13 Canadians appear on MLB initial player pool rosters

RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.), LHP James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) and 1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) are three of the Canadians named to the initial player pool rosters of MLB clubs. Photo: Baseball Canada

June 29, 2020

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA – With Major League Baseball zeroing in on a July 23rd or 24th opening day, clubs were required to submit initial player pool rosters with a maximum of 60 players as teams ready for spring training 2.0 that will begin this week.

During the regular season, team will only be able to use players who were named to these initial player pool lists. Forty-man roster players “that the Club anticipates participating” during the regular season are mandatory adds while the remainder of players named were non-40-man roster invitees that are under contract.

Thirteen Canadian-born players were among those announced by the 30 big league clubs including former All-Stars Mike Soroka (Braves) and Joey Votto (Reds) while Mississauga’s Bo Naylor, just two years removed from being a first round draft pick, was listed on the Cleveland Indians’ roster.

As per MLB rules resulting from the season being delayed due to Covid-19, clubs must trim their roster to 30 players by opening day, 28 after 14 days of regular season play before getting down to 26 players after 29 days.

Clubs are expected to host their main training camps at their own big league parks while prospect-type invitees will be training at satellite locations.

Canadians on initial player pool rosters:

Astros

3B Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.)

Blue Jays

3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal Que.)
*RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.)

Braves

*RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.)

Cardinals

*+OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.)

Cubs

*+RHP Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, B.C.)

Indians

*C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.)

Orioles

+LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.)

Phillies

*+RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B..C)

Padres

*+OF Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.)
*RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.)

Reds

+1B Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.)

Yankees

*LHP James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.)

*Junior National Team alumni
+Senior National Team alumni