OTTAWA – Only four days after adding pitchers Steve Green, Mike Meyers and Chris Begg to its World Baseball Classic roster, Baseball Canada added two more arms to its squad today. With the addition of right-handers Scott Mathieson and Aaron Myette, only two vacancies now remain on Canada’s official roster for the World Baseball Classic. The 21-year old Mathieson (Aldergrove, B.C.) is ranked by Baseball America as the second-best pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Mathieson, who represented Canada at the 2005 World Cup and the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier, has continuously improved since being drafted in the 17th round of the 2002 MLB draft, gaining 30 pounds of muscle and adding 12 MPH to his fastball in addition to throwing a variety of pitches with very good control. After going 3-8-0 with the A-Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League in 2005, Mathieson finished in a tie for second for strikeouts in the Arizona Fall League, fanning 36 batters over 26 innings of work. Aaron Myette (New Westminster, B.C.) is also making a return to the Canadian roster after having played in the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier. The 6’4”, 230-pound right-hander has played 9 professional seasons. He has pitched in 47 major league games with the Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds, going 6-12-0 with 134 strikeouts in 154.1 innings of work. The 1998 South Atlantic League All-Star, who boasts a 59-36-20 record and a career 3.34 ERA in the minor leagues, also represented Canada at the 1995 World Junior Championships and the 2004 Olympic Games. Click here for current roster The World Baseball Classic The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006. The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. The four Round 1 pools will be played at venues in Japan (Tokyo Dome – Tokyo), Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan) and the United States (Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona; Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida). Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each and will be played in Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium) and the United States (Angel Stadium – Anaheim, California). The Semi-finals and final game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, California.The WBC will feature a bracket-style format with the 16 teams competing in four groups: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C – Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.
OTTAWA – Baseball Canada officially announced, today, the names of all staff members who will work with Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic, including the list of coaches who will work under field manager Ernie Whitt. Coach & General Manager – Greg Hamilton: Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) was the primary force behind Canada’s fourth-place 2004 Olympic team – arguably the best Canadian baseball team ever put together before the World Baseball Classic – spearheading the team’s assembly though intense player and coaching staff evaluation. Much like he did for the Olympic Games and for the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier in November, Hamilton scouts hundreds of players yearly, evaluating talent from a wide array of levels including amateur, collegiate, independent, minor and major league ranks in order to assure Canada is well represented in international events. A graduate of Princeton University, Hamilton served a two-year stint as assistant coach at his alma mater before serving as general manager of the Montpellier Baseball Club, a senior Division 1 team in Montpellier France, from 1993-1997, while acting as a pitching coach for the French national team in 1994. Hamilton later served as assistant coach at the University of Maine in 1998 before being hired by Baseball Canada later that year as head coach of the national junior team and director of the national teams programs, a title he still holds today. He has won numerous awards during his coaching career including an Ivy League championship in 1991, the French Division 1 championship from 1993 to 1995, a bronze medal at the 1993 World University Games, a bronze medal at the 1995 Americas Cup Challenge and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 1997, a year in which he was also named Baseball Canada coach of the year. Pitching Coach – Denis Boucher: Denis Boucher (Montréal, Qué.) makes his fourth appearance on the national team staff after having helped Canada at the 2003 Olympic Qualifier, the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier. The former left-handed pitcher spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues, compiling a 6-11 record and a 5.42 ERA in 35 games (26 starts) for Toronto, Cleveland and Montreal from 1991 to 1994. Boucher, a Team Canada member at the 1986 World Junior Championships and the 1987 Pan-Am games, is one of two Canadians (along with fellow Canadian coach Rob Ducey) to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos.) Coach – Tim Leiper: Tim Leiper (Ottawa, Ont.) joins Baseball Canada’s national teams program for a fourth consecutive year, having served as a coach on the 2003 Olympic Qualifying team and the 2004 Olympic Games team as well as having served as a coach at the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier. In 2005 Leiper piloted the Lynchburg Hillcats to a second-best 38-32 record in the Carolina League. A former infielder and outfielder, Leiper played 12 professional seasons and reached as high as the AAA level, playing for such teams as AAA-Toledo, AAA-Tidewater and AAA-Buffalo as well as having played in the Mexican and the Dominican Republic winter leagues. Coach – Rob Ducey: Rob Ducey (Cambridge, Ont.) is making his second international appearance as a coach after being part of the national team coaching staff at the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier. After having played with Canada’s Olympic team in Athens in 2004, Ducey spent the 2005 season as a hitting instructor for the New York-Penn League champion Staten Island Yankees and is now a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays. Ducey, who won the 1986 Tip O’Neil award as Canada’s best baseball player, played 13 major league seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays, the California Angels, the Texas Rangers, the Seattle Mariners, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos between 1987 and 2001. Along with Canadian pitching Coach Denis Boucher, Deucey is one of only two Canadians to have played for both the Blue Jays and the Expos. Coach – Larry Walker: Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) has done more for Canadian Baseball than any other position player in the history of the sport. At the World Baseball Classic, the Canadian Major League record holder in almost every offensive category will add to his impressive resume as a coach for the first time on the international stage. Walker, who represented Canada at the 1984 World Junior Championships won the ‘Tip’ O’Neil award as Canada’s top baseball player a record nine times holds Canadian major league bests in games played (1988), doubles (741), stolen bases (230), at-bats (6907), runs (1355), homeruns (383) hits (2160) and RBI (1311). A career .314 batter, Walker also hold one of the best all-round season in Major League Baseball history, batting .366 with 49 homeruns, 130 RBI, 33 stolen bases and 409 total bases in 1997, earning him National League MVP honours. He is also a five time All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove winner, a three-time Silver Slugger award winner and a three-time National League batting champion. *** In addition to the coaching staff, Baseball Canada has also finalized the list of all staff members, which will join its contingent at the World Baseball Classic. Greg O’Halloran (Toronto, Ont.) – Bullpen CatcherScott Shannon (Toronto, Ont.) – Athletic TrainerJohn Sage (Toronto, Ont.) – Athletic TrainerTommy Craig (Palm Harbor, FLA) – WBC Athletic TrainerBernie Soulliere (Windsor, Ont.) – Business/Equipment & Clubhouse ManagerKeith Sanford (Windsor, Ont.) – Equipment and Clubhouse ManagerPat Ross (Montreal, Qué.) – WBC Equipment and Clubhouse Manager Jim Baba (Ottawa, Ont.) – Delegation Chief (Director General, Baseball Canada)Ray Carter (Tsawwassen, B.C.) – President, Baseball CanadaJ.B. Hacking (Oakville, Ont.) – WBC Team Co-ordinatorJohn Brioux (Oakville, Ont.) – WBC Travel Director Luc Hébert (Ottawa, Ont.) – Manager of Media and Public RelationsHoward Starkman (Toronto, Ont.) – WBC Media Liaison Roster & Staff
OTTAWA – Baseball Canada announced, today, that it has officially added pitchers Steve Green, Mike Meyers and Chris Begg to its World Baseball Classic roster. The three right-handers will join forces once again after having helped Canada to a second place finish at the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier and a spot at next year’s Olympic Qualifier in Cuba. A native of Longueuil, Qué., Green went 4-4-3 in 2005 splitting time between the AA Akron Aeros of the Eastern League and the AAA Toledo Mud Hens of the International League. A 10th round pick of the Anaheim Angels in 1997, Green is one of 18 Canadians (nine pitchers) to have only played in one Major League Baseball Game, doing so April 7, 2001. Green has also represented Canada at the 1996 World Junior Championships and the 1999 Pan-Am Games. Uxbridge Ontario’s Chris Begg was part of the Canadian team that finished in fourth place at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The 2001 Metro Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year went 8-7-0 with a 3.07 ERA for the Norwich Navigators of the Eastern League in 2005. Begg also played for Canada at the 2003 Olympic Qualifier and the 2005 World Cup. London Ontario’s Mike Meyers has played eight professional seasons since being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 26th round of the 1997 MLB amateur draft. The 1999 Florida State League All-Star posted a 7-4-1 record in 2005, splitting time between the AA Huntsville Stars of the Southern League and the AAA Nashville Sounds where he won a Pacific Coast League Championship. Meyers has also represented Canada at the 1995 World Junior Championships, the 1999 Pan-Am Games and the 2003 Olympic Qualifier. Canada has now officially named 26 players to its 30-man roster and is currently in the process of securing player approvals in order to confirm the remaining 4 spots, which must be filled prior to the start of the tournament. Click here for current roster. Canada will play its first game against South Africa on March 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona. They will then play the United States on Wednesday, March 8th at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona before closing out the first round against Mexico on Thursday, March 9th, also at Chase Field. The World Baseball Classic The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006. The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. The four Round 1 pools will be played at venues in Japan (Tokyo Dome – Tokyo), Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan) and the United States (Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona; Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida). Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each and will be played in Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium) and the United States (Angel Stadium – Anaheim, California). The Semi-finals and final game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, California.The WBC will feature a bracket-style format with the 16 teams competing in four groups: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C – Cuba, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.
OTTAWA – Baseball Canada announced, today, the names of the 27 athletes who will participate in the National Junior Team’s spring training camp in Orlando, Florida from April 13-23. The players who range in age from 15 to 17 years old, will conduct practices daily beginning April 14 and will also play a total of eight exhibition games against Major League Baseball extended spring teams as well as U.S. college programs. Click here for full roster. The selection process for Baseball Canada’s 2006 National Junior Team, which will compete in the World Junior AAA Championship from Sept. 17 to 27 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, began last September with a fall instructional league camp. The selection process will continue later this year with a May training camp in the Dominican Republic before a summer exhibition series in preparation for the World Championships. Spring Training Schedule April 12 – Coaches and staff arrive April 18 – Practice, Canada vs. Cleveland (1 p.m.) April 13 – Players arrive April 19 – Game vs. Stetson University (7 p.m.) April 14 – Team meetings, photo and practice April 20 – Practice, Game vs. TBA (2 p.m.) April 15 – Canada vs. Atlanta (10 a.m.), aft. practice April 21 – Practice, Canada vs. Detroit (1 p.m.) April 16 – Practice, Canada vs. Cleveland (1 p.m.) April 22 – Canada vs. Atlanta (10 a.m.), aft. practice April 17 – Practice, Canada vs. Houston (1 p.m.) April 23 – Return home
TORONTO – As part of its National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser in Toronto, Baseball Canada released the names of 23 players who will compete on Canada’s 30-man roster at the first-ever World Baseball Classic. The list features 14 current Major League Baseball players including Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, Erik Bedard of the Baltimore Orioles as well as veterans Paul Quantrill of the Florida Marlins and Matt Stairs of the Kansas City Royals. Click here for complete roster. “There’s going to be a lot of heart on this team,” said Morneau. “And when you’re around guys who love the game it makes you want it that much more because you don’t want to let the guy down next to you.” Although he’s played only a handful of games in the major leagues, it would be difficult to say anybody has more heart than Canadian second baseman Stubby Clapp. Clapp, who’s stepped up time and time again for Canada on the international stage said the World Baseball Classic will be the highlight of his baseball Career. “From the moment I got that phone call, I haven’t talked about being on the team at all because it was just so difficult to believe, but now that’s it has been announced I finally feel like it has become reality,” said Clapp. “I think that a lot of people underestimate the level of play that we’re going to see at the classic. It’s absolutely unbelievable to be included with these guys. Although seven spots on Canada’s roster still remain, Manager Ernie Whitt is excited about the make-up of his team. “These are guys that love playing baseball,” said Whitt. “They treat the game with respect, they leave everything out on the field every single day and they play the game properly. It’s that Canadian approach to the game that makes these guys tremendous competitors.” Also being named to Team Canada are some of the top young prospects in the game. Canada’s highest-ever draft pick, Adam Loewen who pitches in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization, the top catcher in the Dodgers’ system Russ Martin and Richmond Braves slugger Scott Thorman will reunite at the World Baseball Classic after having helped Canada to a second place finish at the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier in November. Baseball Canada is currently in the process of securing player approvals in order to confirm the remaining 7 spots on the roster, which must be set prior to the start of the tournament. Canada will play its first game against South Africa on March 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona. They will then play the United States on Wednesday, March 8th at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona before closing out the first round against Mexico on Thursday, March 9th, also at Chase Field. The World Baseball Classic The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006. The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. The four Round 1 pools will be played at venues in Japan (Tokyo Dome – Tokyo), Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan) and the United States (Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona; Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida). Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each and will be played in Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium) and the United States (Angel Stadium – Anaheim, California). The Semi-finals and final game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, California. The WBC will feature a bracket-style format with the 16 teams competing in four groups: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C – Cuba*, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.* participation pending
OTTAWA – Since the creation of the World Baseball Classic, Canadian baseball fans have been itching to find out who will represent Team Canada as it readies to compete in the ultimate international baseball competition. That much-anticipated moment will come Jan. 14 when Baseball Canada, as part of its National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser in Toronto, will release the names of 22 to 24 players who will compete on Canada’s 30-man roster at the first-ever World Baseball Classic. Team Canada’s roster will be released during a 3:30 p.m. press conference at the Renaissance Toronto Hotel. Later in the evening, selected players in attendance at the banquet will be formally introduced. “We are extremely excited about the potential of our roster to date and, most importantly, the enthusiasm and eagerness of these players to represent Canada at the World Baseball Classic,” said Baseball Canada Coach and Director of National Teams Greg Hamilton. Baseball Canada is currently in the process of securing player approvals in order to confirm the remaining spots on its 30-man roster, which must be set prior to the start of the tournament. Canada will play its first game against South Africa on March 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona. They will then play the United States on Wednesday, March 8th at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona before closing out the first round against Mexico on Thursday, March 9th, also at Chase Field. The World Baseball Classic The World Baseball Classic, a 16-team tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever in March 2006. The 16 teams invited to participate in the event have been divided into four pools of four teams for the first round of play. The four Round 1 pools will be played at venues in Japan (Tokyo Dome – Tokyo), Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan) and the United States (Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona; Scottsdale Stadium – Scottsdale, Arizona; Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida). Round 2 will feature two pools of four teams each and will be played in Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium) and the United States (Angel Stadium – Anaheim, California). The Semi-finals and final game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, California. The WBC will feature a bracket-style format with the 16 teams competing in four groups: Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B - Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United States; Pool C – Cuba*, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico; Pool D - Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Venezuela.* participation pending
