By: Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA- World Baseball Classic, Inc. today announced an initial list of 30 players who have confirmed their participation in the 2017 World Baseball Classic including Canadian Russell Martin.

Martin, a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, last suited up for Canada at the 2009 World Baseball Classic when the event was held in Toronto.

As a teenager, Martin represented Canada at the 2000 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championships in Edmonton and was a member of the Olympic Qualifier club in 2003 in Panama.

Martin could play shortstop as SS Sean Jamieson, who played for the 2015 Pan Am gold medal winners in Ajax recently had shoulder surgery. 

Canada will open the 2017 World Baseball Classic on March 9th against the Dominican Republic at Marlins Park in Miami before taking on Colombia on March 11th and the United States on March 12th.

For more information visit worldbaseballclassic.com.