By: Matt Betts
When Canada opens the World Baseball Classic in just over two weeks, it will be a former Terrier helping anchor the rotation.
Team Canada unveiled its roster for the tournament on MLB Network on Feb. 5 and among the names was right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill.
What was also notable were the names not on the roster, including starter Nick Pivetta and relievers Cade Smith, Matt Brash and Erik Sabrowski. Without them, more responsibility will land on the arm of Quantrill.
But don’t expect high expectations to get to the Port Hope native.
The son of 14-year big leaguer and former Terriers pitching coach, Paul Quantrill, is no stranger to the bright lights. In seven big league seasons of his own, he’s posted a 47-46 record to go along with a 4.35 ERA over 836.2 career innings.
He made two postseason starts with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022, one of which came at Yankee Stadium. Time with the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves and now a spring training invite from the Texas Rangers rounds out his major league resume.
He’s also represented Canada at the junior national team level and during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Prior to being selected by the Padres with the eighth pick in the 2016 draft, Quantrill pitched at Stanford.
Now, he’ll be a key part of a Canadian team hoping to escape the first round of the WBC for the first time ever.
Canada opens its tournament on Saturday, March 7 versus Colombia before taking on Panama on March 8, pool host Puerto Rico on March 10 and Cuba on March 11.
The top two teams in the pool move on to the quarterfinals.