TORONTO – Two previous opportunities to play for Canada at the World Baseball Classic didn’t line up for Michael Soroka, which is why, despite just signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the right-hander prioritized pitching in the upcoming edition of the event.
“I’ve had this one circled on the calendar for a while, one that I really wanted to be able to do, for a multitude of reasons,” Soroka said Saturday ahead of Baseball Canada’s annual awards banquet. “I’m at a point where I have a good idea of what it takes to get ready for that. Physically, this is the best I’ve probably ever felt in my life, so it’s a good time to do it. And it’s been almost 11 years since I’ve gotten to wear the Canadian jersey and I’m very fortunate that they’re giving me the opportunity to do it again.
“We have a really, really good squad,” he added. “We have a real good shot of at least getting to Houston (for the quarterfinals) and getting through that. And I want to continue what the Jays have done in Canadian baseball over the last year, I want it to be a good story for that, too.”
Soroka fronting a starting rotation recently bolstered by Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon’s decision to suit up, could go a long way in making that happen.
As always in the lead-up to the Classic, however, roster flux is a reality national teams must face, and Canada suffered a tough blow when Dodgers superstar Freddie Freeman, who played in 2017 and 2023, withdrew for personal reasons.
Jordan Romano, who in December signed a $2-million, one-year deal with the Angels, also pulled out, while Miami Marlins catcher Liam Hicks and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Tyler Black drew in.
The dominoes leave the Canadians largely set on the position-player side – Bo Naylor behind the plate, older brother Josh Naylor at first, Edouard Julien at second, Otto Lopez at short, Abraham Toro at third and an outfield of Tyler O’Neill, Denzel Clarke and Owen Caissie – and with three spots still being worked through on the pitching side.
Electric Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong, who debuted in the majors late last season, is someone the national team would love to have, if his club situation lines up. But he’s working through the type of balancing act the tournament forces on players who may be fighting for big-league roles in the spring, which is why left-hander Mitch Bratt, who pitched at the 2023 Classic and was traded from Texas to Arizona at the deadline last summer, is taking a miss this time.
“It was a tough decision,” said Bratt. “I really wanted to, but it just came down to the new organization aspect. I need to make a good first impression and me leaving for three weeks, or more potentially, hopefully it’s more for their case, is not going to help my case trying to make that big-league roster.”
Depending on how the final pieces come together, righties Cal Quantrill and Curtis Taylor and lefties Logan Allen, Adam Macko and Rob Zastryzny will either start or provide bulk innings, while James Paxton will join Phillippe Aumont in coming out of retirement to pitch.
Aumont did the same thing at the 2023 Classic and recently hit 93 m.p.h. during a side session, while Paxton, who retired after the 2024 season, began throwing in November and is set to progress to bullpens in a couple weeks.
The 37-year-old exited his final outing in the majors – Aug. 11, 2024 with Boston against Houston – in the first inning due to a strained right calf and pitching for Canada gives him a chance to leave the game on better terms.
“It’s really cool to be putting on the Canadian jersey again,” said Paxton, who’s working to complete his business degree from Kentucky. “I haven’t done it since the junior national team because every time the WBC came around over my career, I was either coming off of injury or was hurt. So to be able to do it now is special and a special way to kind of end my competitive baseball career.”
With Seattle Mariners fireballer Matt Brash set to close and Canada playing out of Pool A in San Juan with host Puerto Rico, Colombia, Cuba and Panama, the Canadians collectively have an opportunity to do something special this March. They’ve never advanced out of pool play in the tournament, despite opportunities to do so in 2006, 2013 and 2023, but the young core from a strong showing three years ago largely returns, with more experience, this time around.
All of which led Soroka, who signed a $7.5-million, one-year deal with Arizona in December, to reply with “the talent,” when asked what excited him most about this squad.
“You’re starting to see the fruition of the Blue Jays in 2015-2016 when they were good and a ton of kids wanted to play baseball and I think you’re going to see that again in another 10 years,” said Soroka. “This is the first time where you truly have a big-league roster start to finish and the guys that will be our depth pieces, whether it’s in the bullpen or on the bench, they will be big-leaguers here pretty soon. It’s a really good mix of young and guys that I think can really lead the team. And we have a lot of guys that are gamers.”
Healthy and strong, Soroka is thrilled to at long last be among them.
