WBC Team Preview: Canada

This year’s Canadien team is one of their stronger World Baseball Classic (WBC) teams in recent years and that is thanks to veteran Josh Naylor on the offensive side and Jameson Taillon on the pitching side. Also, a familiar face is set to represent Canada in current Met, Jared Young.

They may not have the most star studded roster in the WBC, but across the board they have a balanced team full of major league caliber players. They will look to move past the first round for the first time in 2026.

Notable Players

Josh Naylor, Tyler O’Neill, Otto Lopez, Abraham Toro, Owen Caissie, Denzel Clarke, Bo Naylor, Matt Davidson, and Edouard Julien make up the projected starting nine for Team Canada. While it is not the flashiest lineup, they have a solid floor with some pop. New York Met Jared Young has already hit a home run in spring training while catcher Liam Hicks could take over the starting catcher job if he looks like he did in the first half of 2025.

Jameson Taillon, Logan Allen and Michael Soroka are not a trio of aces, but they are a solid three-piece rotation with a good floor. Their bullpen is their big area of concern. Cal Quantrill has struggled the last three seasons, and the only other pitcher to pitch in the majors was Rob Zastryzny. He pitched 22 innings to a 2.45 ERA and 1.18 WHIP and could end up the closer. James Paxton, who retired after the 2024 season, will also pitch for Team Canada.

Notable Coaches

Former All-Star Ernie Whitt will return to manage Team Canada. He has remained active as an ambassador of Canadian baseball and previously served as the Blue Jays Bench Coach and First Base Coach. Former MVP and four-time All Star Justin Morneau is the hitting coach. He is currently a special assistant for the Minnesota Twins. Paul Quantrill, father of Cal Quantrill, is the pitching coach. The 2001 All Star is a special assistant for the Blue Jays.

WBC History

The big story will be if Team Canada can move past the first round for the first time in the WBC’s history. They almost moved forward in 2006 when they beat Team United States 8-6, but their negative-three run differential overall prevented them from moving on.

Team Canada has had many established major leaguers play for them over the years including Freddie Freeman, Justin Morneau, Paul Quantrill, Jason Bay, Éric Gagné, Nick Pivetta, Cade Smith, and Matt Brash.

Pool

Team Canada will play in Pool A with Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. They are arguably in one of the weaker pools, which could help them advance. You could argue that Team Canada is the most complete roster in their pool.

Their first game is against Team Colombia on March 7 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For a ranking of all 20 teams by MMO, click here.

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