Fitzpatrick: Axford couldn’t woo Ohtani to Jays, but deserves credit for impacting Canucks
National team alum and former big league closer John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) has made a huge impact on baseball in his home country. Photo: Baseball Canada
January 17, 2024
By Trevor Fitzpatrick
Canadian Baseball Network
As Owen Caissie walked onto the stage to receive his Canadian Futures Award at the annual Baseball Canada Awards Banquet and Fundraiser on Saturday, he was greeted by one of the only other players in attendance who could match his size, the veteran John Axford.
With Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) standing at 6-foot-3 and Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) at 6-foot-5, it would’ve been hard to miss either of them throughout the festivities. The two giants shook hands and watched the commemorative highlight pack play.
Then, emcee Mike Wilner went in for his interviews.
After asking Caissie how much the veterans of Team Canada helped him on his baseball journey, he asked Axford the same question but reversed: “How much do you think you helped the young players get to where they are today?”
Axford paused to think and looked around at the crowd before saying jokingly, “I’m the entire reason. It was all me.”
Laughter and applause burst out from the audience. From then on, almost each preceding award recipient made sure to thank Axford during their interviews.
It was all for fun then, but with all that Axford has done for Canadian baseball, his statement wasn’t too far off the mark.
The right-hander pitched 11 seasons in the majors, including a stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018. His best year came in 2011 though, when he registered 46 saves for the Milwaukee Brewers the year after Trevor Hoffman retired.
Before that, he played on Canada’s Junior National Team in 2001 and made multiple appearances for Canada on the international stage such as the 2003 COPABE Baseball World Cup Qualifier and the 2013 WBC.
Unfortunately, injuries started to slow down Axford as his career progressed. The 2018 campaign proved particularly challenging when a case of bone spurs shortened his season and he later had a second Tommy John surgery. He had his first at the young age of 20.
There’s no denying his longevity though. At the 2023 WBC, he was able to come back at the age of 39 to pitch again for his country.
“That longevity is something I picked up from guys I played with very early on. David Weathers, LaTroy Hawkins, and Trevor Hoffman were all guys that pitched in their 40s,” Axford recalled, “Seeing those guys play, seeing them prepare every day, I learned what it took to keep in peak shape for a long time.”
Some of that preparation involved taking care of his own mental health. A part of the game that has become increasingly important to not just players but teams alike as the years have gone on.
“The game's really changed that way a lot and I think generations now, we've also changed in that way to be able to speak about it a little bit more, to know that it is important to talk about it. It’s really beneficial to talk about. It can be great to understand that you have teammates that are feeling the same way.”
Axford’s dedication to baseball didn’t go unnoticed by many. As Greg Hamilton, the head coach and director of Canada’s men’s national teams put it, “He’s the essence of what a competitor is all about. John is the essence of what it means to play for your country.”
Now nearly a year removed from the WBC, Axford is taking things easier. His time is split between coaching his sons and enjoying non-baseball activities he didn’t have as much time for during his career.
As he put it, “I’m not working out as much and I’m not throwing a baseball as much. I do miss some of those parts a little bit, but it’s also nice to give it a break.”
A part of that break saw one of his Tweets going viral. You likely know of or have seen the one.
Picture this: all of Canada is in a frenzy. Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s biggest superstar is on the free agent market and it seems that the Blue Jays are a top landing spot for him.
One thing leads to another and a private jet has left Anaheim for Toronto. Thousands upon thousands of people are tracking this plane.
During the mad scramble, just a few days before the whole jet scenario took place, Axford created one of the best free agent sales pitches that Canadian baseball had ever seen.
More than half-a-million views and over 5,000 likes. Who can blame anyone? That steak did look delicious.
“I had my friends messaging me and my kids asking me if I knew anything,” Axford said while smiling, “It’s amazing when you see a once-in-a-lifetime player like that. With all the media around it, I thought I’d just send out a fun little Tweet, somehow a lot of people thought it was a good one.”
Maybe all of his quick wit comes from all of the films he watches. What started as an escape from baseball on his off days has become a continually growing passion.
“It gives me something else to focus on, it gives me a different way to look at life and what’s really important.”
So, if you’re hoping to run into Axford, the Milwaukee Film Festival is a good place to start. He still tries to make it down whenever he can. Of course, while his storied past did have many stops and he’s sure to make many more, he’ll always be Canada’s “Ax Man”.