Canada national baseball team

Canada national baseball team
Information
Country	Canada
Federation	Baseball Canada
Confederation	WBSC Americas
Manager	Ernie Whitt
WBSC ranking
Current	16 (18 December 2023)[1]
Highest	6 (December 2012)
Lowest	14 (December 2022)
World Baseball Classic
Appearances	5 (first in 2006)
Best result	9 (2006)
Olympic Games
Appearances	2 (first in 2004)
Best result	4 (2004)
WBSC Premier12
Appearances	2 (first in 2015)
Best result	5 (2015)
World Cup
Appearances	17 (first in 1970)
Best result	Bronze (2: 2009, 2011)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 1973)
Best result	5 (1973)
Pan American Games
Appearances	11 (first in 1967)
Best result	Gold (2: 2011, 2015)

The Canada national baseball team represents Canada in international baseball. They are overseen by Baseball Canada, the governing body of baseball in Canada.

Canada was an inaugural member of the World Baseball Classic, making its debut in the first edition. They have yet to make it past the first round.

The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.^[2]

Legend

  Win   Lose   Void or postponed   Fixture

Pan American Games Q	January 29	Panama	1–5	Canada	Academia CBBS, Brazil
	15:00 BRT		Boxscore

Pan American Games Q	February 1	Colombia	8–6	Canada	Academia CBBS, Brazil
	11:00 BRT		Boxscore

Pan American Games Q	February 2	Dominican Republic	10–7	Canada	Academia CBBS, Brazil
	11:00 BRT		Boxscore

Pan American Games Q	February 3	Canada	12–14	Nicaragua	Academia CBBS, Brazil
	11:00 BRT		Boxscore

Pan American Games GS	July 29	Argentina	0–10 (F/8)	Canada	Campo de Béisbol, Peru
	15:00 PET		Boxscore		Attendance: 2,355

Pan American Games GS	July 30	Canada	8–6	Cuba	Campo de Béisbol, Peru
	19:00 PET		Boxscore		Attendance: 1,123

Pan American Games GS	August 1	Colombia	3–10	Canada	Campo de Béisbol, Peru
	10:00 PET		Boxscore		Attendance: 0

Pan American Games SR	August 2	Puerto Rico	8–5	Canada	Campo de Béisbol, Peru
	15:00 PET		Boxscore		Attendance: 2,100

Pan American Games SR	August 3	Nicaragua	0–10 (F/7)	Canada	Campo de Béisbol, Peru
	15:00 PET		Boxscore		Attendance: 1,979

Pan American Games F	August 4	Puerto Rico	6–1	Canada	Campo de Béisbol, Peru
	18:00 PET		Boxscore		Attendance: 2,500

WBSC Premier12 GS	November 6	Canada	3–0	Cuba	Gocheok Dome, South Korea
	12:00 KT		Boxscore		Attendance: 250

WBSC Premier12 GS	November 7	South Korea	3–1	Canada	Gocheok Dome, South Korea
	19:00 KT		Boxscore		Attendance: 6,000

WBSC Premier12 GS	November 8	Canada	1–3	Australia	Gocheok Dome, South Korea
	12:00 KT		Boxscore		Attendance: 200

World Baseball Classic GS	March 12	Great Britain	8–18 (F/7)	Canada	Chase Field, United States
	12:00 MT	LP: Akeel Morris (0–1) HR: Harry Ford (1)	Boxscore	WP: Phillippe Aumont (1–0) HR: Edouard Julien (1), Owen Caissie (1)	Attendance: 11,555 Umpires: HP – Felix Tejada, 1B – Bill Miller, 2B – Jhonatan Biarreta, 3B – Carlos Torres

World Baseball Classic GS	March 13	Canada	1–12 (F/7)	United States	Chase Field, United States
	19:00 MT	LP: Mitch Bratt (0–1) HR: Jared Young (1)	Boxscore	WP: Lance Lynn (1–0) HR: Mike Trout (1), Trea Turner (1)	Attendance: 29,621 Umpires: HP – Bill Miller, 1B – Edwin Louisa, 2B – Alan Porter, 3B – Jairo Mendoza

World Baseball Classic GS	March 14	Canada	5–0	Colombia	Chase Field, United States
	12:00 MT	WP: Noah Skirrow (1–0) HR: Otto Lopez (1)	Boxscore	LP: Adrian Almeida (0–1)	Attendance: 10,571 Umpires: HP: Doug Eddings. 1B: Alan Porter. 2B: Jairo Mendoza. 3B: Edwin Louisa

World Baseball Classic GS	March 15	Mexico	10–3	Canada	Chase Field, United States
	12:00 MT	WP: José Urquidy (1–0) HR: Rowdy Tellez (1)	Boxscore	LP: Rob Zastryzny (0–1) HR: Bo Naylor (1), Edouard Julien (2)	Attendance: 17,245 Umpires: HP – Carlos Torres, 1B – Doug Eddings, 2B – Jhonathan Biarreta, 3B – Edwin Louisa

The roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic:

Canada roster – 2023 World Baseball Classic roster
Active roster				Coaches
Pitchers  6 Matt Brash 20 Adam Loewen 24 R.J. Freure 25 Noah Skirrow 28 Mitch Bratt 30 Cade Smith 32 Evan Rutckyj 38 Phillipe Aumont 39 Trevor Brigden 40 Rob Zastryzny 47 Cal Quantrill 48 Scott Mathieson 52 Indigo Diaz 56 Curtis Taylor 63 Andrew Albers 77 John Axford		Catchers 14 Kellin Deglan 44 Bo Naylor Infielders  5 Freddie Freeman 13 Abraham Toro 15 Edouard Julien 18 Damiano Palmegiani 51 Otto Lopez 74 Jared Young Outfielders  7 Dasan Brown  8 Jacob Robson 21 Owen Caissie 23 Denzel Clarke 27 Tyler O'Neill		Manager 12 Ernie Whitt Coaches 45 Paul Quantrill (Bullpen) 33 Larry Walker (First base) 34 Tim Leiper (Third base) 35 Denis Boucher (Pitching) 22 Jordan Procyshen (Bench)  8 Greg Hamilton (Hitting)
Updated: February 25, 2023[3]

Player	No.	Pos.	DOB and age	Team	League
Andrew Albers	27	P	(1985-10-06) October 6, 1985 (age 39)	Minnesota Twins (minors)	Major League Baseball
Phillippe Aumont	17	P	(1989-01-07) January 7, 1989 (age 35)	Philadelphia Phillies	Major League Baseball
John Axford	59	P	(1983-04-01) April 1, 1983 (age 41)	Oakland Athletics	Major League Baseball
Jesse Crain	28	P	(1981-07-05) July 5, 1981 (age 43)	Chicago White Sox	Major League Baseball
Mark Hardy	26	P	(1988-05-03) May 3, 1988 (age 36)	San Diego Padres (minors)	Major League Baseball
Jim Henderson	51	P	(1982-10-21) October 21, 1982 (age 42)	New York Mets	Major League Baseball
Shawn Hill	45	P	(1981-04-28) April 28, 1981 (age 43)	Detroit Tigers	Major League Baseball
Jay Johnson	57	P	(1989-12-21) December 21, 1989 (age 34)	Philadelphia Phillies (minors)	Major League Baseball
Chris Leroux	63	P	(1984-04-14) April 14, 1984 (age 40)	Pittsburgh Pirates	Major League Baseball
Trystan Magnuson	38	P	(1985-06-06) June 6, 1985 (age 39)	Toronto Blue Jays (minors)	Major League Baseball
Scott Mathieson	47	P	(1984-02-27) February 27, 1984 (age 40)	Yomiuri Giants	Nippon Professional Baseball
Dustin Molleken	35	P	(1984-08-21) August 21, 1984 (age 40)	Detroit Tigers	Major League Baseball
Jameson Taillon	18	P	(1991-11-18) November 18, 1991 (age 32)	Pittsburgh Pirates	Major League Baseball
Chris Robinson	30	C	(1984-05-12) May 12, 1984 (age 40)	Baltimore Orioles (minors)	Major League Baseball
John Suomi	55	C	(1980-10-05) October 5, 1980 (age 44)	Kansas City Royals (minors)	Major League Baseball
Taylor Green	5	IF	(1986-11-02) November 2, 1986 (age 38)	Milwaukee Brewers	Major League Baseball
Cale Iorg	16	IF	(1985-09-06) September 6, 1985 (age 39)	Detroit Tigers (minors)	Major League Baseball
Brett Lawrie	13	IF	(1990-01-18) January 18, 1990 (age 34)	Chicago White Sox	Major League Baseball
Jonathan Malo	11	IF	(1983-09-29) September 29, 1983 (age 41)	Québec Capitales	Can-Am League
Justin Morneau	33	IF	(1981-05-15) May 15, 1981 (age 43)	Chicago White Sox	Major League Baseball
Pete Orr	4	IF	(1979-06-08) June 8, 1979 (age 45)	Philadelphia Phillies	Major League Baseball
Jimmy Van Ostrand	29	IF	(1984-08-07) August 7, 1984 (age 40)	Washington Nationals (minors)	Major League Baseball
Joey Votto	19	IF	(1983-09-10) September 10, 1983 (age 41)	Cincinnati Reds	Major League Baseball
Tyson Gillies	24	OF	(1988-10-31) October 31, 1988 (age 36)	Philadelphia Phillies (minors)	Major League Baseball
Adam Loewen	21	OF	(1984-04-09) April 9, 1984 (age 40)	Arizona Diamondbacks (minors)	Major League Baseball
Michael Saunders	20	OF	(1986-11-19) November 19, 1986 (age 37)	Toronto Blue Jays	Major League Baseball
Rene Tosoni	9	OF	(1986-07-02) July 2, 1986 (age 38)	Milwaukee Brewers (minors)	Major League Baseball
Tim Smith	14	DH	(1986-06-14) June 14, 1986 (age 38)	Atlanta Braves (minors)	Major League Baseball

World Baseball Classic record								Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	W	L	RS	RA		W	L	RS	RA
2006	Round 1	9th	2	1	20	23		No qualifiers held
2009	Round 1	13th	0	2	7	12		No qualifiers held
2013	Round 1	12th	1	2	18	26		3	0	38	9
2017	Round 1	15th	0	3	3	21		Automatically qualified
2023	Round 1	14th	2	2	27	30		Automatically qualified
Total	Round 1	5/5	5	10	75	112		3	0	38	9

In June 2005, Major League Baseball announced the formation of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), an international competition to be held in March 2006 for the first time. Canada was one of the sixteen teams invited to play in the inaugural classic. Because the event will be held in March, before the North American baseball season traditionally starts, players active in Major League Baseball or any minor league affiliates are eligible to play in the WBC, making the team markedly different from the teams which represented Canada in the 2005 World Cup or the 2004 Olympics.

Several high-profile Canadian players declined the opportunity to participate, including Ryan Dempster, Shawn Hill, Danny Klassen, Éric Gagné and Rich Harden, who were injured. Los Angeles Dodgers' prospect Russell Martin was named to the team, but pulled out in favor of reporting to Spring training. In addition, Larry Walker, who retired after the 2005 season, opted not to participate, choosing instead to serve in a coaching capacity.

Canada played in Pool B of the tournament with Mexico, South Africa and the United States.

Team Canada was heavily favoured to win their first game against South Africa, a team made up almost entirely by amateurs. However, South Africa put up a tough challenge to the Canadian team. South African starter, Carl Michaels pitched outstandingly; Canada could not get a run until the 5th inning, when they scored 3. However, the South Africans shockingly scored 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th against Paul Quantrill. It was back and forth from then on. It looked like South Africa might pull off a monumental upset as they went into the 9th with an 8–7 lead. However, in the top of the 9th, the Canadians scored 4 times to win the game 11–8.

After almost being upset by a surprising South African team, Canada pulled off an upset of its own with an 8-6 victory over the star-studded United States team. Scoring in each of the first five innings, the Canadians built an 8–0 lead using a combination of timely, patient hitting, steady pitching and clutch fielding. In the bottom of the fifth, the United States threatened a comeback, exploding for 6 runs, capped off by a Jason Varitek grand slam. The Canadian team held off the US the rest of the way, as neither team crossed the plate again in the game. Adam Stern had a strong outing, going 3 for 4, a double shy of the cycle, with an inside-the-park home run, as well as making several spectacular plays in center field to keep his team ahead.

After Canada's victory over the United States, they got shocked by the Mexican team in a 9–1 resounding defeat. Unfortunately for the Canadian side, this victory would eventually cost them the trip to the 2nd round of the tournament after the United States beat South Africa 17–0 and clinched the second place in Pool B. Canada, USA, and Mexico each finished with a 2–1 record in the pool, but Canada lost the tie-breaker based on runs allowed.

Canada was placed in 2009 World Baseball Classic – Pool C hosting the United States, Italy, and Venezuela at Rogers Centre in Toronto. In their opener, Canada lost a close game against the United States by a score of 6–5. On March 9, Canada was eliminated from the tournament after losing 6–2 to underdog Italy. Canada exited the WBC with an 0–2 record and 6.35 runs allowed per 9 innings, to secure thirteenth place overall.

Canada qualified by winning a qualifying tournament in Armin-Wolf-Arena in Regensburg, Germany, in September 2012, that also featured the Czech Republic, Germany and Great Britain. Canada moved on to the 1st Round.^[4]

The Canadian team was placed in 2013 World Baseball Classic – Pool D against Italy, Mexico and the United States. In their opener, Canada lost to the Italian baseball team 14–4 after the game ended in the 8th inning due to the mercy rule in place after Italy scored five additional runs during the bottom of the 8th inning. On March 9, Canada faced off against Mexico. With Canada already leading the game, third baseman Luis Cruz motioned the pitcher Arnold Leon to bean the next batter, Rene Tosoni, which resulted in a bench clearing brawl. Seven players from both teams ejected from the game. Despite this, they clinched a 10–3 win over Mexico. They lost the final game against the United States 9–4, thus eliminating Canada from the tournament.

The Canadian team missed out on advancing to the next round for the third time, but still managed to claim their automatic qualification for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Canada was placed in 2017 World Baseball Classic – Pool C against the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and the United States. Their performances were abysmal, even losing to surprising debutants Colombia.

After losing all three of its matches, they finished last in their group, and were forced to go through qualifiers for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Canada automatically qualified for the 2023 tournament by playing in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

The Canadian team was placed in 2023 World Baseball Classic – Pool C against Great Britain, United States, Columbia and Mexico. They began pool play against Great Britain. The Canadians had to overcome an early deficit, however, Tyler O’Neill and Jacob Robson had four hits each to lead Canada to an 18–8 mercy rule win   In Game 2, propelled by a nine-run first inning, they lost 1–12 against the United States. In Game 3 against Columbia, Canada led 1–0 going into the eighth inning, but Otto Lopez, a Toronto Blue Jays prospect, led off the inning with a triple and was driven in by Owen Caissie's two-out RBI single to push the lead to 2–0. Lopez's three-run shot in the ninth gave Canada an even bigger cushion, which ultimately lead them to winning 5–0. Their 2–1 record set up a win-or-go-home game vs Mexico. After a good start to the game, Mexico blew the game open with a four-run sixth, keyed by Randy Arozarena’s three-run double. They would go on to win the game 10–3, ultimately eliminating Canada from the tournament.

By finishing top four in their group, Canada still managed to claim their automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Canada has qualified for two Olympic Games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.

Summer Olympics record								Qualification
Year	Round	Position	W	L	RS	RA
1984	Preliminary	5th (tied)[a]	1	2	10	11
1988	Preliminary	5th (tied)[a]	1	2	17	19
1992	did not qualify
1996	did not qualify
2000	did not qualify							1999 Pan American Games
2004	Finals	4th	5	4	46	36		2004 Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifying Tournament
2008	Preliminary	6th	2	5	26	23		4th, American Qualifying Tournament Final Qualifying Tournament
2020	did not qualify
Total[b]	Finals	2/5	7	9	72	59

Canada was invited to participate at the 1984 Summer Olympics. They finished with a 1–2 record in pool play, and did not advance to the knockout round. They finished tied for third in their pool, the equivalent of a tie for fifth overall.

Canada qualified for the 1988 Summer Olympics by finishing in fourth place at the 1987 Pan American Games and defeating 1987 European Baseball Championship silver medalist Italy in a playoff. They finished with a 1–2 record in pool play, and did not advance to the knockout round. They finished in seventh place overall.

Canada qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics by finishing second at the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Panama. They finished with a 5–2 record in pool play, then fell to Cuba in the semifinals. Canada would ultimately lose the Bronze Medal game 11–2 to Japan.

Canada qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics by finishing first in the Final Qualifying Tournament. They finished with 2–5 record in pool play, and did not advance to the knockout round.

Canada was placed in Pool A against Cuba, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Italy, and host Chinese Taipei. They completed a perfect 5–0 pool play to advance to the playoff stage. They ultimately lost to Mexico 4–3 in the quarter-finals, finishing in fifth place overall.

Two quota spots were allocated from the Tournament, of the spots for six baseball teams at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Canada was placed in Pool C against Australia, Cuba, and host South Korea. They compiled a 1–2 pool play record, and did not advance to the Super Round. They finished in seventh place overall

Canada Baseball World Cup
Amateur World Series
Colombia, 1970	9th (tie)
Cuba, 1971	6th (tie)
Nicaragua, 1972	9th
Nicaragua, 1973	6th (tie)
United States, 1974	4th (tie)
Italy, 1978	9th
Japan, 1980	5th
South Korea, 1982	5th
World Cup
Italy, 1988	5th
Canada, 1990	8th
Nicaragua, 1994	14th
Italy, 1998	6th in Pool B
Taiwan, 2001	6th in Pool B
Cuba, 2003	5th in Pool A
Netherlands, 2005	5th in Pool A
Taiwan, 2007	9th
Europe, 2009	3rd
Panama, 2011	3rd
Medal Tally
Gold	-
Silver	-
Bronze	2
Rank	14th

Canada has competed at 9 World Cups and 8 more times in its predecessor the Amateur World series. Their best finish was a bronze at the 2009 World Cup and at the 2011 World Cup.

Canada's first appearance at the Pan American Games came in 1967. Their first medal came in 1999, when the team won the bronze medal for their third-place finish. In 2011, Canada won the gold medal game over the United States, 2–1, to win Canada's first-ever baseball gold medal. Canada won their second consecutive gold medal in 2015, defeating the United States, 7–6 (10 innings), in the final. In 2019, Canada won the silver medal, losing to Puerto Rico in the final match.

1951 : Did not qualify 1955 : Did not qualify 1959 : Did not qualify 1963 : Did not qualify 1967 : 5th 1971 : 4th

1975 : 7th 1979 : 8th 1983 : 6th 1987 : 4th 1991 : 8th 1995 : Did not qualify

1999 : 3rd 2003 : Did not qualify 2007 : Did not qualify 2011 : 1st 2015 : 1st 2019 : 2nd

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