Will McAffer, Connor Panas, Evan Rutckyj and Eric Wood) who helped Canada earn a silver medal at the Pan American Games 2019.

Players named to the roster who’ve competed internationally as part of Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team program in the past include Ben Onyshko, JD Osborne, Josue Peley and Travis Seabrooke while pitchers Trevor Brigden and Brendan McGuigan will be representing Canada for the first time in international play.

Whitt's coaching staff includes Denis Boucher, Tim Leiper, Paul Quantrill and Greg Hamilton.

World No. 13 Canada will compete in Group B and will open against No. 14 Colombia on 31 May. Canada will also face in round-robin play No. 7 Cuba (1 June) and No. 8 Venezuela (2 June).

Group A consists of world No. 2 USA, No. 10 Dominican Republic, No. 15 Nicaragua and No. 11 Puerto Rico.