July 14, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball news and notes from the past week:

-The MLB draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. E.T. Tune into the Canadian Baseball Network for updates on the Canadians selected. Bob Elliott has done a tremendous amount of work to assemble the 2024 Canadian Baseball Network Draft List which lists the top Canuck prospects heading into the draft. Outfielder Dante Nori, who was born in Toronto while his father Micah was a coach with the Toronto Raptors, is expected to be the first Canadian-born player taken (likely in the first two rounds). For more information, you can read profiles of the top Canadian prospects here.

-In his start on Wednesday, Boston Red Sox right-hander Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) struck out eight consecutive batters in a game for the second time this season. Facing the Oakland A’s at Fenway Park, Pivetta fanned second baseman Zack Gelof to end the top of the third inning and then struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings and then the first batter (Shea Langeliers) of the six. In total, Pivetta had 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. It was the 15th double-digit strikeout game of his career. Unfortunately, he also allowed four runs and was the losing pitcher in the A’s 5-2 victory. Pivetta also fanned eight batters in a row in his start against the Detroit Tigers on May 30.

-Since his July 1 call-up, Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Rob Zastryzny has not allowed a run in five appearances. He started on Canada Day but only pitched one inning. His other four outings have been in relief. Prior to his promotion, Zastryzny was 4-0 with a 3.18 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings in 28 appearances in triple-A. Last season, the 32-year-old southpaw posted a 4.79 ERA in 21 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A second-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2013, Zastryzny recorded a 4.41 ERA in 18 relief appearances with the Cubs from 2016 to 2018 and earned a World Series ring in 2016.

-It has been a tough-luck season for Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) to say the least. His record fell to 0-10 after he allowed a run in the seventh inning in the Minnesota Twins’ 3-2 win over the Sox on Tuesday. Somehow, Soroka has been saddled with a loss in each of his past three relief appearances even though he has allowed just three earned runs and struck out 12 in eight innings during that stretch. For the most part, Soroka has been excellent out of the bullpen for the Sox after beginning the season in the rotation. As a reliever, Soroka owns a 3.49 ERA in 12 relief appearances and has 47 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.

-Canadian baseball historian Tyler Partridge pointed out on Twitter that with his sixth home run of the season for the Guardians on Thursday, Bo Naylor and his older brother, Josh, have tied their own record for most home runs in a major league season by Canadian brothers. The two Mississauga, Ont.-born brothers have combined for 28 home runs this season. That’s the same total they had in 2023 when Josh hit 17 and Bo smacked 11.

–Josh Naylor‘s 22 home runs prior to the All-Star break has me wondering what Canadian major leaguer has belted the most home runs prior to the All-Star break. Without having access to definitive statistical databases, my best guess would be Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) who had 25 at the break for the Colorado Rockies in 1997. If I’m wrong, please let me know.

-Speaking of Josh Naylor, he gave a nice shoutout to Guardians reliever and fellow Junior National Team alum Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) while speaking with the media after his All-Star selection was announced last Sunday. Smith has been outstanding for the Guardians in his rookie season. In 42 relief appearances, he has a 4-1 record with a 2.38 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. On a side note, we don’t acknowledge the great work of scouts nearly enough. Smith was signed as an amateur free agent out of the University of Hawaii by Guardians scout Kyle Bamberger for a reported $20,000. Not bad for a pitcher who should be a candidate for the American League Rookie of the Year.

-Thirty-seven years ago today, Montreal Expos legend Tim Raines went 3-for-3 for the National League in the All-Star Game and hit a two-run triple in the top of the 13th inning to propel the NL to a 2-0 win. For his efforts, he was named the game’s MVP. You can listen to Vin Scully call Raines’ hits here.

-On this date 12 years ago, Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.) tossed six scoreless innings in the Cubs’ 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. With his performance, Dempster had thrown 33 consecutive scoreless innings which tied a Cubs’ record. Unfortunately, the St. Louis Cardinals scored three runs against him in the first inning of his next start, six days later, to end the streak.

-Miami Marlins infielder Otto Lopez started a rehab assignment with the triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Friday. The former Blue Jay was placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation on July 1. The Canadian national team alum was batting .252 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 54 games with the Marlins prior to the injury. On February 13, Lopez, who lived in Montreal for part of his youth, had his contract sold to the San Francisco Giants by the Blue Jays. He spent spring training with the Giants before he was designated for assignment and claimed on waivers by the Marlins. Born in Santo Domingo, D.R., Lopez was signed as an international free agent by the Blue Jays on July 4, 2016.

-Thirty years ago today, Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter played the game in a jersey with Toronto misspelled “Torotno” on it (see photo above). The spelling error was made by the manufacturer. Perhaps the jersey was a bad omen. Carter went 0-for-4 and the Blue Jays lost 7-3 to the Texas Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington.

-On this date 24 years ago, former big league right-hander Georges Maranda (Levis, Que.) passed away at the age of 68. He posted a 4.52 ERA in 49 MLB appearances (eight starts) with the Giants (1960) and Minnesota Twins (1962). Following his playing career, he coached the Eastern League’s Québec Carnavals in 1973 and 1974. Just prior to his death in 2000, he was elected to the Québec Baseball Hall of Fame.