MIAMI – Josh Naylor’s last visit to Marlins Park came amid a last hurrah for one generation of the Canadian national team, which was quickly and decisively swept out of the World Baseball Classic’s first round this past spring.
The slugging first baseman from Mississauga, Ont., returned to Miami on Sunday for the Futures Game as part of a promising next generation of Canadians, suiting up for the World Team alongside up-and-coming right-handers Mike Soroka of Calgary and Cal Quantrill of Port Hope, Ont.
Naylor and Quantrill are both at advanced-A Lake Elsinore in the San Diego Padres system, while Soroka is at double-A Mississippi for the Atlanta Braves. While each is aggressively pursuing their own path to the big leagues, they also share a vision of reuniting again one day to lead the national team.
"That would be crazy," says Naylor, who had two at-bats in this year’s Classic. "We were short some players that it would have helped us to get, but everything happens for a reason, it is what it is. With Cal and Mike, that would be a great pitching staff, I’d tell you. That would be insane, they’re freaking good."
Says Quantrill: "We’ve joked around about that. We can see an Olympics or a World Baseball Classic where a lot of the guys we know that are here or elsewhere in the minor leagues are on that team. Obviously we still have a long way to go but that would be pretty awesome. The future is pretty bright."
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The 2017 Classic roster was depleted by the absences of several top players and team pressure not to attend for several others. Soroka and Quantrill both received consideration for the team, but some organizations are reluctant to hand over their young arms.
Both treaded carefully around the matter, Soroka noting that "there’s always complications with having to throw earlier in the spring and the club does have somewhat of an opinion on that," and Quantrill pointing out he’s in his first full season after Tommy John. "Now that I’m past the surgery and everything," he says, "there’s maybe a little bit more opportunity."
Still, should the tournament proceed to a 2021 edition, a potential Canadian pitching staff could feature Seattle Mariners lefty James Paxton, Nick Pivetta of the Philadelphia Phillies, who impressed in a start versus Colombia at the ’17 Classic, Quantrill, Soroka and Landon Leach, the big-armed righty chosen 37th overall by the Minnesota Twins in last month’s draft.
Add in Naylor, Mariners outfield prospect Tyler O’Neill and shortstop Adam Hall, just drafted 60th overall by the Baltimore Orioles, and there’s a very impressive wave of Canadian talent on the way.
"It’s pretty cool to see the same group of guys come up and see who’s doing it big every year," says Soroka. "Every year it’s getting deeper. Canadian talent is really getting noticeable."
A 6-foot-5, 225-pound righty who won’t turn 20 until Aug. 4, Soroka continues to make strides that belie his age. Though 16 starts, he’s posted a 2.95 earned-run average over 91.2 innings with a 1.113 WHIP and 73 strikeouts at Mississippi at a level typically for players two or three years older than him, leveraging a strong repertoire amplified by a moxie that made him a first-rounder in 2015.
"Last year was my first full season and it was about learning myself as a pitcher," he says. "This year, getting to double-A and facing more experienced hitters, I’ve really learned so much about the game, game management, stuff along those standpoints. I feel from there I’m a completely different pitcher mentally on the mound, I’m so much more cognizant of the game around baseball you don’t necessarily see going on. Some of those things are what make big-leaguers and guys stick there. You’ve got to keep learning."
Quantrill, the eighth overall pick last year coming off elbow surgery, quipped that since he has “hardly pitched the last three years, I’d say pitching is probably a good thing to do," when asked about his primary point of progress. In 14 starts covering 73.2 innings at Lake Elsinore, the 22-year-old has posted a 3.67 ERA and 1.385 WHIP with 76 strikeouts.
"I feel like I’ve been healthy the entire year, arm feels great, and starting to get back where I was in high school and my freshman year in college," says the Stanford graduate. "I’m pitching deep into games now, I personally am not thinking about it anymore. I’m sure they have their rules and their total pitches and innings counts on the season. In terms of my approach and what they’ve told me to do, it’s go out and win a baseball game."
Naylor, meanwhile, has overcome the initial shock of being traded last year by the Marlins as part of a package for right-hander Andrew Cashner, settling in nicely at Lake Elsinore, slashing .297/.361/.452 with eight homers and 27 walks in 313 plate appearances. The 12th overall pick in 2015 also got a taste of big-league life at the Classic for Canada.
"It’s hard to hit 101 that moves about five feet, let’s put it that way," the 20-year-old says with a grin. "You’ve got to adjust to what you’re given. For all the kids who move up quick, you’ve got to find a way to survive, it’s either sink or swim, so you’ve got to swim."
Naylor and his fellow Canucks at the Futures Game have certainly done that this season, although participating in the showcase together meant no movement in the bragging rights ledger.
"You know what? I’m 4-for-4 off Cal lifetime, not a big deal, one triple, one double," says Naylor. "I’m not bragging or anything. I’ve never faced Soroka. I’m kind of scared to."
