2023 #9 Program

OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE VANCOUVER CANADIANS

MEET OUR

MASCOTS

Q&A WITH

KEKAI RIOS

SUPERSTAR SERIES RON CEY - AUGUST 22

DEVONTE BROWN PROVING TO BE A FINE FIND FOR BLUE JAYS SCOUTS

TEAM ROSTERS

2023 SEASON - ISSUE 9

DON’T MISS A&W FAMILY FUN

GATES OPEN AT NOON. FIRST PITCH 1:05 APRIL 9

Toque Giveaway FIRST 500 FANS

APRIL 16

Umbrella Giveaway FIRST 500 FANS

APRIL 30

Mascot Blanket Giveaway

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

MAY 14

JULY 16

Mother's Day Visor Giveaway

Bucket Hat Giveaway

JUNE 4

Pennant Giveaway

FIRST 500 MOMS (WITH A CHILD PRESENT)

Mascot Beach Towel Giveaway FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

JUNE 18

Father's Day Hat Giveaway

FIRST 500 DADS (WITH A CHILD PRESENT)

JULY 2

Mascot Socks Giveaway FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

JULY 30

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

AUGUST 13

Fanny Pack Giveaway FIRST 1,000 FANS

AUGUST 27

Mini Bat Giveaway

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

SEPTEMBER 3

Lunch Bag Giveaway FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

2 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

MARK STEFFENS/FOTOGUY PHOTOGRAPHY

CONTENTS

9 GET TO KNOW YOUR CANADIANS FRONT OFFICE STAFF

Meet the team behind our team as we feature those who work around the clock to ensure your best ballpark experience.

14 2023 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

This is your chance to map out the entire summer using our vibrant and colourful Promo Schedule that shows you every single moment this season. A great tool to plan out the games you absolutely HAVE to see this season.

17 ROAD TO THE SHOW

Climbing through the Blue Jays system.

18 TEAM ROSTERS

22 MEET THE 2023 VANCOUVER CANADIANS

This year’s squad is looking to bring home Northwest League Championship #5! Let’s meet this year’s ‘Boys of Summer’!

34 OUTFIELDER DEVONTE BROWN PROVING TO BE A FINE FIND FOR TORONTO BLUE JAYS SCOUTS

Devonte Brown is making a scout or two with the Toronto Blue Jays look especially astute right now.

32 HOW TO SCORE THE BASEBALL GAME A Scorekeeping 101.

40 Q&A WITH KEKAI RIOS

2023 Vancouver Canadians catcher Kekai Rios steps up to the plate in the latest instalment of C’s Chat.

48 MEET OUR MASCOTS!

The Canadians feature not one, not two, but seven amazing mascots all with their own claim to fame! Take a look at the colourful characters that keeps fans smiling all summer long.

50 KIDS FUN PAGE

Fun kids activities

The Souvenir Program is published by the Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission of Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club is prohibited. Copyright 2023 Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club. 4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V5V 3H4. Phone: 604-872-5232 Fax: 604-872-1714 Email: staff@canadiansbaseball.com Web: www.canadiansbaseball.com

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 3

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We’re the trusted source for community news, award-winning stories and local flavour.

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FRIDAYS

Gates Open at Noon. First Pitch 1:05 BUY TICKETS 7 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2019

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 7

The Vancouver Canadians Baseball League is looking for your help this season. Your assistance will help more than 300 local children between the ages of 6-11 learn a number of life skills on the diamond including teamwork, fair play and how to develop confidence and pride.

If you would like to make a donation to Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation, please go to www.vancouverfoundation.ca/vancouvercanadians and click on the donate button.

THANK YOU for supporting the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation and Vancouver Canadians Baseball League. Because of your generosity, we can move forward and bring a summer of fun and memories to children from right here in our own neighbourhoods.

8 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

FRONT OFFICE STAFF JAKE KERR

CHAIR OF VANCOUVER CANADIANS BASEBALL Born and raised in Vancouver, Jake Kerr attended the University of British Columbia before completing his MBA in Economics and Finance at the University of California at Berkeley. A Canadian business icon, Mr. Kerr has been the recipient of the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia for his remarkable contributions to both our country and province.

Taking ownership of the Canadians back in 2007, Mr. Kerr has led the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club to eight (8) franchise attendance records, multiple Larry McPhail Awards for excellence within the Northwest League, and Minor League Baseball’s most coveted accolade - the John H. Johnson President’s Trophy, awarded to MiLB’s most complete franchise.

ANDY DUNN

PRESIDENT Andy Dunn has been with the Vancouver Canadians since 2007, helping guide Canada's only affiliated Minor League Baseball franchise to a number of national accolades including the coveted John H. Johnson President's Trophy (2013) presented to the most complete franchise in MiLB - marking the first time in the award's 40-year history that a Canadian-based organization received the honour.

Known by many in the baseball world, Andy has twice been named Florida State League Executive of the Year (1999, 2000) and also Northwest League Executive of the Year (2008), and has helped the Canadians reach new heights with 10 Northwest League awards during his tenure in Vancouver including multiple John H. Johnson & Larry MacPhail Awards

JEFF MOONEY

CHAIR OF THE VANCOUVER CANADIANS BASEBALL FOUNDATION In addition to his valuable contributions to the Vancouver Canadians, Jeff Mooney is Chairman Emeritus and a major shareholder of A&W Food Services of Canadians Inc. Today, A&W is a strategy-driven organization that has grown to over 1,000 locations across Canada. A&W has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada for the past 10 consecutive years, and in 2008, it was honoured to become an official member of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Platinum Club.

Mr. Mooney is an alumnus of both the University of Saskatchewan and Harvard University Graduate School of Business. In 2003, Mr. Mooney received Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee Medal and three years later was inducted into the Restaurant Hall of Fame(2006). In 2016, Mr. Mooney was inducted into the B.C. Business Laureates Hall of Fame and this year received the Order of Canada

ALLAN BAILEY

GENERAL MANAGER Allan Bailey has been with the Vancouver Canadians since 2007 and was appointed General Manager on September 5th, 2018, after spending the previous seven seasons as the organization's Assistant General Manager. Allan has led several departments during his tenure with the C's including the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office and its ticket operations as well as his more recent efforts in Team Operations handling everything from player housing and travel right through to Information Technology (IT). Born in Victoria, B.C., and raised on the Lower Mainland's Sunshine Coast, Allan completed his education at McGill University while playing five seasons with the McGill Redbirds baseball program. Prior to university, Allan played for the North Shore Twins of the B.C. Premier League

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 9

STEPHANI ELLIS

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Returning for her ninth season with the Vancouver Canadians Stephani handles a wide variety of key organizational elements including Group Sales as well as the C's social media platforms. She was promoted to Assistant General Manager role prior to the 2019 season and was the recipient of the 2019 Northwest League Female Executive of the Year for her work with the C's.

After a standout collegiate softball career at California University of PA where Stephani played for the Vulcans and was named a Regional All-American, the Prince of Wales Secondary graduate and former Team BC member began her marketing career with the Canadians.

Stephani works in concert with group leaders who expect the Canadians to provide an excellent ballpark experience with each visit out at Nat Bailey Stadium.

BRENDA CHMILIAR

WALTER COSMAN

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING With more than 20 years of Sales & Marketing experience here in Vancouver, Walter decided to put those skills to work in the sport he's most passionate about, baseball.

With a B.A. from the University of New Brunswick, Walter has worked with Proctor & Gamble, Molson Canada, Granville Island Brewing and Steamworks Brewing. Walter was also General Manager of Petcurean leading a staff of more than 70 people. With a long-standing corporate partnership with the Canadians prior to his arrival in May of 2019, Walter joins our club fully aware of the standard that has put the C's among the best in Minor League Baseball

CHARLENE YAROSHUK

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Brenda is entering her 16th season out at Nat Bailey Stadium but her second as Financial Controller for the Vancouver Canadians. She spent the first 10 years with Aramark Food Services in the company's financial division, dividing her time between at Nat Bailey Stadium and Rogers Arena.

Brenda is responsible for all aspects of the Vancouver Canadians financial operations. She is right at home here at Nat Bailey Stadium, as much of her childhood was spent playing baseball on the local fields in Kamloops

ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR Charlene is excited to be entering her fifth season with the Vancouver Canadians as their Accounting Coordinator. In 2020 she graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. Growing up in the Vancouver area she spent most of her free time practicing martial arts and currently has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

MANAGER OF TICKETING OPERATIONS Steven enters his fourth season with the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club, and his first as Manager of Ticket Operations.

MANAGER OF BROADCASTING & MEDIA RELATIONS Tyler joined the Canadians in 2021 and is now in his sixth season in the Blue Jays organization and ninth in MiLB. Before the C's, Tyler served as the Director of Promotions & Entertainment and Road Radio Broadcaster for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Over the course of three seasons in Manchester, he oversaw the entire in-game presentation and promotions departments while traveling throughout the Eastern League calling 'Cats games. Tyler began his MiLB career in 2014 as a communications intern for the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm in Southern California and was promoted twice in three years.

STEVEN MAISEY

After graduating from Langara College with a diploma in Recreation Leadership Management, and interning for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Steven began his career with the Canadians on the operations side of the club, spending the two seasons (2018 – 19) as a member of the A&B Tools Rental Grounds Crew.

Steven transitioned into his current role as Manager of Ticket Operations in January 2020, and looks to maintain the service standards that fans have come to expect of the Canadians.

In the offseason, Steven volunteers his time as a skills coach for the Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey.

10 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

TYLER ZICKEL

The San Diego native earned his B.A. in English from Whittier College in Los Angeles, where he played on the Poets baseball team and was elected Student Body President. He and his fiancée Kate make their offseason home in Portland, OR with their dog Rosie.

Proud to support the

AVAILABLE ON THE CONCOURSE AND at THE 3RD BASE CRAFT ZONE

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 11

KENDRA CHIN

MARKETING COORDINATOR Kendra joins the C’s Marketing department for her first full season of baseball. She has recently completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with specialization in Marketing and Human Resource Management. Prior to joining the team at The Nat, she worked for several years in the health & fitness industry. Her goal is to intertwine her passion for sports with her business background. In her spare time, she coaches basketball to inner city kids. This Vancouverite also likes spending her free time playing basketball, tennis, golf, and skiing.

JACOB NAKHLEH

SALES COORDINATOR Jacob returns for his eighth season with the C’s and his second as Sales Associate. Joining the club for the 2016 season, Jacob began his time with the C’s in the Box Office, first as a Ticket Sales Representative, then as Box Office Assistant, with his transition to sales coming at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

Jacob graduated from the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan in 2021 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. When Jacob’s away from the Nat, you can find him watching Blue Jays baseball, Seahawks football, or, if he’s lucky, ice fishing in Saskatchewan.

OTHON DIAZ

SALES ASSOCIATE Othon is originally from Mexico and moved to Canada to earn his MBA. He has experience working in the marketing department of the Diablos Rojos del Mexico professional baseball team in the Mexican Baseball League.

Throughout his life, Othon has been involved in sports. He spent many years training and competing on an international level in sprint kayak where he won three Pan-American medals in 2014 and 2017.

In his free time, Othon helps coach the U16 & U18 canoe and kayak sprint team at False Creek Racing Canoe Club. He loves watching baseball games at Nat Bailey Stadium while enjoying some good tacos.

12 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

LEVI WEBER

HEAD GROUNDSKEEPER Levi is no stranger to the Northwest League, with prior experience with the Spokane Indians as their Head Groundskeeper at Avista Stadium. His talents have also allowed him to be the field manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Spring Training Facility in Arizona.

The Colton, WA native graduated from Washington State University with a Double Major in Turfgrass Management and Fruit and Vegetable Management and two minors in Horticulture and Agricultural Systems.

In his time away from the ballpark, you can find him on the golf course, weight training or enjoying time with family and friends.

COOPER MISIC

SALES COORDINATOR Cooper is a former Langley Blaze pitcher, took his talents south of the border to play for both Galveston College and at Central Washington University. He graduated from CWU with a Sports Management degree with a specialization in Business.

Prior to joining the Canadians, he was a member of the Ground Crew at Northview Golf & Country Club.

LIAM GUERRIERO

SALES ASSOCIATE 2023 is Liam’s first season with the C’s as a Sales Associate. The 23-yearold graduated from Brock University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from their four-year program.

A native of Waterloo, Ontario, Liam grew up playing competitive hockey for the Waterloo Wolves. He loves playing and watching hockey, baseball, golf and football. He’s a fan of the Boston Bruins, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Browns and Rory McIlroy.

BOX OFFICE ASSISTANT

BALLPARK AND STADIUM OPERATIONS

ZACH MAHAFFY

BROOKS PRIMO

CHRISTIAN WILSON

TRAVIS PORTER

GET IT ON

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 13

2023 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

14 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 15

F D L O C ICE

T F A R C - LOC

R E E B H S RE

R E N R CO

E H T N ATED I

F E S A B D 3R

T R U O C D OO

PROUDLY SERVING

16 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

ROAD TO THE SHOW

The Canadians are a part of the Toronto Blue Jays organization. The C’s are a High A affiliate of the Blue Jays.

That means they are in the middle of the Toronto farm system, slightly higher than the Dunedin Blue Jays (Low A) and the Gulf Coast Blue Jays (Rookie). Baseball players work their way up through the organization in hopes of getting to the big leagues. Toronto is in the American League and pulls its talent from these teams.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (MLB) | TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (416) 341-1000 | BLUEJAYS.COM JOHN SCHNEIDER

DON MATTINGLY

MANAGER

MARK BUDZINSKI

LUIS RIVERA

FIRST BASE COACH

GIL KIM

DAVE HUDGENS

HITTING COACH

JEFF WARE

ASSISTANT HITTING COACH

DAVID HOWELL

ASSISTANT PITCHING COACH, BULLPEN ASSISTANT PITCHING COACH, STRATEGY

ADAM YUDELMAN

MAJOR LEAGUE HITTING STRATEGIST

GUILLERMO MARTINEZ

PITCHING COACH

HUNTER MENSE

THIRD BASE COACH

FIELD COORDINATOR

PETE WALKER

BENCH COACH

ALEX ANDREOPOULOS

MAJOR LEAGUE COACH

LUIS HURTADO

BULLPEN CATCHER

BULLPEN CATCHER

BUFFALO BISONS (AAA) | BUFFALO, NEW YORK (716) 846-2000 | BISONS.COM CASEY CANDAELE MANAGER

HITTING COACH

PITCHING COACH

TIM NORTON

CARSON PHILLIPS

CALEB DANIEL

JUSTIN BATCHER

ROSWELL DEL ROSARIO

KARA TERRY

ATHLETIC TRAINER

MATT HAGUE

ASST. STRENGTH COACH

STRENGTH COACH

JUSTIN ECHEVARRIA

BULLPEN COACH

JAKE MCGUIGGAN

COACH

DEVELOPMENT COACH

ROB DiBERNARDO

DIETITIAN

RYAN MORETTI

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS (AA) | MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE (603) 641-2005 | NHFISHERCATS.COM CESAR MARTIN

MITCH HUCKABAY HITTING COACH

PITCHING COACH

DREW HAYES

CHRIS SCHAEFFER

LUKE GREENE

CASEY CALLISON

GEOFF STALLMAN

RAUL PIMENTEL

MANAGER

ATHLETIC TRAINER

STRENGTH COACH

MATT VON ROEMER

COACH

DIETITIAN

DEVELOPMENT COACH

KEVIN MCCARTHY

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

VANCOUVER CANADIANS (HIGH A) | VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (604) 872-5232 | CANADIANSBASEBALL.COM BRENT LAVALLEE MANAGER

DANIEL CANELLAS

RYAN WRIGHT

BENCH COACH

ROELVIS VARGAS

JOEL BONNETT

HITTING COACH

TOMMY LABRIOLA

ATHLETIC TRAINER

ASHLEY STEPHENSON

PITCHING COACH

YUKA SANUI

STRENGTH COACH

RAUL PIMENTEL

DIETITIAN

AUSTIN BIBENS-DIRKX

POSITION COACH

BULLPEN COACH

LUKE STATLER

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS (LOW A) | DUNEDIN, FLORIDA (727) 733-9302 | DUNEDINBLUEJAYS.COM DONNIE MURPHY MANAGER

GEORGE CARROLL

MATT YOUNG

BENCH COACH

BRANDON HAMMERSTROM ATHLETIC TRAINER

CORY RIORDAN

HITTING COACH

ROSWELL DEL ROSARIO

GEOFF STALLMAN

S&C COACH

YOEL HERNANDEZ

PITCHING COACH

DIETITIAN

BULLPEN COACH

ERIKA MONSALVE

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

PETR STRIBRCKY

DEVELOPMENT COACH

CARLOS POLANCO

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

GULF COAST BLUE JAYS GULF COAST LEAGUE (ROOKIE) | DUNEDIN, FLORIDA (727) 734-8007 JJOSE MAYORGA

PAUL ELLIOTT HITTING COACH

HITTING COACH

COREY HART

FRED LANDERS HITTING COACH

HITTING COACH

JAIME LEVER

ANTONIO CACERES

BRENDAN KELLY

DELTA CLEARY JR.

ASHLEY PONCE

DANIEL TUCKER

JON WOODWORTH

FRANK ESPOSITO

EDWIN ORTIZ

BRYAN ROSALES

MANAGER

PITCHING COACH

SYDNEY JENKINS S&C COACH

COACH

STRENGTH COACH

COACH

DIETITIAN

ASSISTANT COACH

ERIKA MONSALVE

MENTAL PERFORMANCE

ATHLETIC TRAINER COACH

PITCHING COACH

ATHLETIC TRAINER

STEVEN CARDONA

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE BLUE JAYS DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE (DSL) | BOCA CHICA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ANDY FERMIN

DEIFERSON BARRETO

RICARDO NANITA

ROBELIN BAUTISTA

JOSE MATEO

JAIR MORELOS

LUIS SILVA

ALAIN PACHECO

YSIDRO REYES

IMBEWER ALVAREZ

JOSEPH CARDONA

BRYAN ROSALES

ERIKA MONSALVE

ISIDRO LOPEZ

MANAGER

ATHLETIC TRAINER

COACH

ATHLETIC TRAINER

HITTING COACH

STRENGTH COACH

PITCHING COACH

STRENGTH COACH

COACH

DIETITIAN

COACH

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 17

PITCHERS HT WT 15 Cooper Benson 6-0 220 21 Ryan Boyer 6-2 225 35 Ian Churchill 6-2 190 29 Pat Gallagher 6-0 200 16 Hunter Gregory 6-3 220 26 Devereaux Harrison 6-0 190 32 Ryan Jennings 6-0 190 9 Justin Kelly 6-1 195 25 Conor Larkin 6-1 205 30 Adam Macko 6-0 180 12 Kevin Miranda 5-10 180 43 Eric Pardinho 5-10 190 4 Naswell Paulino 5-11 205 31 Sam Ryan 6-3 205 18 Rafael Sanchez 6-1 215 Dahian Santos 5-11 170 36 Anders Tolhurst 6-4 190 Geison Urbaez 6-1 180 CJ Van Eyk 6-1 198

B/T L/L R/R L/L R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R L/L R/R R/R L/L R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R R/R

DOB 8/3/00 5/4/97 2/28/99 6/30/00 11/16/98 11/8/00 6/23/99 12/2/98 3/17/99 12/30/00 11/14/98 1/5/01 4/17/00 9/22/98 8/22/99 2/26/03 9/13/99 7/05/00 9/15/98

HOMETOWN San Luis Obispo, CA Bradford, PA Santa Barbara, CA Leominster, MA Chesapeake, VA Vacaville, CA San Antonio, TX Salt Lake City, UT Royersford, PA Vancouver, BC Dolega, PAN Bastos, Sao Paulo, BR San Cristobal, DR Clifton, VA Antilla, Cuba Acarigua, VZ Santee, CA Cabral, DR Tampa, FL

CATCHERS HT WT 19 Jommer Hernandez 5-11 185 10 Lyle Lin 6-1 200 20 Kekai Rios 5-10 205

B/T R/R R/R R/R

DOB 10/20/00 6/26/97 6/06/97

HOMETOWN Puerto Plata, DR Taipei, Taiwan Kaneohe, HI

OUTFIELDERS 6 Dasan Brown 5 Devonte Brown 11 Gabby Martinez 35 Garrett Spain

B/T R/R R/R R/R L/R

DOB 9/25/01 10/15/99 7/24/02 9/21/00

HOMETOWN Oakville, ON Newnan, GA Maracaibo, VZ Clarksville, TN

INFIELDERS HT WT B/T DOB HOMETOWN 27 Alex De Jesus 6-2 185 R/R 3/22/02 Santo Domingo, DR 7 Cade Doughty 6-1 200 R/R 3/26/01 Denham Springs, LA 8 Josh Kasevich 6-1 205 R/R 1/17/01 Palo Alto, CA 14 Estiven Machado 5-10 180 S/R 10/4/02 Barlovento, VZ 22 Ryan McCarty 5-9 182 R/R 4/22/1999 Yardley, PA 28 Michael Turconi 5-11 185 L/R 6/24/99 Beaver Falls, PA 32 Jeff Wehler 6-0 195 R/R 1/10/99 St. Marys, PA 40 Peyton Williams 6-5 255 L/L 9/14/00 Des Moines, IA HT WT 6-0 185 5-10 210 6-0 175 6-0 185

MANAGER: 33 Brent Lavallee BENCH COACH: 24 Danny Canellas PITCHING COACH: 34 Joel Bonnett HITTING COACH: 12 Ryan Wright

‘22 CLUBS FCL, Dunedin DUN, VAN, NH Dunedin College Vancouver College, DUN, VAN Dunedin Dunedin, Vancouver Dunedin, Vancouver Everett (SEA) Did Not Play Dunedin, Vancouver Vancouver Dunedin, Vancouver DSL, FCL, Dunedin Dunedin, Vancouver FCL, Dunedin Dunedin, New Hampshire Vancouver

‘22 CLUBS Dunedin, Vancouver Hillsboro, Amarillo, Reno Great Lakes, Tulsa

‘22 CLUBS Great Lakes (LAD), Vancouver College, Dunedin College, Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin College, Dunedin, Vancouver College Dunedin ‘22 CLUBS Dunedin, Vancouver Dunedin Dunedin, Vancouver Vancouver

POS. PLAYER COACH: 2 Ashley Stephenson BULLPEN COACH: 38 Austin Bibens-Dirkx ATHLETIC TRAINER: Roelvis Vargas ATHLETIC THERAPIST Katie Reyes

ACQUIRED 17th, ’21, Arizona State FA, 1/27/22 10th Rd, ’22, San Diego 11th Rd, ’22, UConn 8th Rd, ’21, Old Dominion 9th Rd, ’22, Long Beach State 4th Rd, ’22, Louisiana Tech ND FA, 7/21/21 9th Rd, ’21, Penn State Trade (SEA), 11/16/22 INT FA, 8/4/22 INT FA, 7/2/17 INT FA, 7/4/16 12th Rd, ’19, VCU INT FA, 5/13/22 INT FA, 7/2/19 23rd Rd, ’19, Grossmont College NT FA, 10/14/20 2nd Rd, ’20, Florida State

ACQUIRED MiLB FA, 9/8/21 MiLB FA, 4/10/23 Waivers 03/27/2003

ACQUIRED Trade (LAD), 8/2/22 2nd (CB), ’22, Louisiana State 2nd Rd, ’22, Oregon INT FA, 7/3/19 FA, 7/26/22 15th Rd, ’22, Wake Forest ND FA, 6/9/23 7th Rd, ’22, Iowa

ACQUIRED 3rd Rd, ’19, Abbey Park HS (ON) NDFA, 7/26/22 INT FA, 7/24/18 15th Rd, ’21, Austin Peay State

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING: Tommy LaBriola DIETITIAN: Yuka Sanui MENTAL COACH: Raul Pimentel TECH ASSISTANT: Luke Statler

PRONUNCIATIONS Devereaux – dev-er-row | Abdiel – AWB-d-yell | Pardinho – par-DEEN-yo | Naswell – NAZ-well | Dahian – dye-ANNE | Svanson – pronounce the v Anders – rhymes with flanders | Jommer – YOE-murr | Kekai – KAY-kai | Doughty – dough-dee | Kasevich – KASS-uh-vitch | Estiven – es-STEVEN Turconi – turk-OH-knee | Wehler – WHALE-er | Dasan – duh-SAWN | Lavallee – luh-VALLEY | Cañellas – kuh-NYAY-us | Stephenson - Stevenson Bibens-Dirkx – BIB-ins DURKS | Roelvis – row-ELVIS | Labriola – LAB-riola | Yuka Sanui – YOO-kah sa-NEW-ee

18 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

NO. PITCHERS (17) T HT WT DOB ACQ/YR PREVIOUS TEAM HOMETOWN Albanese, Jr., Glenn RHP 6-7 223 10/22/1998 15th/2021 Rocket City Batavia, IL 22 Chaney, Chase RHP 6-1 180 12/16/1999 16th/2018 Inland Empire Lawrenceville, GA 49 Christophersen, Will RHP 6-4 210 08/08/1999 FA/2023 U. of Iowa Grand Rapids, MI 40 Dana, Caden LHP 6-4 215 12/17/2003 11th/2022 Inland Empire Warwick, NY 15 Darrell-Hicks, Michael RHP 6-5 220 11/13/1997 FA/2022 Inland Empire Parkersburg, WV 10 Marcheco, Jorge RHP 6-1 185 08/06/2002 FA/2021 Inland Empire Bayamo, Cuba 17 Mondak, Nick LHP 6-4 203 06/02/1998 18th/2021 Watertown, CT 26 Natera, Jr., Sammy LHP 6-4 195 11/06/1999 17th/2022 New Mexico St. Juarez, Mexico 55 Osmond, Bryce RHP 6-3 185 09/05/2000 15th/2022 Oklahoma St. Tulsa, OK 33 Peters, Andrew R/R 6-2 191 11/25/1998 10th/2021 ACL Angels Palos Heights, IL 46 Phansalkar, Roman RHP 6-1 195 06/02/1998 7th/2022 Inland Empire Edmond, OK 23 Phillips, Dylan LHP 6-0 220 06/16/1999 8th/2022 Inland Empire Omaha, NE 27 Seig, Hayden RHP 6-5 227 09/10/1998 FA/2021 Inland Empire Mechanicsburg, PA 12 Smith, Jake RHP 6-4 200 10/04/1999 6th/2021 Tri-City Chapel Hill, NC 6 Southard, Jared RHP 6-2 220 10/04/2000 12th/2022 Inland Empire Austin, TX 29 Suarez, Willian RHP 6-3 175 03/21/1998 R5/2022 San Jose (SFG) Santo Domingo, DR 25 Tullar, Cam LHP 6-2 215 06/30/2000 FA/2023 Billings (Pioneer) Ann Arbor, MI

NO. CATCHERS (3) B/T HT WT DOB ACQ/YR PREVIOUS TEAM BIRTHPLACE 14 Campero, Gustavo S/R 5-6 182 09/20/1997 R5/2020 Rocket City Lorica, Colombia 9 Emmerson, Myles R/R 5-11 185 05/15/1998 FA/2021 Rocket City San Diego, CA 18 Pendleton, Caleb R/R 6-2 190 04/05/2002 FA/2023 Florida Atlantic U. Jensen Beach, FL NO. INFIELDERS (5) 13 Blakely, Werner 30 Coutney, Matt 3 Ketchup, Caleb 4 Placencia, Adrian 2 Vera, Arol

NO. OUTFIELDERS (5) 21 Dana, Casey 8 Knowles, D’Shawn 7 Ramirez, Alexander 24 Redfield, Joe 31 Rivas, Steven 1 Stewart, Joe

B/T L/R L/R R/R S/R S/R B/T R/R S/R R/R L/R L/L R/R

HT 6-3 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-2 HT 6-4 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-4

WT 185 230 160 155 170 WT 215 165 180 200 218 215

NO. FIELD STAFF 16 Jack Howell - Manager 19 Doug Henry - Pitching Coach 11 Ryan Sebra - Hitting Coach 5 Trevor Nyp - Defensive Coach Dylan Culwell - Athletic Trainer Luis Cervantes - Strength and Conditioning Fabio Fermin - Game Planning Strategist Johnathon Day - Video Assistant

DOB 02/21/2002 07/08/1999 01/04/2002 06/02/2003 09/12/2002 DOB 05/31/1999 01/16/2001 08/29/2002 10/18/2001 06/28/1999 05/06/1998

ACQ/YR 4th/2020 10th/2022 15th/2023 FA/2019 FA/2019 ACQ/YR 16th/2022 FA/2017 FA/2018 4th/2023 FA/2021 9th/2022

PREVIOUS TEAM Tri-City Inland Empire Lipscomb Inland Empire Inland Empire PREVIOUS TEAM Tri-City Tri-City Inland Empire Sam Houston St. Tri-City Tri-City

BIRTHPLACE Detroit, MI Wetaskiwin, AB, CAN Jonesboro, GA Los Alcarrizos, DR Valencia, Venezuela

BIRTHPLACE Montgomery, NY New Providence, Bahamas San Cristobal, DR Waco, TX Rancho Cucamonga, CA Portage, MI

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 19

THURsdays at the NAt

THURSDAYS

PLUS SCRATCH & WIN GIVEAWAY FIRST 1,000 FANS. MUST BE 19+ TO PLAY PRESENTED BY BCLC

Who will win the race?

1

2

3

4

CanadiansBaseball.com/Contests 20 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

5

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 21

FIELD STAFF

BRENT

LAVALLEE

33 CANELLAS

MANAGER • Entering his second year as Manager in Vancouver, coming off a 67-62 campaign...

Served as a Manager for the first time in 2021 while with the FCL Blue Jays...

Played at LSU Shreveport until 2009 and joined their coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant in 2010...Started as a full-time assistant in 2012 and was named the Head Coach in 2016...In three years, his teams produced with an overall record of 12657 and claimed the last two conference championships.

• The North Delta, British Columbia, native played for LSU for five seaons, including a medical redshirt campaign...Played a total of 200 games and earned 2009 1st Team All-Canada while runner up for Canadian College Baseball Player of the Year.

22 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

DANNY

24 BONNETT

BENCH COACH • The 28-year-old is taking on a Bench Coach position for the first time...Entering his fourth season as a coach...Spent 2022 with Single-A Dunedin as a Position Coach...Served in the same capacity for Vancouver from 2019-2021.

• The former catcher and relief pitcher played Rookie-level baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014 and 2015...He also signed as a free agent with the Blue Jays on October 9, 2017 and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League, Lansing, and Dunedin at various parts during the 2018 season.

JOEL

20

PITCHING COACH • Entering his second year in professional baseball and his first as a Pitching Coach, having spent the 2022 season as Bullpen Coach with High-A Vancouver...Started as a Pitching Coach at The University of Illinois Springfield and worked in the same role at Southwest Minnesota State University, Hendrix College, and Benedictine University.

• The native of Springfield, IL, played four seasons at NCAA III North Park University, spending time as both a starter and a closer...Finished his career 7th all-time in appearances (23) and 4th all-time in saves (7)...Was an all-conference second team honoree as a senior 2012, while in 2010 he earned the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Central Region Gold Glove Award.

RYAN

WRIGHT

12 STEPHENSON

HITTING COACH • Made his Minor League coaching debut in 2021, in his current role, after his debut with Class-A Lansing was cancelled in 2020...Began his coaching career at Capital High School in Boise, ID, from 2015-2016...

Was a Graduate Assistant at California State University Northridge in 2016...

Joined the organization from Montana State University Billings where he was on staff since 2017... Served as the Hitting Coach & Recruiting Coordinator at MSUB...

Has also managed the Spearfish Sasquatch Baseball Club in Spearfish, SD (20182019), and the Kelowna Falcons Baseball Club in Kelowna, BC (2019).

• Played collegiately at the University of Utah, Treasure Valley Community College, and Oklahoma City University.

ASHLEY

2 BIBENS-DIRKX

POSITION COACH • 2023 is Ashley’s first season with the Blue Jays...Follows Jaime (Vieira) Lever as the second female coach in the organization...Coached with the Canadian Women’s National Team since 2018, leading to a Bronze medal at the COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships in 2019, and was the first woman to manage the Women’s National Team when Canada played against USA in Thunder Bay in 2022...Was also the first woman to coach in the Canadian Futures Showcase, hosted by the Blue Jays baseball academy in Ottawa last year...Made history in November as she became the first woman to capture Baseball Canada’s Lionel Ruhr Elite Coach of the Year Award.

AUSTIN

38

BULLPEN COACH • Officially retired in January and is entering his first year in professional baseball as a coach, taking on Bullpen Coach for Vancouver.

• The native of Salem, OR, was selected out of the University of Portland by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the 2006 draft...Eventually reached the Majors for 37 games while with Texas in 2017 and 2018...Has also pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League, the Dominican Winter League, the Mexican League, and the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

• Was an original member of the Women’s National Team in 2004 and played for 15 years...Won four Women’s Baseball World Cup medals (three bronze, one silver), and a silver at the Pan American Games in 2015.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 23

24 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

2023 ROSTER

HUNTER

GREGORY PITCHER

MACKO PITCHER

BENSON PITCHER

DEVEREAUX PITCHER

RYAN

KEVIN

PITCHER

PITCHER

RYAN

PITCHER

IAN

PAT

PITCHER

PITCHER

32 KELLY

9 LARKIN

ERIC

PITCHER

HT: 6-2 WT: 190 B/T: L/L DOB: 2/28/99 HOMETOWN: Santa Barbara,CA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 10th Rd, 22, San Diego

JUSTIN

HT: 6-0 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 6/23/99 HOMETOWN: San Antonio, TX ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 4th Rd, ’22, Louisiana Tech

17 PARDINHO

HT: 5-10 WT: 180 B/T: R/R DOB: 11/14/98 HOMETOWN: Dolega, PAN ’22 CLUBS: Did Not Play ACQUIRED: INT FA, 8/4/22

21 CHRUCHILL 35 GALLAGHER 29

HT: 6-2 WT: 225 B/T: R/R DOB: 5/4/97 HOMETOWN: Bradford, PA ’22 CLUBS: College, DUN, VAN, NH ACQUIRED: FA, 1/27/22

26 JENNINGS

HT: 6-0 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 11/8/00 HOMETOWN: Vacaville, CA ’22 CLUBS: College, DUN, VAN ACQUIRED: 9th Rd, ’22, Long Beach State

30 MIRNADA

HT: 6-0 WT: 180 B/T: L/L DOB: 12/30/00 HOMETOWN: Vauxhall, AB ’22 CLUBS: Everett (SEA) ACQUIRED: Trade (SEA), 11/16/22

15 BOYER

HT: 6-0 WT: 210 B/T: L/L DOB: 8/3/00 HOMETOWN: San Luis Obispo, CA ’22 CLUBS: FCL, Dunedin ACQUIRED: 17th, ’21, Arizona State

16 HARRISON

HT: 6-3 WT: 220 B/T: R/R DOB: 11/16/98 HOMETOWN: Chesapeake, VA ’22 CLUBS: Vancouver ACQUIRED: 8th Rd, ’21, Old Dominion

ADAM

COOPER

PITCHER

HT: 5-10 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 1/5/01 HOMETOWN: Bastos, Sao Paulo, BR ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/2/17

CONOR

HT: 6-1 WT: 195 B/T: R/R DOB: 12/2/98 HOMETOWN: West Jordan, UT ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: ND FA, 7/21/21

43 PAULINO NASWELL PITCHER

HT: 6-0 WT: 200 B/T: R/R DOB: 6/30/00 HOMETOWN: Leoiminster, MA ’22 CLUBS: UConnr ACQUIRED: 11th Rd, ’22, UConn

PITCHER

HT: 6-1 WT: 205 B/T: R/R DOB: 3/17/99 HOMETOWN: Royersford, PA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 9th Rd, ’21, Penn State

4 RYAN SAM

HT: 5-11 WT: 205 B/T: L/L DOB: 4/17/00 HOMETOWN: San Cristobal, DR ’22 CLUBS: Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/4/16

25

PITCHER

31

HT: 6-3 WT: 205 B/T: R/R DOB: 9/22/98 HOMETOWN: Clifton, VA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 12th Rd, ’19, VCU

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 25

RAFAEL

SANCHEZ PITCHER

18 SANTOS

HT: 6-1 WT: 215 B/T: R/R DOB: 08/22/99 HOMETOWN: Antilla, Cuba ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 5/13/22

JOMMER

HERNANDEZ CATCHER

KASEVITCH INFIELDER

HT: 5-11 WT: 170 B/T: R/R DOB: 2/26/03 HOMETOWN: Acarigua, VZ ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/2/19

LYLE

ESTIVEN

INFIELDER

36 URBAEZ

HT: 6-4 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 09/13/99 HOMETOWN: Santee, CA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 23rd Rd, ’19, Grossmont College

KEKAI CATCHER

RYAN

INFIELDER

GEISON

CJ

PITCHER

PITCHER

ALEX

INFIELDER

MICHAEL

INFIELDER

HT: 6-1 WT: 198 B/T: R/R DOB: 09/15/1998 HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL ’22 CLUBS: DNP ACQUIRED: 2nd Rd, '20, Florida State

27 DOUGHTY

7

CADE

HT: 6-2 WT: 185 B/T: R/R DOB: 3/22/02 HOMETOWN: Santo Domingo, DR ’22 CLUBS: Great Lakes (LAD), Vancouver ACQUIRED: Trade (LAD), 8/2/22

22 TURCONI

HT: 5-9 WT: 182 B/T: R/R DOB: 4/22/1999 HOMETOWN: Yardley, PA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: FA, 7/26/22

VAN EYK

HT: 6-1 WT: 180 B/T: R/R DOB: 07/05/00 HOMETOWN: Cabral, DR ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, New Hampshire ACQUIRED: INT FA, 10/14/20

20 DE JESUS

HT: 5-10 WT: 205 B/T: R/R DOB: 6/06/97 HOMETOWN: Kaneohe, HI ’22 CLUBS: Great Lakes, Tulsa ACQUIRED: Waivers 03/27/2003

14 McCARTY

HT: 5-10 WT: 180 B/T: S/R DOB: 10/4/02 HOMETOWN: Barlovento, VZ ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/3/19

26 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

PITCHER

10 RIOS

HT: 6-1 WT: 200 B/T: R/R DOB: 6/26/97 HOMETOWN: Taipei, Taiwan ’22 CLUBS: Hillsboro, Amarillo, Reno ACQUIRED: MiLB FA, 4/10/23

8 MACHADO

HT: 6-1 WT: 205 B/T: R/R DOB: 1/17/01 HOMETOWN: Palo Alto, CA ’22 CLUBS: College, Dunedin ACQUIRED: 2nd Rd, ’22, Oregon

ANDERS

PITCHER

19 LIN

HT: 5-11 WT: 185 B/T: R/R DOB: 10/20/00 HOMETOWN: Puerto Plata, DR ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: MiLB FA, 9/8/21

JOSH

1 TOLHURST

DAHIAN

INFIELDER

HT: 6-1 WT: 200 B/T: R/R DOB: 3/26/01 HOMETOWN: Denham Springs, LA ’22 CLUBS: College, Dunedin ACQUIRED: 2nd (CB), ’22, Louisiana State

28 WEHLER

HT: 5-11 WT: 185 B/T: L/R DOB: 6/24/99 HOMETOWN: Beaver Falls, PA ’22 CLUBS: College, Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 15th Rd, ’22, Wake Forest

JEFF

INFIELDER

32

HT: 6-0 WT: 195 B/T: R/R DOB: 1/10/99 HOMETOWN: St. Marys, PA ’22 CLUBS: College ACQUIRED: ND FA 6/9/23

PEYTON

WILLIAMS OUTFIELDER

40 BROWN

HT: 6-5 WT: 255 B/T: L/L DOB: 9/14/00 HOMETOWN: Des Moines, IA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 7th Rd, ’22, Iowa

DASAN

OUTFIELDER

6 BROWN

HT: 6-0 WT: 185 B/T: R/R DOB: 9/25/01 HOMETOWN: Oakville, ON ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 3rd Rd, ’19, Abbey Park HS (ON)

DEVONTE

OUTFIELDER

5 MARTINEZ

HT: 5-10 WT: 210 B/T: R/R DOB: 10/15/99 HOMETOWN: Hinesville, GA ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: NDFA, 7/26/22

GABBY

OUTFIELDER

11 SPAIN

GARRETT

HT: 6-0 WT: 175 B/T: R/R DOB: 7/24/02 HOMETOWN: Maracaibo, VZ ’22 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/24/18

OUTFIELDER

HT: 6-0 WT: 185 B/T: L/R DOB: 9/21/00 HOMETOWN: Clarksville, TN ’22 CLUBS: Vancouver ACQUIRED: 15th Rd, ’21, Austin Peay State

ROELVIS

KATIE

TOMMY

YUKA

RAUL

ATHLETIC TRAINER

ATHLETIC THERAPIST

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

DIETITIAN

MENTAL COACH

VARGAS

REYES

LUKE

JESSE

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

CLUBHOUSE MANAGER

STATLER

LaBRIOLA

SANUI

13

PIMENTEL

MENDEZ

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 27

28 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

RAV4 Trail

2023 RAV4 LE AWD MSRP

35,635

$

*

Prices includes additional fees. Taxes extra.

Contact your local dealer, or visit ShopToyota.ca

PACIFIC TOYOTA DEALERS

*Includes MSRP plus freight and PDI, A/C charge, Tire Levy and retailer administration fees.See toyota.ca for complete details. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between Toyota prices, rates and/or other information contained on shoptoyota.ca and that contained on toyota.ca, the latter shall prevail. Errors and omissions excepted. Lease or finance offers based on new and previously unregistered 2023 RAV4.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 29

CANADIANS TO REACH THE MAJOR LEAGUES The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club has welcomed more than 800 players onto its rosters since 2000. That’s a lot of

guys all striving to one day reach the bright lights of the Major Leagues. Here is a list of every one of our players who has arrived at the game’s highest stage and play in Major League Baseball.

2003 POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

2010

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

2018

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Rich Harden Neal Cotts Mike Wood 2004

P P P

2001 2001 2001

21-Jul 12-Aug 21-Aug

Oakland Chicago (AL) Oakland

A.J. Griffin Alexi Ogando 2011

P P

2010 2004

24-Jun 15-Jul

Oakland Texas

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

POS C'S ALUMNI

Santiago Casilla Nick Swisher Joe Blanton 2005

P OF P

09-Aug Oakland 03-Sep Oakland 24-Sep Oakland

Justin Sellers Anthony Recker Corey Brown 2012

INF C OF

12-Aug Los Angeles (NL) 25-Aug Oakland 06-Sep Washington

2014 2014 2009 2013 2014 2014 2011

26-Jun 18-Aug 27-Aug 30-Aug 01-Sep 05-Sep 26-Sep

Toronto Toronto Toronto Detroit Toronto Toronto Toronto

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

Ryan Borucki Justin Shafer Murphy Smith Dawel Lugo Jose Fernandez Jonathan Davis Jon Berti 2019

2002 2001 2003 2000 2002

04-Apr 27-May 31-Jul 30-Aug 17-Sep

Kansas City Oakland Colorado Oakland Milwaukee

21-Apr Oakland 05-Jun Oakland 30-Aug Oakland

MLB DEBUT

INF INF INF INF OF

P P P

POS C'S ALUMNI

Mark Teahen Dan Johnson Omar Quintanilla Freddie Bynum Nelson Cruz 2006

Pedro Figueroa Sean Doolittle Dan Straily 2013

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

John Rheinecker Andre Either Chris Mabeus Kurt Suzuki Jason Windsor Jeremy Brown Mark Kiger 2007

P OF P C P C INF

2001 2003 2001 2004 2004 2002 2002

22-Apr 02-May 29-May 12-Jun 17-Jul 03-Sep 13-Oct

Texas Los Angeles (NL) Milwaukee Oakland Oakland Oakland Oakland

Ian Krol Kevin Pillar Max Stassi Michael Choice 2014

P OF C OF

2009 2011 2009 2010

05-Jun 14-Aug 20-Aug 02-Sep

Washington Toronto Houston Oakland

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

P P P OF P

23-Mar 04-May 23-Jul 02-Sep 05-Sep

Arizona Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto

Travis Buck OF Jared Burton P Danny Putman OF Dallas Braden P Connor Robertson P Marshal McDougall INF Kevin Melillo INF Bill Murphy P 2008 POS

2005 2002 2004 2004 2004 2000 2004 2002

02-Apr 04-Apr 23-Apr 24-Apr 17-May 05-Jun 24-Jun 03-Sep

Oakland Cincinnati Oakland Oakland Oakland Texas Oakland Arizona

Bo Schultz Marcus Stroman Aaron Sanchez Dalton Pompey Daniel Norris 2015

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Miguel Castro P Roberto Osuna P Noah Syndergaard P Justin Nicolino P Dusty Coleman INF David Rollins P 2016 POS

2014 2012 2011 2011 2008 2011

06-Apr 08-Apr 12-May 20-Jun 03-Jul 04-Jul

Toronto Toronto New York (NL) Miami Kansas City Seattle

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

C'S ALUMNI

Gregorio Petit John Baker Jeff Gray 2009

INF C P

2004 2002 2005

18-May Oakland 09-Jul Florida 08-Sep Oakland

Andy Burns Matt Dermody 2017

INF P

2011 2013

09-May Toronto 03-Sep Toronto

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Andrew Bailey Landon Powell Tommy Everidge Brad Kilby Jeff Baisley

P C INF P INF

06-Apr 11-Apr 28-Jul 02-Sep 09-Sep

Oakland Oakland Oakland Oakland Oakland

Dwight Smith Jr. Seth Frankoff Ian Parmley Franklin Barreto Taylor Cole Tim Mayza Jairo Labourt Carlos Ramirez Richard Urena Tim Locastro

OF P OF INF P P P P INF INF

18-May 09-Jun 23-Jun 24-Jun 09-Aug 15-Aug 01-Sep 01-Sep 01-Sep 29-Sep

Toronto Chicago (NL) Toronto Oakland Toronto Toronto Detroit Toronto Toronto Los Angeles (NL)

2002 2002 2002

2006 2004 2004 2005 2005

30 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

2005 2005 2007 2007 2007 2009

2009 2012 2011 2012 2012

2012 2010 2013 2014 2012 2014 2014 2012 2014 2014

TEAM

P P P INF P OF INF

TEAM

John Schneider MGR 2011/14-15 28-Mar Travis Bergen P 2015-17 29-Mar Cavan Biggio INF 2016 25-May T.J. Zeuch 2016 03-Sep Lane Thomas OF 2015 17-Apr Ryan McBroom INF/OF 2014 03-Sep 2020 POS C'S MLB

Toronto San Francisco Toronto Toronto St. Louis Kansas City

ALUMNI

DEBUT

Nate Pearson Dany Jiménez Patrick Murhpy Ángel Perdomo 2021

P P P P

29-Jul 23-Jul 18-Sep 18-Aug

Toronto San Francisco Toronto Milwaukee

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Josh Palacios Alek Manoah Riley Adams Tayler Saucedo Nick Allgeyer Otto López 2022

OF P C P P INF

09-Apr 27-May 08-Jun 17-Jun 02-Jul 17-Aug

Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Zach Jackson Zach Logue Christian Lopes Vinny Capra Danny Young Josh Winckowski Jake Fishman 2023

P P INF INF P P P

9-April 19-April 20-April 1-May 9-May 28-May 31-July

Oakland Oakland Oakland Toronto Seattle Boston Marlins

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Samad Taylor Spencer Horwitz

INF OF

18-Jun 19-Jun

Kansas City Toronto

2017 2017 2016 2015 2016 2019 2018 2015 2018 2018 2016 2017 2012 2018 2015 2018 2017 2017 2019

TEAM

Supporting local charities in our community APRIL 12

APRIL 26

MAY 10

SUPPORTING

SUPPORTING

JUNE 14

MAY 31

SUPPORTING

JUNE 28

SUPPORTING

JULY 26

SUPPORTING

SUPPORTING

SUPPORTING

AUGUST 9

AUGUST 23

AUGUST 30

SUPPORTING

SUPPORTING

SUPPORTING

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 31

HOW TO SCORE A BASEBALL GAME Different fans have different methods of keeping a scorecard, and many use their own notations. But here's a simple method:

If a runner scores, put a circle at the bottom of the box, and inside the circle put the symbol of the play and/or the player that drove him in. For example, if the No. 5 hitter drives in two runs with a single, mark his single in the bottom right of his box and mark a circle with the number "5" in the boxes of the runners who score (Some people like to use uniform numbers here, so you can tell who did what, even after lineup changes).

For example, If the hitter grounds out to shortstop, for example, write in "6-3," which shows the shortstop threw him out at first base. If the hitter flies out to left field, write a "7."

If the batter gets a hit, write in the hit according to which base he reached. Each corner of the box represents a base, with the lowerright corner being first.

At the end of each inning, total the hits and runs for that inning only. At the end of the game you'll be able to add the innings total to get the game score.

If he singles, put a "-" in the lower right. If he doubles, write a "=" in the upper right, and so on. For a walk, use "BB" in the lower right. As the runner advances, mark the appropriate symbol in the appropriate corner.

EXAMPLE SCOREBOARD

1ST INNING 1. SINGLED, ADVANCED ON NEXT BATTER'S WALK, TOOK 3RD ON FIELDER'S CHOICE, SCOREO ON NO. 4 BATTER'S DOUBLE 2. WALKED, LATER FORCED OUT, SHORTSTOP TO SECOND BASE 3. REACHED ON FIELDER'S CHOICE, ADVANCED TO 3RD ON NEXT BATTER'S DOUBLE, SCORED ON NO. 5 BATTER'S SINGLE 4. DOUBLED, SCORED ON NO. 5 BATTER'S SINGLE 5. SINGLED, ADVANCED TO 2ND ON NEXT BATTER'S SINGLE, STOLE 3RD BASE, THROWN OUT ON GROUNDER, SHORTSTOP TO CATCHER 6. SINGLED, STOLE 2ND BASE 7. REACHED 1ST ON FIELDER’S CHOICE 8. POPPED OUT TO 2ND BASE 2ND INNING 9. LEADOFF WITH DOUBLE 1. FLIED OUT TO CENTERFIELD 2. POPPED OUT TO SHORTSTOP 3. STRUCKOUT SWINGING

TEAM BATTING ORDER

SYMBOLS FOR PLAY

1

3 2

Single: S or – Double: D or = Triple: T or = Homerun: HR or =

2

1. CENTER FIELDER 8 4 6-4 6 2. SHORTSTOP BB 3 3. 1ST BASEMAN 5 FC K = 4. 3RD BASEMAN 5 SB 2 5. RIGHT FIELDER 6-2 SB 6. LEFT FIELDER 7. DESIGNATED HITTER FC 8. 2ND BASEMAN 4 / 9. CATCHER = R H 3 4 0 1 TOTALS

Passed Ball: PB Stolen Base: SB Double Play: DP Error: E Sacrifice Fly: SF

Sacrifice: SH or SAC Walk: BB Strikeout: K

Intentional Walk: Foul Fly: Force Out: Line Drive:

Called Out on Strikes: K Balk: BK Fielder’s Choice: FC Hit by Pitch: HP Wild Pitch: WP

IBB F FO L

Bunt: B Unassisted: U

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS BY THE NUMBERS 1 PITCHER 2 CATCHER 3 1ST BASEMAN 4 2ND BASEMAN 5 3RD BASEMAN 6 7 8 9

SHORTSTOP LEFT FIELDER CENTER FIELDER RIGHT FIELDER

8 7

9

6 5

4 1

3

BASIC UMPIRE SIGNS FOR THE PLAYERS AND FANS Umpires use a number of signals. Some of these are familiar and are associated with the Rules of Baseball, like safe, out, foul, etc. These are a few you are likely to see when scoring a game.

FOUL TIP

DOUBLE

TRAPPED BALL/SAFE

DELAYED DEAD BALL

TIME/DEAD BALL

COUNT

HOLD UP PLAY

HOME RUN

PLAY BALL

INFIELD FLY

FAIR BALL

FOUL BALL

STRIKE OUT

32 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

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DEVONTE PROVING TO B 34 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

BY STEVE EWEN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK STEFFENS THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE PROVINCE

Devonte Brown is making a scout or two with the Toronto Blue Jays look especially astute right now.

EBE ABROWN FINE FIND FOR BLUE JAYS SCOUTS

Brown has been one of the standouts of what’s been a strong season so far for the Vancouver Canadians, Toronto’s affiliate in the high-A Northwest League.

He has been carrying a heavy load offensively of late in particular, with six home runs, 16 runs batted, a .344 average, and 15 runs in his past 18 games heading into a Wednesday visit by the Everett AquaSox to Nat Bailey Stadium. Vancouver is already guaranteed a playoff spot thanks to winning the first-half pennant, and they were leading the second half by four games with their 18-7 mark as of Wednesday morning.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 35

Brown was passed over in the 2022 Major League Baseball amateur draft following his senior season with the the North Carolina State Wolfpack. What’s more, he says the Blue Jays were the lone team that called afterward with a free-agent offer.

Brown hit .308, with two homers and 15 RBI, in 27 games last summer with the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. He was batting .263, with 10 homers and 40 RBI, through 57 games with the C’s going into Wednesday.

“They called in the last round, with a couple of picks left, and said they were interested.

They called again 10 minutes after that last pick was taken and gave me the offer,” Brown, 23, said of the Blue Jays. “My agent and I talked about it. All we wanted was an opportunity. We got that opportunity, and we just kind of went with it.”

The 5-foot-9, 207-pound, right-handed hitting Brown was passed over in the draft three times at NC State. He received that fifth year in 2022 because his junior season in 2020 was held to 17 games due to COVID. He realized this season that teams might not be keen on using a draft pick on an older player. He performed well, hitting .304, with 15 homers and 44 RBI, in 57 games with the Wolfpack. For his collegiate career, he hit .281, with 33 homers and 109 RBI, in 192 games.

“Was I mad? A little bit,” explained Brown, who is from Newnan, Ga., an Atlanta suburb. “At the same time, I knew it was going to be risky, being that fifth year, being an older guy. I knew there was a chance that I didn’t get taken.

“I was mad, but at the same time I couldn’t be mad. It ended up working out in the end. I’m happy about that.”

He says that he doesn’t feel any added pressure because he wasn’t drafted and doesn’t have the commitment from the Blue Jays attached to him.

“I’ve always felt like the underdog, I guess.

At the end of the day, I try to play the game that I know how to play. Playing that game still got me here to this position now,” he 36 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

said.

He credits hitting coach Ryan Wright for getting him into a good head space this season.

Brown’s been especially good in clutch situations. Going into Wednesday, he was hitting .316 (18-of-57) with runners in scoring position. Going into Wednesday, he was hitting .462 (6-of-13) in the ninth inning, with six RBI. Brown belted a three-run walk-off homer July 16 in a 5-3 triumph over the Eugene Emeralds at the Nat. He had smacked a two-run homer the night before against the Emeralds in the fifth inning that provided the margin of a victory in 4-2 victory.

“It’s been clicking for a lot of guys and we’re just feeding off each other,” Brown said. “It’s very contagious.

“This is a good group of guys. Good hitters.

Good pitchers. We talk to the pitchers about how they’d pitch guys in certain situations, and us hitters are constantly talking to each other, saying what we’re seeing. That helps us all a lot.

“We all get along. We’re very passionate about each other. We’re very passionate about game. It’s really fun playing with each other.”

Brown bounced the around the diamond defensively at NC State, spending time as a starter at third base, right field and centre field. There is a school of thought that may have hurt him draft-wise, casting him as a bat without a position.

That versatility is more like a benefit now, especially with a Toronto organization that covets players who can see time at multiple spots. Brown has played all three outfield posts for C’s manager Brent Lavallee, and also seen time in the second half at first base.

“I just have to keep doing me,” Brown said when asked about what it will take for him to progress through the system. “I have to keep playing the game that I know how to.

Hopefully, when they need somebody, it’s my name they say.”

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 37

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Proud Partner of the Vancouver Canadians VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 39

2023 Canadians catcher Kekai Rios steps up to the plate in the latest instalment of C’s Chat.

A native of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Rios prepped at Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama and lettered two years in baseball by hitting .324 and .355 in his junior and senior seasons of 2014 and 2015.

He received 2014-15 Interscholastic League of Hawaii (ILH) baseball all-star first-team honours and was a 2015 Perfect Game All-American West honourable mention.

Rios went to the University of Hawaii and enjoyed a successful freshman season in 2016 by hitting .331 with a .391 on-base percentage. That performance resulted in a Big West honourable mention and a shout-out on the Johnny Bench Award watch list as college baseball’s top catcher.

Rios got some summer exposure by heading to the Cape Cod League and putting up a .295/.403 BAVG/OBP with the Brewster Whitecaps.

With the Rainbow Warriors in 2017, Rios batted .282 with a .388 on-base mark and made the Johnny Bench watch list for a second straight year after throwing out a combined 33 potential base stealers over his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He then hooked up with the Victoria HarbourCats for another tour of summer college ball and was on base nearly half the time with a .491 mark in a dozen games in the West Coast League to go along with a .308 batting average.

Rios was a teammate of Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn and the skipper there was former major leaguer and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Brian McRae.

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KEKA

BY NIALL O’DONOHOE / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK STEFFENS

KAI RIOS VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 41

The 2018 season with Hawaii saw Rios bat .270 with a .383 OBP and was a first-team All-Big West as a utility player. after appearing in 13 games at third base along with 24 appearances behind the dish.

The Kansas City Royals were interested in Rios according to The Standard Advertiser in Honolulu but the two sides could not come to an agreement during the 2018 MLB Draft. Instead, he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 28th round.

Rios reported to the Arizona League for his first professional assignment and batted .333 in 19 games. He was then assigned to the Midwest League in 2019 to join the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and only suited up for 29 games but he did collect his first professional home run against Peoria on August 4.

When minor league baseball resumed again after the pandemic, Rios was back in the Badger State with the Timber Rattlers for the 2021 season. In 43 games, he batted .270 with a .357 OBP and added 11 extra-base hits and 20 runs batted in. That led to a sixgame trial with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers.

Rios’ tenure with the Brew Crew came to an end after he was claimed in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 8, 2021.

A return to the Midwest League awaited Rios in 2022 as he suited up for the Great Lakes Loons. He drew a walk over 10 percent of the time with four homers and 24 RBI in 68 games before earning another taste of Double-A ball where he had two hits in three games with the Tulsa Drillers.

Once again, Rios’ services were in demand at the Rule 5 minor league draft as he was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays on December 7, 2022.

In his first game in the Blue Jays system, Rios had two hits and a walk for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in Altoona on April 7. He also had three hits at Somerset on April 21 and a 42 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

two-hit effort against Harrisburg on May 4 but playing time was sporadic as he appeared in just four games in May and four in June. As a result, Rios spent two stints on the Development List before he was assigned to Vancouver on June 27.

Rios made an immediate impact in his debut with the Canadians.

His first hit was a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the ninth and that helped the C’s walk off Spokane in 10 innings on June 28. After serving as the designated hitter that night, Rios had two more hits after his first start behind the plate in another win against Spokane June 29. His first home run on Canadian soil came in a victory against Eugene on July 15 as part of a three-hit performance and he went deep again for a three-run shot to open the scoring in a win at Spokane on July 20.

C’s Plus Baseball caught up with the 26-year-old Rios just before the finale of the weekend series against Eugene. This interview has been edited for clarity.

C’s Plus Baseball – Your got your first home run (with the Canadians on July 15). Did you know the ball was gone as soon as it left the bat?

Kekai Rios – Oh, it felt good definitely to get the first one out of the way. When I hit it, I knew I hit it good, but I mean, the way this field plays, I never really knew if it was going to get out. So I just kept going hard and lucky enough, it got out.

CPB – When did you realize it did go out because it went off the video board?

KR – Yeah, it was kind of like when I was rounding second. I had seen the ball in the outfield and I was honestly going for a triple because I was like, ‘Damn, I don’t know the last time I hit a triple.’

And the guys (the Spokane outfielders) weren’t going for the ball (which was back on the field) so I was a little confused but yeah, I’m glad that thing got out.

CPB – You had a three-hit game, are you feeling good at the plate right now?

KR – Yeah, I feel pretty good. Working with the hitting coach (Ryan Wright) here, he’s been kind of helping me out a lot. It’s always easier when you’re seeing pitching more consistently compared to earlier in the year when I was getting like two games a week, maybe a Wednesday and a Sunday or a Thursday and a Sunday. I mean, it’s no excuse because there’s a job for that in the big leagues. You’re a backup catcher where you play random days in a week but I don’t think people realize it’s definitely harder to just play random days and you’re always trying to do a little too much. Definitely, when you know you’re going to get consistent at-bats, it kind of eases off on some pressure and you can kind of take better at-bats and be more yourself. I think just getting more consistent at-bats has really helped me get going at the plate.

CPB – Let’s go back to your very first hit with the team when you got here. It was a big game-tying hit in a game that the team went on to win in extra innings. That was a good way to introduce yourself to your new teammates.

KR – Oh, yeah, it definitely felt good, especially to get the first hit out of the way in the first game. I mean, it felt good to do that for the team and come up clutch in the ninth.

CPB – How has it been getting used to your new set of teammates?

KR – It was actually pretty easy. I mean, the team chemistry and the vibe here, the way these guys go about their business, it’s really easy to fit in. And I really like it here. The environment’s easy to kind of fit in and go with the flow.

CPB – It’s not the first time you played here in B.C. You were a member of the Victoria HarbourCats playing summer college ball there and (Chicago White Sox first baseman) Andrew Vaughn was one of your teammates. How did you like playing in Victoria?

KR – Oh, it’s beautiful. I love this part of Canada. I mean, it’s the

only part of Canada I’ve ever been. But this place is beautiful, especially hot during the summer, nice and green with beautiful trees. I can’t complain. This is beautiful.

CPB – I hear they get good crowds out in Victoria. Is it pretty similar to what you’re experiencing here as well?

KR – Yeah, I think it’s probably a little more here but the stadium in Victoria is just as packed, it fills up just as it does here. The environment they got over here at this stadium is definitely different from the minor leagues and it’s a good place to play.

CPB – Your manager at Victoria was Brian McRae. What was it like playing under him?

KR – He was a former big leaguer so he had a lot of feel. Just learning from him, kind of picking his brain, hearing a lot of stories about his past experience, kind of like he went through what we were going through at the time. Just a guy to kind of lean on and go to if we ever needed anything, which was really nice going through college.

CPB – You had another summer college stint out in the Cape Cod League. What was your experience like there playing in the Cape?

KR – Oh, it was great. I went there after my freshman year, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Being from Hawaii, I had no clue about summer college baseball until the end of my college freshman season, so it was a good experience. I lived with two really good people that I still talk to, to this day and it was a good level of competition. Being around different guys from higherlevel colleges, SEC, and kind of like being able to show that you can hang with them and be like, ‘Oh, okay. I can really do this at a high level.’ It was a really good vibe and a good experience out there. I love the Cape.

CPB – I want to talk to you about your time in Hawaii with the Rainbow Warriors. Was that a dream come true to be able to play for your hometown university?

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 43

KR – Oh, yeah. That experience was like nothing I could ever redo because it was just crazy playing in front of a lot of fans and always playing in front of your family. Over there, there’s no pro team so they treat the college like professional players and I think it really helped me set up connections for later in life on the island, definitely.

CPB – How did you get started in baseball?

KR – I kind of grew up playing baseball and football. I have two older brothers, kind of just watching them going to the park as a younger kid. My brothers are 10 and 11 years older than me. They were a big influence on me growing up, seeing them play sports. I played baseball, football, basketball, and baseball was the one that I was the best at so I kind of rode with it and it’s taken me here.

CPB – In football, what position did you play?

KR – I started off in junior peewees, I was a running back and linebacker. And then as I got to high school, I just became strictly a linebacker.

CPB – When did you begin catching?

KR – I was a shortstop my whole life pretty much until I was going to the varsity in 10th grade. The only spot open was catching. So the coach asked me if I would feel comfortable trying to make the transition to get a starting opportunity. And I mean, any kid just wants to play, you know what I mean? Any way to get on the field, I don’t care. In 10th grade, I caught and then I didn’t catch for the next two years. Then I kind of went back to catching in my freshman year of college. And ever since then, it’s kind of been my main position.

CPB – What is it that you like about catching?

KR – You’re in the play every game. You got a lot more control of the game than just your offence. You’re almost like a quarterback out there. You’re looking at the field, you’re controlling the tempo.

44 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023

You got to be the leader out there and have energy, you know what I mean? That’s what the team feeds off of. So I think the biggest thing I like about catching is just being able to go out there and have a different kind of control of the game from a different aspect.

CPB – How do you feel about your defense behind the plate right now?

KR – It’s definitely a work in progress. When you’re in the minor leagues, there’s always stuff to work on, you know what I mean?

Just kind of keep working on the little things that my coaches are preaching over here and hopefully find confidence and hopefully everything clicks.

CPB – You were a draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers. Where were you when you got drafted by the Brewers?

KR – I was actually at home in Waikiki. I was at the beach with my Dad’s brother. My uncles were visiting. It was my birthday so we were just out kind of having a barbecue on the beach, and then all of a sudden I got a call that I got drafted. Yeah, and then we started celebrating.

CPB – Happy birthday. That’s a heck of a gift. You were then picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers. What was that like being with the Dodgers organization last season?

KR – I really liked it there. It was definitely a good place to be.

They treated me good. I feel like they know what they’re doing.

It opened my eyes a little bit on how to be a pro and some more steps on what I’ve got to do to get to the next level. I really liked it there.

CPB – The minor league draft rolls around again, and once again you’re on the move, but with the Blue Jays. How did you find out about being picked up by Toronto?

KR – I was taking a nap and I had a bunch of missed calls, three missed calls from the Dodgers farm director. And then I got a text

message saying that the Blue Jays have selected me in the Rule 5 and to give the farm director a call back when I get a chance. I basically called him and he thanked me for everything. Then the Blue Jays called me, welcomed me and it kind of all happened pretty quick. It kind of caught me off guard.

CPB – Who had talked to you from the Blue Jays?

KR – I’m sure it was (director of player development) Joe Sclafani, I want to say, but the first real coach that I was talking to in the offseason was (Canadians manager) Brent Lavallee. Going into spring training, he was really the only guy I knew going to the Blue Jays so if I had any questions, I would always ask him, or if I was wondering anything, I would ask him. I’m just glad it was him because there’s no better guy, such a great guy.

CPB – You were with New Hampshire to begin the year, and now you’re starting with a new set of pitchers. But what’s the learning process like in getting familiar with the different pitchers that you have to catch?

KR – That’s been probably the biggest challenge for me is getting used to catching different guys, seeing how their pitches move, where they miss. That’s been pretty much the biggest challenge, but so far the coaches and staff have been helping me out a lot on speeding up that process for me so it hasn’t been too bad.

CPB – You started off the year in New Hampshire and you had a couple of stints on the development list. Take us through what happens when you’re assigned to the development list? What do you work on?

KR – You’re just basically a practice player, so you can really only practice but they kind of had a plan for me, things they didn’t like that I was doing catching-wise, things that they thought I could do better. Same with my swing. They’d seen some things that they felt like I could clean up and get a little better, so I was on it for

about four weeks, trying to clean up some things, and basically just a lot of different catching drills, a lot of different early work hitting, early work catching. Just going about it almost like a spring training type of day because at the end of the day, that’s my time of work. I don’t have to be ready for the game. So, yeah, that’s basically it.

CPB – When (the Jays) said, ‘Look, we’re going to send you to Vancouver’. I guess you had to look at it as an opportunity to at least get some at-bats and some playing time?

KR – Well, my opportunity is either go back on the development list or come to Vancouver. I figure no one can see you if you’re on the development list so I figure come over here to Vancouver and see what I can do.

CPB – If you had to give a scouting report on yourself, how would you describe yourself as a player?

KR – Just hard-working with some grit, willing to do what it takes.

You know what I mean? Nothing that stands out but I’m just able to go out there and get the job done and compete at a high level.

CPB – Did you have a favourite major league team or player growing up?

KR – My Dad’s from San Diego so I grew up a San Diego Padres fan but my favourite player growing up was definitely Pudge Rodriguez and Yadier Molina. I really looked up to those guys, and as I got older, Yadier Molina. I always told myself I want to be like that guy so that’s my guy.

CPB – Final question, a bit off the wall. The Canadians have five different uniforms, red, black, white, gray, and the retro blues. Do you have a favourite?

KR – Right now, it’s the black. I got three hits in the black (Saturday, July 15) so I’m riding with the black for now.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 45

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VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2023 / 49

BY LINA SETAGHIAN

MEET OUR MASCOTS The Vancouver Canadians have an army of mascots that are all designed with one common goal – ensure everyone out at historic Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium has fun! From a loveable bear to a trio of sushi that are ready to rock – not to mention a condiment and utensil? The Canadians mascots are truly one of a kind!

BOB BROWN BEAR

CHEF WASABI

MS. BC ROLL

MR. KAPPA MAKI

SADAHARU SOY

CHOP N’ STIX

Debut: 2007 Occupation: Canadians’ official mascot Favourite Pastime: Meeting fans, giving high fives and hugs, posing for photos About BBB: Makes more than 150 local community appearances every year and named after Vancouver’s Mr. Baseball, Bob Brown who dedicated his whole life to the game we love so dearly.

Debut: 2008 Occupation: Staying cool, Professional Racer Favourite Pastime: Attending birthday parties, winning races Make-Up: Few slices of cucumber wrapped in rice and then rolled in a piece of dried seaweed. Sleek and light - Mr. Kappa Maki is always a tough competitor.

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Debut: 2008 Occupation: Chef, professional racer Favourite Pastime: Running, cooking Make-Up: Whether you buy wasabi in root form or as a green powder, there is one thing that is for sure - Chef Wasabi is one spicy addition to our Sushi Race!

Debut: 2015 Occupation: Pot Stirrer, Professional Racer Favourite Pastime: Cooking, meeting fans, running Make-Up: Known to add a little saltiness to any meal, Sadaharu Soy was named after the legendary baseball slugger Sadaharu Oh who’s legend is global. Sadaharu is both physical and a little trickly during the sushi races!

Debut: 2008 Occupation: Pageant queen, professional racer Favourite Pastime: Beating Chef Wasabi in Sushi Races and hanging out at the ballpark Make-Up: Combination of barbecue BC smoked salmon and fresh cucumber with a little mayonnaise to keep her rollin'.

Debut: 2018 Occupation: Hand Tools, Professional Racers Favourite Pastimes: Helping people, racing Make-Up: Renewable, reusable and environmentally friendly! Chop & Stix come to the ballpark to keep the peace between the super competitive sushi and sauce.

Connected at the top, Chop & Stix have a few challenges to iron out during the race – but they always get an A for effort.

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ACROSS 1. Baseball players are usually safe here 5. Leather object worn on hand to catch baseballs 6. Metal or wooden object used to hit the ball 7. Hat worn by baseball players 8. A ball hit out of bounds 10. Player who throws the ball over homeplate 13. The area between the three bases and home plate DOWN 1. A game played on a diamond 2. A baseball game has nine such divisions 3. Catches the ball thrown by the pitcher 4. The area of the field furthest from the batter and outside the diamond 9. Calls strikes and balls 11. Group of people playing a game 12. When a player can run around all the bases on just one hit

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JUMBLE ANSWERS: 1. Baseball 2. Double 3. Batter 4. Glove 5. Canadians 6. Steal 7. Bob Brown Bear 8. Champions 9. Pitcher 10. Slider BASEBALL MATCH: 2 & 6 LOGO ANSWERS (L-R): Orioles; Brewers; Mets; Phillies; Tigers; Angels; Reds; Cubs; Braves; Yankees; Royals; Astros; Athletics; Mariners; Blue Jays; Twins; Red Sox; White Sox; Indians; Rockies; Cardinals; Pirates; Giants; Padres; Rays; Marlins; Nationals; Diamondbacks; Dodgers; Rangers CROSSWROD ANSWERS (Across) 1. Base 5.Mitt 6. Bat 7. Cap 8. Foul 10. Pitcher 13. Diamond (Down) 1. Baseball 2. Inning 3. Catcher 4. Outfield 9. Umpire 11. Team 12. Homerun

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Baseball BC is the recognized governing body for baseball in British Columbia.

Through its programs and leadership, Baseball BC in cooperation with its affiliates, supports the development of baseball and aspirations of its members, by offering activities that are non-discriminatory and value-based.

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