Two Bloordale Baseball Alumni took to the world baseball stage as members of Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was the final additional to the roster after being cleared to participate. Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A club catcher John Suomi was named to the roster in late February replacing Russel Martin.
Suomi, 32, is a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization and spent the 2012 season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he hit .265 with 4 home runs and 18 RBI in 64 games. Suomi was originally selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 22nd round of the 2000 MLB Draft. The World Baseball Classic will be Suomi’s first opportunity to represent Canada internationally
For a snapshot of Suomi’s minor league stats, click here :
Click here for an article on Suomi.
Votto, 29, and Suomi joined Pitcher, Shawn Hill, 31, on Team Canada’s roster. All three are graduates of the Etobicoke Rangers program, coached at the time by Bobby Smyth, from Midget age until signing pro contracts.
“For these guys to come out of our program and to all be pros and to be playing for Team Canada at the same time, well to me anyway is unbelievable,” said Steve Breitner, Field Manager for the Etobicoke Rangers Junior and Senior AAA teams. “Former Etobicoke Ranger players make up about 13% of Team Canada’s roster. I do not think over the course of time that this has never been accomplished by any other organization.”
“Kudos to their former Etobicoke coaches Bobby Smyth and Greg O’Halloran who were the most help and influential to these 3 players as they rose from the sandlots to the pros,” Breitner added.
A Mississauga native, Hill was originally selected by San Diego in the 33rd round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, but did not sign due to an arm injury. Hill’s major and minor league career has seen him play in the following organizations: Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, and Detroit Tigers.