OTTAWA, ON – Baseball Canada announces today the Junior National Team summer roster for the final camp and Canadian tour in preparation for the World Junior Baseball Championship in Edmonton from July 25-August 3.
The 25-man roster for the Canadian tour, which will take place from July 13-23, has no shortage of prospects. Leading the way is Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) who became the highest Canadian position player (fourth player overall) to be selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft. The 18-year-old catcher/infielder was chosen 16th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 draft.
“Throughout the year, all of these athletes have proven they can compete at a very high level and that’s why they’ve been invited to this camp,” says Baseball Canada’s Head Coach and Director of National Teams, Greg Hamilton.
The Canadian tour will begin in Thunder Bay, Ontario where Canada will play three exhibition games against Chinese Taipei and a Thunder Bay All-Star team on July 15 and 16.
From there, the Canadians along with Chinese Taipei make there way to Manitoba for three more exhibition games from July 17-19 with two games in Brandon on July 17 and 18 and one in Winnipeg at Can West Global Park on July 19.
The trek west continues for a final exhibition series in the Okotoks in Alberta. Canada and Chinese Taipei will be joined by the United States and the Okotoks Dawgs where Canada will play three games from July 21-23 at Seamon Stadium.
At the end of the tour, the Junior National Team will reduce its roster to 18 for the World Junior Baseball Championship.
“We’re going to have to make some tough decisions to set our final roster for the World Championships, but Canada will be well represented,” elaborates Hamilton.
Canada will be one of 12 countries vying for World Junior supremacy in Edmonton. The last time the Juniors were on top of the podium was in 1991, the only gold medal for Canada in international baseball competition.
“We feel we’re a strong medal contender and we hope to capture the gold on home soil against some of the best baseball nations in the world,” says Hamilton.
For the complete roster and schedules, click on one of the following links:
Summer Roster
