By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA - Baseball Canada is pleased to announce the names of 24 athletes that will represent Canada at the Pan American Games Qualification Tournament from January 29 to February 3 in the cities of Ibiúna and São Paulo, Brazil.

In addition to Canada, the eight-team field includes host Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela with the top four teams gaining entry into the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

The roster features seven players with big league resumes including RHP Phillippe Aumont, RHP Chris Leroux, LHP Adam Loewen, RHP Dustin Molleken, OF Dalton Pompey, RHP Scott Richmond and OF Michael Saunders.

A host of players with international playing experience were also named to the roster including IF Wes Darvill, C Kellin Deglan, IF Jesse Hodges, C Dustin Houle, LHP Jay Johnson, LHP Ryan Kellogg, RHP Jared Mortensen, IF Daniel Pinero, OF Tristan Pompey, RHP Jasvir Rakkar, OF Jacob Robson, LHP Evan Rutckyj, IF Eric Wood and C Andy Yerzy.

Also named to the roster: RHP Andrew Case, IF Otto Lopez and RHP Dylan Rheault are set to make their national team debuts in Brazil.

Ernie Whitt returns to manage the national team for a 15th time and will be joined by a veteran coaching staff consisting of Larry Walker, Denis Boucher, Paul Quantrill, Tim Leiper and Greg Hamilton.

Whitt began his coaching career with Baseball Canada in 1999 and has led the Senior National Team to two Pan Am Games gold medals (2011, 2015), a Pan Am Games bronze medal (1999), two IBAF Baseball World Cup bronze medals (2009, 2011) and a fourth place finish at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

“It’s always an honour to coach Team Canada,” said Whitt. “I’m looking forward to working with our coaching staff and this talented group of players with the goal of qualifying for the Pan Am Games.”

After a brief training camp in West Palm Beach, Florida from January 22-26, Canada will open the qualifier on January 29thagainst Panama before taking on Venezuela on January 30th and Colombia on January 31st. Semi-final and medal games are scheduled for February 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Pitchers

Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, QC)
Andrew Case (Saint John, NB)
Jay Johnson (Sussex Corner, NB)
Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, ON)
Chris Leroux (Mississauga, ON)
Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC)
Dustin Molleken (Regina, SK)
Jared Mortensen (Abbotsford, BC)
Jasvir Rakkar (Brampton, ON)
Dylan Rheault (Garson, ON)
Scott Richmond (Vancouver, BC)
Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, ON)

Catchers

Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC)
Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC)
Andy Yerzy (Toronto, ON)

Infielders

Wes Darvill (Richmond, BC)
Jesse Hodges (Victoria, BC)
Otto Lopez (Montréal, QC)
Daniel Pinero (Toronto, ON)
Eric Wood (Oshawa, ON)

Outfielders

Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON)
Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, ON)
Jacob Robson (Windsor, ON)
Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC)