(Ottawa) Six-time star Freddie Freeman will take Canada to the World Baseball Classic next month.
Freeman, the 2020 National and 2021 World Series Most Valuable Player along with Atlanta, is among the 30 players expected to represent the country.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the general manager of the Canadian team, Ernie Whitt.
Freeman was born in Fountain Valley, California to Canadian parents. He also represented Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
325 first baseman last year with the Dodgers with 21 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Canada has 10 players who played in the MLB last season, including outfielder and two-time Golden Glove winner Tyler O’Neill of the Cardinals.
Nick Pivetta of the Red Sox and Cal Quantrill of the Guardians will lead the pitching, while Matt Brash (Mariners), Otto Lopez (Blue Jays), Bo Naylor (Guardians), Abraham Toro (Brewers), Jared Young (Cubs) and Rob Zastryzny (Pirates) was also nominated to represent Canada.
Former players Andrew Albers, Phillippe Aumont, John Axford, Adam Loewen, Scott Mathieson and Jacob Robson were also named.
Maple leaf has eight players who have participated in the event: Albers (2013, 2017), Aumont (2009, 2013), Axford (2013), Freeman (2017), Loewen (2006, 2013), Mathieson (2006, 2013, 2017), O’Neill (2017) and Pivetta (2017).
Whitt’s team includes Hall of Famer Larry Walker, as well as Quebecers Denis Boucher and Russell Martin.
In the first round, Canada will face Phoenix in Group C along with Colombia, Great Britain, Mexico and the United States.
Canada will play its first game against Great Britain on March 12th.
