Glew: Canadian Guardians move on to ALCS
Bo and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) are playing together in the post-season for the Cleveland Guardians. Photo: Bo Naylor/Twitter
October 13, 2024
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
The 2024 Cleveland Guardians are the most Canadian team in MLB postseason history.
Sure, the Toronto Blue Jays are based in Canada and have competed in the post-season 10 times, but they have never had four Canadians play for them in same post-season game.
That happened twice for the Guardians in their Division Series against the Detroit Tigers — in Game 3 and Game 5. Those were also the first two times in major league history that four Canadian have suited up for the same team in a post-season contest.
And catcher Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and relievers Erik Sabrowski (St. Albert, Alta.) and Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) all played important roles in helping the Guardians defeat the Tigers and move on to face the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, which begins on Monday.
But which of the other three remaining major league squads has the most Canadian content?
We researched that question, and here’s your answer:
1. Cleveland Guardians
If major league fans outside Cleveland didn’t know who Cade Smith was before the Guardians’ American League Division Series triumph over the Tigers, they do now.
The 25-year-old right-hander appeared in each of the five games and, according to Zach Worden of Sportsnet, broke the record for most strikeouts by a reliever in an MLB Division Series with 12. It was a record held by fellow Canadian right-hander Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) who did it for the Boston Red Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. Smith has allowed just two hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings this postseason.
Sabrowski, his Canadian bullpen mate, also contributed to the Guardians’ series win with two scoreless relief appearances. This combined with his eight scoreless regular season outings after his call-up on August 28 means that he has not allowed a run in his first 10 major league games.
Bo and Josh Naylor, who started at catcher and first base respectively for the Guardians, were quiet at the plate in the Division Series. Bo was 0-for-11 but was strong defensively behind the plate, while Josh went 4-for-20 with an RBI in the series.
It should be noted, however, that Josh has a successful track record against the Yankees in the post-season, going 11-for-29 (.379 batting average) with four doubles, two home runs and six RBIs in seven games.
The Yankees and Guardians faced off six times in the regular season. The Bombers won four of those contests.
Players: C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), 1B/DH Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), LHP Erik Sabrowski (St. Albert, Alta.), RHP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.)
Minor league players: RHP Sean Heppner (Richmond, B.C.), LHP Adam Tulloch (Toronto, Ont.), LHP Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.), RHP Jacob Zibin (Richmond Hill, Ont.)
Minor league coaches: Dr. Stephen Osterer (Ottawa, Ont.), director of pitching development
Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.) is the New York Mets’ director of major league operations. Photo: New York Mets
2. New York Mets
Determination and resilience are two words that describe Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.), who was hired to be the New York Mets’ director of major league operations on February 28, 2022. Benn was often the only female on her High Park Little League teams in Toronto when she was growing up and more than once it was suggested to her that she didn’t belong. But she persevered and her passion for the sport and commitment to breaking barriers to ensure that women are able to obtain prominent positions in pro baseball have made her a leader and an inspiration. In August, it was reported that Benn will leave the Mets after the season to pursue other opportunities. Before she departs, however, Benn will do everything she can to help the Mets past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Also, after serving as the Blue Jays’ mental performance coach for four years, national team alum Jimmy Van Ostrand (Vancouver, B.C.) moved on to become the Mets’ director of mental performance this year.
The Mets will face off against the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series starting tonight at Dodger Stadium. The two teams haven’t played each since the end of May. The Dodgers took four of six games from the Mets during the regular season.
Executive: Elizabeth Benn (Toronto, Ont.), director of major league operations
Major league coaches: Eric Langill (Kirkland, Que.), bullpen catcher; Jimmy Van Ostrand (Vancouver, BC), director of mental performance
Minor league players: RHP Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.)
Yankees scout Steve Wilson takes questions in Seoul in 2019. Sun Dong-Yuhl, former head coach of the South Korean national team, is on the left. Photo: Yonhap News
3. New York Yankees
There isn’t a Canadian on the Bronx Bombers’ post-season roster, but there’s no shortage of Canucks working in the organization. The club employs a trio of Canadian scouts in Steve Wilson (Victoria, BC), Shawn Hill (Georgetown, Ont.) and Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.). They also boast a Canadian broadcaster in Nancy Newman (Toronto, Ont.), who sits in the same chair Mel Allen once sat.
And in the last two drafts, the Yankees have added two players with Canadian roots. In 2023, they selected left-hander Kyle Carr in the 3rd round. He was raised in California, but his father Darcy was born in Sydney, N.S.
This year, the Bombers chose Steve Wilson’s son, Tyler, an outfielder from Grand Canyon University, in the 10th round.
The Yankees will open the American League Championship Series at home on Monday night against the Guardians.
Minor league players: LHP Kyle Carr (father is from Sydney, N.S.), RHP Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC), OF Tyler Wilson (father is from Victoria, B.C.)
Scouts: Steve Wilson (Victoria, B.C.), Shawn Hill (Georgetown, Ont.), Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.), Cory Melvin (Doug Melvin’s son)
Broadcaster: Nancy Newman (Toronto, Ont.) New York Yankees Magazine, host, YES Network
Off the field Canadian talent: Jessica (Lack) Ventura (Calgary, Alta.), class-A Tampa Yankees, manager, partnership and community activation; Andrew Wright (Woodstock, N.B.), director of Dominican Republic operations
Ellen Harrigan (Beeton, Ont.) is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ senior director, business administration
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers don’t have a player born in Canada on their roster, however, first baseman Freddie Freeman’s parents were born north of the border, and he played for Canada in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics. Prior to the 2022 season, Freeman inked a six-year, $162-million contract with the Dodgers. And he certainly hasn’t disappointed. He has been an All-Star in each of his three seasons with the club and was among the National League leaders in most key offensive categories in 2022 and 2023. This season, he batted .282 and had a .378 on-base percentage with 22 home runs and 89 RBIs in 147 games. He has been trying to play through an ankle injury this post-season. He missed Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, but he started at first base in Game 5 and went 4-for-14 (.286 batting average) in the series.
The Dodgers also employ Beeton, Ont., native Ellen Harrigan, who is one of Major League Baseball’s most respected executives. After beginning her career with the Blue Jays as an administrative aide in player development in 1981 and later becoming the general manager of the club’s New York Penn League affiliate in St. Catharines, Harrigan moved on to the Dodgers and has risen through the organization’s ranks to hold a number of key executive positions. Now in her 24th season with the club, she is currently the team’s senior director, baseball administration.
The Dodgers have home field advantage against the Mets in the NLCS, which begins tonight at Dodger Stadium.
Player: Freddie Freeman (Villa Park, Calif.), WBC eligible
Executive: Ellen Veronica Harrigan (Beeton, Ont.), senior director, baseball administration
Minor league players: RHP Lucas Wepf (Georgetown, Ont.)
Doctor: Dr. Keith Payne (Niagara On The Lake, Ont.), medical consultant