August 31, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball notes from the past few days:

Balazovic sent to triple-A

It was truly a rollercoaster week for right-hander Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) which concluded on Sunday when he was sent down to the triple-A St. Paul Saints by the Minnesota Twins. This came after he had been recalled by the big-league club on Thursday when the Twins placed right-hander Oliver Ortega on the 15-day injured list with a left lumbar strain. That promotion (if you’re still following) occurred after he had been demoted to triple-A on August 20 after allowing three runs in an inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 19. In all, in 18 appearances with the Twins this season, the 6-foot-5 Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum owns a 4.44 ERA and has registered 17 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.

Julien one homer shy of tying Canadian MLB record for 2B

Junior National Team and ABC alum Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) belted his 11th home run of the season for the Twins on Friday. According to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, that leaves Julien one shy of Langley, B.C. native Brett Lawrie’s record for most home runs by a Canadian second baseman in a big league season. Lawrie socked 12 homers for the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

Yerzy signs with Kansas City Monarchs

After being released by the Cincinnati Reds on August 15, Andy Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) has signed with the independent American Association’s Kansas City Monarchs. In 17 combined games between double-A and triple-A in the Reds organization this season, Yerzy had four home runs and 14 RBIs and had registered a .371 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .900 OPS. The Toronto Mets and Junior National Team grad was chosen in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played parts of six seasons with the D-Backs, rising as high as double-A prior to landing in the Reds’ organization this year. Initially, during his pro career, he was used exclusively as a catcher but in recent years, he has seen more action at first base.

Weisner signs first pro contract

University of the Fraser Valley alum Jonah Weisner (Mission, B.C.) announced on Monday that he has signed his first pro contract with the Quebec Capitales of the independent Frontier League. The 5-foot-10 middle infielder has excelled for the past two NAIA seasons with the Ottawa University Braves of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. In 2022, he batted .427 with 15 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 53 games for the Braves. He followed that up by hitting .346 with three homers and 19 stolen bases in 49 contests in 2023. This summer, he starred with the Sylvan Lake Gulls of the Western Canadian Baseball League, hitting .392 with five homers and 49 RBIs, while swiping 23 bases, in 56 games.

Cerantola promoted to double-A

The Kansas City Royals promoted right-hander Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) to the double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals yesterday. The Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum had struck out 80 batters in 62 1/3 innings in 29 appearances with the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits this season. Selected in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Royals, the 6-foot-5 righty is in his third professional season.

Charles hired by IBL’s Chatham-Kent Barnstormers

Former Toronto Blue Jays prospect Steve Charles (London, Ont.) has been hired as the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers’ first batting coach. Charles joins a Barnstormers staff that will be managed by former Montreal Expo Dan Norman. A Dorchester, Ontario minor baseball alum, Charles played three seasons in the Blue Jays organization from 1994 to 1996 and later was part of their coaching and scouting staff. Charles also played for the London Majors in the Intercounty Baseball League and briefly managed the Brantford Red Sox in 2006.