We were rather pessimistic about Team Canada after the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The performances were colossally terrible.
Team Canada didn't advance out of Pool C in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Yet the future is rather bright for Team Canada.
Before 2023, Canada had only played in 1 mercy (merci en francaise?) rule game, a rather humiliating 14-4 loss to Italy in 2013. At least the game went 8 innings, given that 7 innings is the minimum for a mercy game.
Team Canada had 2 mercy rule games in 2023, both in 7 innings: the front end with a 18-8 win over Great Britain and a 12-1 loss to the United States.
Canada posted a 5-0 shutout win over Colombia and a 10-3 loss to Mexico. Team Canada finished with a -3 run differential (27-30), not so bad given 2 blowout losses.
LET’S GO! @_BoNaylor_ 💪#WorldBaseballClassic2023 pic.twitter.com/NZEAzyG2Oa
— Baseball Canada 🇨🇦⚾️ (@baseballcanada) March 15, 2023
Team Canada finished 3rd behind Mexico and the United States. Canada has automatic qualification for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
On one level, Team Canada beat up on the 2 weakest teams in Pool C in Phoenix and weren't close to the 2 top teams. On another level, Canada has a lot of young players who will do a lot better in 2026.
Canada won as many games (2) as the team did in 2006. A 2013 win over Mexico was the only other win until 2023.
FUN FACT:
— Kevin Glew (@coopincanada) March 15, 2023
With a HR and a triple in yesterday's win over Colombia, Otto Lopez became the 1st 🇨🇦 player to record a HR and a triple in a WBC game since Adam Stern (London, Ont.) did so against the U.S. on March 8, 2006.
*From @baseballcanada game notes@cfssports @GLCanadians pic.twitter.com/FOyHCE5eSc
Freddie Freeman and Tyler O'Neill were the biggest offensive names going into the tournament. Jared Young provided the only run against the United States with a home run.
Edouard Julien proved to be a strong lead-off hitter for Team Canada and played 2nd base. Canada hasn't always had a lot of top talent on the left side of the infield, but Abraham Toro at 3B and Otto Lopez at SS got their feet wet and will only be that much better in 2026.
Bo Naylor was solid behind the plate. Would have been fun to watch his brother Josh play in the same lineup.
Jacob Robson, Owen Caissie, and Denzel Clarke were pleasant surprises in the outfield.
Noah Skirrow was impressive on the mound in the win over Colombia. Cal Quantrill had a rough outing against the United States but someone needed to go up against that team. Scott Mathieson came out of retirement to get the final outs against Colombia.
Freeman got injured in the Colombia game and was withdrawn from the team. If Canada had beaten Mexico and advanced, the hope was that Josh Naylor might have been ready to DH in the next round.
O'Neill went 4-4 for 4 RBI, Robson went 4-4 with a RBI, and Julien hit a HR and had 4 walks against Great Britain. Team Canada drew 16 walks in that game.
2023 Team Canada World Baseball Classic preview
The joke has always been that if Canada could play their coaches, the team would be better. The young players definitely benefited from coaches such as Larry Walker and Russell Martin and the only manager Team Canada has had in the WBC, Ernie Whitt.
Joey Votto might be a DH in 2026 or a coach. Either way, you know Votto will be involved.
The current reality is that this team has a lot of young talent with minimal MLB experience. 3 years changes a lot of this dynamic.
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
Canadian viewers in English saw the international feed with Rich Waltz and Buck Martinez. The surprise was that Fox Sports let the international feed go for all the games, except for the United States game. Fox had Jason Benetti with John Smoltz and Ken Rosenthal.
Waltz had fond memories of working Triple A baseball games with the Las Vegas Aces in places such as Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. One concerning theme is the loss of minor league baseball in Canada. Dry information is one thing; Waltz's enthusiasm for road trips to western Canada gave wet emotion to dry information.
There was a bit too much focus on Canada's 2006 win over the United States in the WBC. The 9-run 1st inning in 2023 stopped that chance cold in its tracks.
Adam Loewen pitched 3⅔ scoreless innings and earned the win in 2006. Loewen came out of retirement to pitch in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Loewen converted to an outfielder and even played in the outfield for the Toronto Blue Jays. Loewen's personal saga is quite remarkable.
More than baseball ❤️ #WorldBaseballClassic https://t.co/xoorngIVXT pic.twitter.com/n5ihTWljbt
— Baseball Canada 🇨🇦⚾️ (@baseballcanada) March 14, 2023
We saw the Great Britain players mimic tea drinking. Canada players mimic the antlers of the moose. The spirit of playing for one's country is part of the fun of the World Baseball Classic.
With a few breaks, fewer injuries, and more experience, Team Canada will be fun to watch in 2026.
photo credit: World Baseball Classic
Twitter captures: @baseballcanada; @coopincanada; @baseballcanada
Comments