Canada Wbc: Naylor to Captain Canada in Opener Against Julio Teheran as GM Hamilton Voices Optimism
canada wbc kicks off for Team Canada Saturday at 11 a. m. ET in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when the Canadians open against Colombia. Manager Ernie Whitt has named the leadership group with Josh Naylor as captain, and Baseball Canada general manager Greg Hamilton says this roster is the deepest the program has assembled. The tone is set on the mound and in the clubhouse as Canada pursues a run out of Pool A.
Key matchup: Julio Teheran to start for Colombia, Soroka draws the call for Canada
Manager Jose Mosquera has selected right-hander Julio Teheran to start for Colombia on Saturday, a move that matches him against Canadian righty Michael Soroka. Teheran, 35, last appeared in the majors in 2024 with a single start for the New York Mets. Over a 255-game major-league career with the Mets, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers, he posted a 3. 85 ERA and a 1. 22 WHIP. Soroka comes off a season in which he logged a 4. 52 ERA in 22 games with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. The pitching matchup is the immediate focal point for Canada’s opener at 11 a. m. ET on Saturday.
Canada Wbc roster and outlook
Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada’s director of national teams and general manager/bench coach of the WBC squad, says every starting position on Canada’s roster will be filled by an active Major League Baseball player for the first time in program history and calls it their deepest roster yet. Hamilton named established MLB veterans Josh Naylor and Tyler O’Neill as leaders and pointed to a core that includes Bo Naylor, Liam Hicks, Edouard Julien, Otto Lopez, Abraham Toro, Denzel Clark and Owen Casey. On the pitching side, Hamilton noted absences among invited arms but confirmed the team will deploy major-league starters Jameson Taillon, Mike Siroka and Cal Quantrill in the opening rotations, with Jordan Balazovic and James Paxton also part of the staff. Hamilton assessed positional depth as a strength and said, “Offensively and defensively we’re as deep with major league talent as we have ever been. “
Leadership, preparation and the clubhouse
Josh Naylor, the national team captain from Mississauga, Ontario, framed his captaincy through personal ritual and representation. Naylor said he brought a careful collection of Canadian hockey jerseys and that he was “humbled” to wear the captain’s C. He wore a 1987 Canada Cup Wayne Gretzky jersey during Friday’s practice at Estadio Roberto Clemente. Third-base coach Stubby Clapp captured the on-field sentiment, saying, “pardon my English, but he comes to kick ass every day. That’s what you want in your leader. ” Manager Ernie Whitt delegated leadership roles across the club, telling Tyler O’Neill to handle outfielders, Josh Naylor to handle infielders and the whole team, and James Paxton to oversee the pitching staff. Whitt added that veterans are expected to be resources for younger players and that leadership extends beyond the letter on a jersey.
Looking ahead, canada wbc faces a compact pool schedule: after the Colombia opener Saturday at 11 a. m. ET, Canada plays Panama Sunday at 7 p. m. ET, Puerto Rico Tuesday at 7 p. m. ET and Cuba Wednesday at 3 p. m. ET. The tournament advances the top two teams from each pool to single-elimination quarterfinals scheduled for March 13-14 in Houston. Team Canada’s immediate priorities are health and execution on both sides of the ball as it seeks to translate depth into wins in Pool A.
