January 12, 2025

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Thank you to the Baseball Canada team of Greg Hamilton, Adam Morissette, Eugenio Matos, Nancy Dunbar and Jason Dickson for all their efforts in making Baseball Canada’s National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser held at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel inside Rogers Centre so wonderful and memorable last night.

Here are some news and notes from the event:

Award winners:

Congratulations to all of Baseball Canada’s National Team Award winners. The following awards were handed out:

Russell Martin Award (Junior National Team MVP) – Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.)

Women’s National Team Ashley Stephenson Award – Mia Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.)

Women’s National Team MVP – Sena Catterall (Pierrefonds, Que.)

Canadian Futures Award – Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.)

Stubby Clapp Award – Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.)

Larry J. Pearson Alumni Award – Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.)

Special Recognition Award – Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.)

Special Achievement Award – Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.)

Baseball Canada Wall of Excellence – Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.)

Duncan receives Russell Martin Award from Russell Martin

Left-hander Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) was presented with the Russell Martin Award, as Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team MVP, by Russell Martin.

At the U-18 Pan American Championship in Panama City, Duncan started against a powerful Mexico squad and allowed just two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, while striking out four, to help Canada to a 4-3 win. He then delivered four strong innings in relief in a 4-2 loss to Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals to finish the tournament with a 2.42 ERA.

At just 16, the Langley Blaze lefty has already pitched in three Canadian Futures Showcases and is the No. 1 ranked prospect on the 2026 Canadian Baseball Network Draft List.

The 6-foot-2 southpaw recently announced his commitment to Vanderbilt University (NCAA Div. 1), a school that has a reputation for developing outstanding major league pitchers, including David Price, Sonny Gray and Walker Buehler.

“I’ve wanted to go there (Vanderbilt) since I was nine,” said Duncan from the stage on Saturday night.

Duncan explained that he had a family friend that used to come over wearing a Vanderbilt hoodie and he used to think that guy was “the coolest guy ever.” Of course, he also did some serious homework on Vanderbilt before committing. He met with the coaching staff.

“I knew it was the spot for me right away,” said Duncan.

Valcke presented with Ashley Stephenson Award by Ashley Stephenson

It was a thrill for infielder Mia Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.) to be presented with Baseball Canada’s Ashley Stephenson Award by Ashley Stephenson herself. Stephenson has been a mentor to the now 24-year-old Valcke in some capacity since Valcke was 12.

“I’ve never met anyone who knows the game better than her,” Valcke said of Stephenson from the stage on Saturday night. “It’s an honour to receive an award named after her.”

The Ashley Stephenson Award is given out to a player from the Women’s National Team for their on-field accomplishments, as well as their team spirit and leadership. In six games at the Women’s World Cup this summer in Thunder Bay, Ont., Valcke went 9-for-21 (.429 batting average) with six runs to help lead Canada to a bronze medal. Her nine hits tied her with Sena Catterall (Pierrefonds, Que.) for the team and tournament lead, while her six runs were second to Catterall. She finished the tournament with a .500 OBP and a .976 OPS and was named shortstop on the tournament’s All-World Team.

Valcke started with the national team when she was 16. Her bronze at this year’s World Cup was her third medal at the tournament over the years. She earned a bronze at the event in 2018 and a silver two years before that.

Catterall honoured as Women’s National Team MVP

Catterall starred both at the plate and in the field at this summer’s Women’s World Cup which earned her National Team MVP honours. In six games at the tournament this summer, Catterall, 23, topped her team with a .500 batting average (9-for-18) and made multiple highlight reel catches in centre field to lead her squad to a bronze medal. Catterall also led the national team with 10 runs, six stolen bases, a .625 OBP and 1.181 OPS. For her efforts, she was named the centre fielder on the tournament’s All-World Team.

“As you can see, she is a pretty incredible athlete and person,” Women’s national team manager Anthony Pluta said from the stage on Saturday night after a video of Catterall highlights was played. “She was getting to balls [in the outfield] that I never thought it was possible to get to.”

Prior to her first appearance with the Women’s National Team at the World Cup qualifier in Aguascalientes, Mexico in 2019, Catterall competed for Team Quebec. Catterall is a two-sport athlete. She is also a high-scoring forward for the Clarkson University Golden Knights in Potsdam, N.Y. She was unable to attend Saturday’s banquet because she was playing hockey, but her mother, Armenia Teixeira, accepted the award on her behalf.

Bratt takes home Canadian Futures Award

Mitch Bratt was the recipient of the Canadian Futures Award, presented by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. In 2024, the 21-year-old left-hander rose to the double-A level in his fourth season in the Texas Rangers’ organization. Between High-A and double-A this past season, Bratt posted an 8-6 record and a 3.75 ERA in 24 appearances (21 starts) and struck out 117 batters in 110 1/3 innings.

A Junior National Team and Toronto Mets alum, Bratt, then only 19, got the start against the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic in 2023. He permitted six earned runs while recording just one out, but he said he learned from the experience and that he appreciated the support he got from the veterans and coaching staff on the team.

“I’ll be looking to get some redemption [in the 2026 World Baseball Classic],” said Bratt on Saturday night.

Clarke receives Stubby Clapp Award from Stubby Clapp

Oakland A’s outfield prospect Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) received the Stubby Clapp Award. The Stubby Clapp Award is known as Baseball Canada’s “grinder award” and it was created to recognize a national team player for their hard work, perseverance, positive attitude and strong performance on the field. Clapp presented Clarke with the award.

After undergoing shoulder surgery in 2023, Clarke struggled at the start of the 2024 campaign but he recovered to bat .269 with 13 home runs, eight triples and 36 stolen bases in 116 games with the A’s double-A Midland RockHounds.

“I went into the season with the mindset that I’m going to kill it,” said Clarke on Saturday night.

He followed up his strong regular season by hitting .382 with two home runs, 13 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 19 games with the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League (AFL).

Clarke actually had a trip to Europe booked for after the 2024 regular season but he cancelled it when he got the call for the AFL.

“Business comes first,” said Clarke of the cancellation of his trip. “It turned out to be good.”

Soroka earns alumni honour

Right-hander Michael Soroka, who recently signed a one-year, $9-million contract with the Washington Nationals, was honoured with the Larry B. Pearson Alumni Award. Fittingly, former big league right-hander Chris Reitsma, Soroka’s longtime coach, mentor and fellow Calgarian, was on stage for the award presentation.

“I started working with Mike when he was 13,” said Reitsma on Saturday night. “I remember I called [Junior National Team head coach] Greg [Hamilton] to tell him to have a look.”

One of the primary reasons Soroka signed with the Nationals this off-season is because they are going to give him the opportunity to be a starter again. The Junior National Team alum was dealt to the Chicago White Sox by the Atlanta Braves in November 2023. After a rough beginning to the 2024 season as a starter with the White Sox, he was moved to the bullpen.

“Being sent to the bullpen on the worst team in baseball was a kick in the teeth,” said Soroka on Saturday night.

But it also motivated him. In 16 relief appearances, he posted a 2.75 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 36 innings. In his final three outings, he fanned 13 of 26 batters while limiting opponents to an .083 batting average (2-for-24).

Overall, however, in 25 appearances (nine starts), he finished the season with an 0-10 record and a 4.74 ERA.

“I probably got the biggest contract for an 0-10 pitcher ever,” joked Soroka.

But Reitsma thinks the Nationals got a bargain. He has been working with Soroka this off-season and the 27-year-old righty has rebuilt his delivery.

“You should see the stuff coming out of his hand,” said Reitsma.

In total, in parts of five major league seasons, Soroka owns a 17-18 record and a 3.67 ERA in 69 appearances (52 starts). He also confirmed on stage that he plans to pitch for Canada at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Black receives Special Recognition Award

Speedy infielder/outfielder Tyler Black was honoured with a Special Recognition Award. Chosen 33rd overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Brewers, Black made his big-league debut on April 30, 2024 and promptly doubled in his first at bat. He followed that up with a single in his second at bat when his father, legendary Canadian sports broadcaster, Rod Black, was being interviewed in the stands for the Brewers’ TV broadcast. Proud papa, Rod, switch into broadcaster mode and beautifully called his son’s single. The clip went viral.

“Honestly, I didn’t know anything about it until after the game,” said Tyler Black of his father’s call. “It didn’t surprise me though. The guy just loves running his mouth.”

Black was clearly being playful with his father, who was in the banquet crowd. He loves his dad and mom and was overjoyed that they were able to make the trek from Mexico for his big-league debut.

In all, the Toronto Mets and Butler Prospects alum went 10-for-49 (.204 batting average) with three stolen bases and seven walks in 18 big-league games. He spent the bulk of the year with the triple-A Nashville Sounds. In 102 contests with the Sounds, he belted 14 home runs, stole 20 bases and registered a .375 OBP. 

Smith collects Special Achievement nod

Fresh off being ranked the No. 2 reliever in Major League Baseball by the MLB Network, Cade Smith was honoured with a Special Achievement Award. Smith put together one of the best major league rookie seasons ever by a Canadian relief pitcher. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 6-1 record and a 1.91 ERA in 74 relief appearances and struck out 103 batters in 75 1/3 innings.

Smith topped all Canadian pitchers in ERA, games, holds (28), WAR (2.5), WHIP (0.90) and opponents’ batting average (.190). Among rookie major league relievers, he ranked first in innings pitched, tied for first in wins and second in games, strikeouts and holds. His dominance continued in the playoffs when he appeared in nine games for the Guardians, which set a record for most by a Canadian pitcher in a single postseason. His 12 strikeouts in the American League Division Series were a Division Series record for a reliever.

Fittingly, his Guardians battery-mate Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) was on stage when Smith was presented with his award. The night’s emcee Mike Wilner asked Naylor what it was like to catch Smith.

“It was very easy,” Naylor said. “A lot of the time, I just put down a fastball and we were out of the inning.”

Clapp becomes 13th member of Wall of Excellence

Stubby Clapp became the 13th inductee onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence. He drove 13 hours from Tennessee with his sons, Cooper and Cannan, to make the event after the flight he planned to take was cancelled. The honour was very special to Clapp, who is so closely linked to Canadian baseball that he just might bleed maple syrup.

“It’s just an unbelievable honour,” said Clapp on stage after he received a standing ovation on Saturday night.

The gritty, 5-foot-8 Clapp was an infielder on the Junior National Team that won gold at the World Junior Baseball Championships in Brandon, Man., in 1991.

In 1996, he was selected in the 36th round of the MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. While enjoying a successful pro playing career, Clapp continued to answer the call for the national team. He helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan Am games in Winnipeg. In that tournament, he contributed a game-winning walk-off single in a come-from-behind, 11-inning victory over the Americans in the first game. That was also Ernie Whitt’s first game as manager of the national team.

“In that tournament, I saw this young man go out and give it everything he had,” said Whitt of Clapp on Saturday night. “He was the ultimate professional. He was prepared. He played the game with pride and passion and he never took a minute off . . . To me he’s the biggest representative of the culture [of the national team] we’ve established. They’ve all taken after Stubby after what he started in 1999.”

Clapp later suited up for Canada in two Olympics – in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. He also donned the Maple Leaf during the first two World Baseball Classics in 2006 and 2009.

After he hung up his playing spikes, Clapp entered the pro coaching ranks and worked his way up to his current position as first base coach with the Cardinals. Over the years, he has also served as a coach for the national team, including for the gold medal-winning teams at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games.

Happy Birthday to Nigel Wilson!

Happy 55th Birthday to Ajax, Ont., native Nigel Wilson! Signed as an amateur free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1988, he spent five years in the Blue Jays’ organization before the Florida Marlins selected him with their first pick in the 1992 expansion draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder suited up for seven games for the Marlins in 1993 and then returned to the big leagues with the Cincinnati Reds for five contests in 1995 and for seven more with Cleveland the following year. He enjoyed his greatest professional success, however, with the Japan Pacific League’s Nippon Ham Fighters where he clubbed at least 33 home runs in three different seasons between 1997 and 2000.