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C'S Program #5

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OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE VANCOUVER CANADIANS

2022 SEASON - ISSUE 5

SCOREKEEPING 101 HOW TO SCORE A BASEBALL GAME

A CHAT WITH RILEY TIROTTA

ALEX NOLAN TEAM ROSTERS

VANCOUVER CANADIANS VS EUGENE EMERALDS

CAVAN BIGGIO

WHERE IS HE NOW?

MEET OUR

MASCOTS ALEX NOLAN

2022


DON’T MISS A&W FAMILY FUN

GATES OPEN AT NOON. FIRST PITCH 1:05 APRIL 24

Umbrella Giveaway

JUNE 19

Father's Day Hat Giveaway

FIRST 500 FANS

FIRST 500 DADS (WITH A CHILD PRESENT)

MAY 8

JULY 3

Mother's Day Hat Giveaway

Mini Bat Giveaway

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

MAY 22

JULY 17

Mascot Socks Giveaway

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

JUNE 5

JULY 31

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

AUGUST 28

Backpack Giveaway

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

Pennant Giveaway

jersey lunch bag Giveaway FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

FIRST 500 MOMS (WITH A CHILD PRESENT)

Autograph Book Giveaway

AUGUST 7

SEPTEMBER 11

Blanket Giveaway FIRST 500 FANS

Replica Jersey Giveaway FIRST 500 KIDS 12 AND UNDER

And

ENJOY $2 A&W ROOT BEER FLOATS!

®

WITH ALL PROCEEDS DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIES

2 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


CONTENTS

4 MESSAGE FROM VANCOUVER CANADIANS

A letter from owners Jake Kerr & Jeff Mooney.

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 2022 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

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

16 STEINER STORIES - ALEX NOLAN

Each week, our own Ben Steiner sits down with a C’s player to find out more about the path that brought them to The Nat. This week: Alex Nolan

21 ROAD TO THE SHOW

Climbing through the Blue Jays system.

22 TEAM ROSTERS 25 MEET THE 2022 VANCOUVER CANADIANS

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

30 CANADIANS TO REACH THE MAJOR LEAGUES

Check out the complete list of every Canadians player (20002021) to have made it to the bright lights of MLB

32 HOW TO SCORE THE BASEBALL GAME A Scorekeeping 101.

34 C’S CHAT – RILEY TIROTTA

Niall O’Donohoe with infielder Riley Tirotta to find out more about his past, and what he’s working on this season.

43 FORMER C’S – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Long before he began his professional career when he suited up for the Canadians in the summer of 2016 Cavan Biggio felt the pressure of his recognizable last name

44 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.

45 KIDS FUN PAGE

Fun kids activities

48 2022 BROADCAST SCHEDULE

With more games on radio than ever before and a MiLB.TV broadcast package as well – the Canadians and Sportsnet 650 have baseball in Vancouver covered like never before!

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 2022 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 2022 / 3


A MESSAGE FROM JAKE KERR & JEFF MOONEY Welcome to Nat Bailey Stadium. This season we are celebrating 44 years of Vancouver Canadians Baseball as we welcome both you and our “Boys of Summer” back once again to historic Nat Bailey Stadium. 2022 is set to be a remarkable year in many ways. First and foremost, C’s baseball is back at The Nat for the first time since August 2019. So much has happened between now and then; the global pandemic wiped out the 2020 season and we spent all of 2021 playing away from home. There were times when we were not sure what the future would hold, but as caretakers of your professional baseball team we remain steadfast in our commitment to the ballclub, to you, the fans, and to this wonderful community. We cannot tell you just how excited and grateful we are to be back home. Through it all, we strive to create what we feel is the best sports experience not just in Vancouver, but in all of Minor League Baseball. We hope by the end of today’s game, you’ll agree with us. Team president Andy Dunn and his staff have been working tirelessly to ensure that our return to Nat Bailey Stadium gives you any number of opportunities to create new and lasting memories with your colleagues, friends, and loved ones. We have continued our important work through the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation. Over 300 local children will join our program this year and we look forward to getting back out in the local community through a multitude of commitments that we proudly honour. We hope that you will continue to support our team and our community alongside us. Enjoy the game and thank you for choosing to spend your time with us. We are proud to showcase the future stars of the Toronto Blue Jays for you and hope that today is another chance for you to create a memory with us all summer long. Here’s to many, many more years of fun and memories here at historic Nat Bailey Stadium. Go C’s!

Jake Kerr & Jeff Mooney

4 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2017 2022


VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 5


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THURSDAY, JULY 28TH | NAT BAILEY STADIUM

7 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2019

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 7


JUNE 16

PRESENTED BY 8 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


FRONT OFFICE STAFF JAKE KERR

MAJORITY OWNER, MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER 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

CO-OWNER 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

TOM BACKEMEYER

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Tom, who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Lancaster Jethawks 2014-2021. The Jethawks were the sister organization to the Vancouver Canadians held under the same ownership group of Jake Kerr and Jeff Mooney. The native of Lincoln, Nebraska has a vast background in Minor League Baseball as prior to his arrival in Lancaster, Backemeyer helped develop franchises in Nashville, Rancho Cucamonga, Fresno, and Everett. He is a graduate of Colorado State University (BA) with an MBA from the University of Denver.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 9


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 NorthShore Twins of the B.C. Premier League

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 Canda, Granville Island Brewing and Steamworks Brewing. Walter was also General Manager of Petcurean leading a staff of more than70 people. With a longstanding 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

STEVEN MAISEY

MANAGER OF TICKETING OPERATIONS Steven enters his third season with the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club, and his first as Manager of Ticket Operations. 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 2022

STEPHANI ELLIS

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Returning for her seventh 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

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Brenda is entering her 15th 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

CHARLENE YAROSHUK

ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR Charlene is excited to be entering her 4th 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.


TYLER ZICKEL

MANAGER OF BROADCASTING & MEDIA RELATIONS Tyler joined the Canadians in 2021 for his fourth season in the Blue Jays organization and seventh 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. He began his MiLB career in 2014 as a communications intern for the Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm in Southern California and was promoted twice in three years. As Assistant Director of Marketing and Director of Digital Content, respectively, Tyler was heavily involved in growing the team's online presence.

CHARLES O'NEILL

MANAGER OF STADIUM OPERATIONS Charles joins the Canadians in 2022 after working for a variety for baseball clubs including the Long Island Ducks, and the New York Mets. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his prior experiences to Nat Bailey Stadium. He previously completed his Bachelors of Sports Management from Farmingdale State College in New York.

He 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.

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 is coaching basketball to inner city kids. This Vancouverite also likes spending her free time playing basketball, tennis, golf, and skiing.

LEVI WEBSTER

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.

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JACOB NAKHLEH

OWEN SCURALLI

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.

After graduating from Brock University in St. Catharines ON with a degree in Sport Management, Owen completed an internship for a local athlete representation company doing sales and marketing prior to the start of the

SALES ASSOCIATE Jacob returns for his sixth season with the C’s and his first as Sales Associate.

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.

SALES ASSOCIATE Owen enters his first season with the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club as a Sales Associate.

pandemic. Owen moved here from Ontario in March 2021, working as a Telus Sales Rep, and spent time as a waiter at Craft Brewery before joining the C’s this past January. He brings a great deal of passion for sports and customer service to the team. In his spare time, Owen loves reading books, working out, and spending his summertime at Kitsilano Beach, a 5 min walk from his apartment.

COOPER MISIC

LANE DEPLAEDT

SALES ASSOCIATE 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.

SALES ASSOCIATE Lane joins the C’s for his first season in Minor League Baseball after recently working with the Coquitlam Express Junior A Hockey Club in Game Day Operations. He is recently graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a bachelor’s or Business Administration with a Major in Marketing.

While away from the ballpark he enjoys spending time in his hometown of Port Moody or playing golf.

BALLPARK AND STADIUM OPERATIONS

BROOKS PRIMO

CHRISTIAN WILSON

12 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

COLE WARKENTIN

DREW HOWSON


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SUBSCRIBE NOW Blackout and other restrictions may apply. Visit MiLB.TV® for details. Data and usage rates may apply for First Pitch app download VANCOUVER and use.CANADIANS 2022 / 13


2022 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI 8

APRIL

SAT

SPO 6:35

9

TRI 6:30

16

SPO 5:09

SUN

MON

TUE

WE 1

JUNE

SP

PRESENTE

10 SPO 1:05

111

122

TRI 6:30

TRI 6:30

13

MAGNETIC SCHEDULE GIVEAWAY

TRI 1:30

19 EUG 7:05

18

TRI 6:30

15

TRI 6:30

5

SUPPORTING BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

FIRST 2,500 FANS

17

14

20 EUG 7:05

BLANKET GIVEAWAYY

SPO 1:05

TRI 6:30

6

7

1 13

14 1 EUG 7:05

8

TR

PRESENTED BY A&W

21 EUG 7:05

22 EUG 1:05

23 EUG 1:05

122

6:30 6: :3 :30 :30 TTRRRII 66:3 TRI

15 EU

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

24 EUG 1:05

26 HIL 6:35

25

2277

6::35 66:3 :3355 HHIL I 6:35 IL

228 HIL 6:35

29 HIL 6:35

PRESENTE SUPPO YM

PRESENTED BY BCLC

30 HIL 6:35

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY

HIL 7:05

22 HI

28 SPO 7:05

29 SP

PRESENTED BY BCLC

PRESENTE SUPPO BC CHILDREN’S HOS

21 FAMILY FUN SUNDAY

- AND -

- AND -

UMBRELLA GIVEAWAY

FATHER'S DAY

FIRST 500 FANS

PRESENTED BY A&W

PRESENTED BY A&W

MAY

Lore e1:05:05 m

TRAVEL MUG GIVEAWAY

227

FIRST 500 FANS

1

HIL 1:05

2

3

EVE 7:05

PRESENTED BY BCLC

8

EVE 1:05

9

EUG 7:35

10

4

EVE 7:05

PRESENTED BY RBC SUPPORTING BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

11

5

EVE 7:05

EVE 1:05

6

PRESENTED BY VAN HOUTTE COFFEE

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

12 EUG 7:35

13 EUG 7:35

7

EVE 1:05

JULY

14 EUG 6:05

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY

3

SPO 1:05

4

EVE 7:05

5

6

EV

13

HI

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY

- AND -

- AND -

MOTHER'S DAY

MINI BAT GIVEAWAY

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 & UNDER

PRESENTED BY A&W

17

22 TRI 1:05

23

TRI 7:05

18

TRI 7:05

PRESENTED BY BCLC

PRESENTED BY RBC SUPPORTING BIG SISTERS

24 HIL 6:35

25 HIL 6:35

19

TRI 7:05

20 TRI 1:05

21

TRI 1:05

10 EVE 4:05

12

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

26 HIL 6:35

27

HIL 6:35

HIL 7:05

PRESENTED BY BCLC

28 HIL 6:35

17

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY

AUTOGRAPH BOOK GIVEAWAY

MASCOT SOCKS GIVEAWAY

- AND -

11

HIL 1:05

PRESENTE SUPPO GREATER VANCOU

18

19

20

25

26 EVE 7:05

27 EV

- AND -

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 & UNDER

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 & UNDER

PRESENTED BY A&W

2299 HI 1: HIL HIL IL 1:05

PRESENTED BY A&W

30

31 SPO 7:05

24 SPO 6:35

PRESENTED BY BCLC

PRESENTED BY BCLC

31

1:05 :055 EVE 1:

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY - AND -

REPLICA JERSEY GIVEAWAY FIRST 500 KIDS 12 & UNDER

PRESENTED BY A&W

14 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

PRESENTE


ED

PO 7:05

THU SPO 7:05

2

FRI SPO 1:05

3

SAT 4

SPO 7:05

RKZAS FIREWAGOAN EXTRAV

ED BY RBC

RI 6:30

INDIGENOUS DAY PRESENTED BY ROGERS

TRI 6:30

9

PRESENTED BY CLOVERDALE PAINT

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

10

TRI 6:30

SUN

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

AUGUST

TRI 6:30

11

MON

1

2

TRI 7:05

TRI 7:05

3

4

TRI 7:05

5

TRI 1:05

6

TRI 7:05

ORKS FIRTREW AVAGANZA EX

PRESENTED BY RBC SUPPORTING OUT ON SCREEN VIDEO & FILM SOCIETY

PRESENTED BY BCLC

UG 7:05

16 EUG 7:05

17 EUG 1:05

18 EUG 7:05

RKZAS FIREWAGOAN EXTRAV

PET FOOD N’ MORE

PO 7:05

30 SPO 7:05

EUG 6:35

10 EUG 6:35

PRESENTED BY PHILLIPS BREWING

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

EUG 6:35

12 EUG 6:35

13 EUG 5:05

EVE 7:05

18 EVE 7:05

19 EVE 7:05

20 EVE 7:05

24 HIL 7:05

25 HIL 7:05

26 HIL 1:05

27

8

9

14 EUG 4:05

15

16 EVE 7:05

17

EVE 4:05

22

23 HIL 7:05

11

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY - AND -

JERSEY LUNCH BAG GIVEAWAY

PRESENTED BY RETURN-IT

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

23 HIL 7:05

TRI 1:05

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 & UNDER

ED BY RBC ORTING MCA

L 7:05

7

24 HIL 7:05

PRESENTED BY A&W

25 HIL 7:05

21

ORKS FIREW AVAGANZA EXTR

EXTR

BEER KOOZIE GIVEAWAY

ED BY RBC ORTING SPITAL FOUNDATION

FIRST 500 FANS

1

SPO 1:05

2

HIL 7:05

ORKS FIREW AVAGANZA

SPO 7:05

RKZAS FIREWAGOAN EXTRAV

28 HIL 1:05

29

PRESENTED BY BCLC

PRESENTED BY RBC

30 SPO 6:35

31 SPO 6:35

PRESENTED BY TURNER CONSTRUCTION

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY - AND -

BACKPACK GIVEAWAY

FIRST 500 KIDS 12 & UNDER

PRESENTED BY SLEEMAN BREWERIES

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

VE 12:05

7

L 7:05

14

EVE 7:05

8

HIL 7:05

15

ED BY RBC

9

HIL 1:05

16

EVE 7:05

PRESENTED BY A&W

1

SPO 6:35

2

SPO 6:35

3

8

EUG 7:05

9

EUG 1:05

10 EUG 7:05

SEPTEMBER

HIL 7:05

4

RKZAS FIREWAGOAN

6:355 SPO 6:3

5

6

EUG 7:05

7

EUG 7:05

EXTRAV

ED BY RBC ORTING UVER FOOD BANK

VE 7:05

EVE 7:05

22 SPO 6:35

ORKS FIRTREW AVAGANZA EX

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

21

SPO 6:35

PRESENTED BY BCLC

23 SPO 6:35

11

SUPPORTING PRESENTED BY RBC FOUNDRY BC

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

EUG 1:055

A&W FAMILY FUN SUNDAY - AND -

BLANKET GIVEAWAY FIRST 500 FANS

PRESENTED BY A&W

28 EVE 7:05

29 EVE 1:05

30 EVE 7:05

ORKS FIRTREW AVAGANZA EX

PRESENTED BY FORTIS BC

PRESENTED BY NÜTRL VODKA

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 15


16 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


BY BEN STEINER

Canadian university pitchers don’t usually make it very far, but Vancouver Canadian Alex Nolan is trying to change that.

STEINER STORIES:

ALEX NOLAN

The workouts were at 10:00 a.m. For Alex Nolan, that was too late -- he would show up and put two workouts in before the rest of his teammates rolled in for 10, or more realistically, 10:15. “For me, baseball was always pro. I want to get there, and I brought everyone around me to that standard,” Nolan told me. “My roommate said, ‘man, I love you, but on the baseball field, I hate you.” Now in his third season with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, Nolan played his university baseball at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., a smaller school with a club-level, nonvarsity baseball program. It was no Vanderbilt or University of Florida. Instead, the facilities at George Taylor Field were rather primitive, not where one would expect a pro ballplayer to come from. Originally from Burlington, Ont. the now 25-year-old went to high school in Arizona. There, he became familiar with the level of training needed to develop into a top ballplayer. In the high school leagues, workouts were at 5:00 am, and games were on MLB spring training fields. The situation was exquisite. While he played an entire season while in high school, the move to Brock brought a much different look. No longer was baseball the priority of most of his teammates; instead, their focuses were on school and learning to live independently in university. For Nolan, though, it was all on baseball. At Brock, student-athletes are not on full-ride scholarships and play a 12-game Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season before taking on the playoffs. It’s not impossible for athletes to be drafted out of the Canadian university ranks; however, it is extremely rare, and usually, the only pitchers are those who consistently light up the radar gun. With that situation, Nolan knew that his brief OUA season numbers wouldn’t get him a pro contract; the 75-game summer ball season was where scouts looked. Before Nolan, the last Vancouver Canadian to come from a Canadian university was fellow Brock Badger Shaun Valeriote, a third baseman who played in 2013. “When I would go to summer ball, I would think, ‘everybody thinks I suck because I went to some school that they’ve never

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 17


heard of, I’ll just be good then,” Nolan said. “You have to put your career first and go all out because you don't want at the end of your four years or five years in university, thinking that you could have given a bit more.” Nolan had a strong connection with fellow former Brock baseball player turned Blue Jays executive Andrew Tinnish, who, while never giving Nolan a stroke of luck, guided him to where he needed to be to succeed. Nolan played a few seasons with the Thunder Bay Border Cats, thriving on the league’s only Canadian team, as well as the Kalamazoo Growlers of the Northwoods League. In addition to Tinnish, Nolan’s head coach at Brock, Marc Lepage, played an integral role in the young pitcher’s development. Having led the OUA program on and off since 1995, Lepage had seen many talented players as he, and other coaches tried to offer an alternative to the NCAA. “[Nolan] was young, but he had a lot of potential and was a hard worker with a lot of energy. We saw a nice development of his personality and mental toughness and physical skill,” Lepage said. “He took criticism well, and he worked on things that we wanted to work on; even as a young guy, the desire to win, the desire to succeed was there.”

However, each of his three seasons with the C’s has been extremely different. Although, it is a moment in his first season when he first realized this wasn’t summer league anymore. Standing on the mound, 2019 Canadians manager and former Montreal Expo Casey Candaele handed Nolan the ball and gave him a handshake as Nolan went on to throw five innings allowing just a single run. “My family and I watched [Candaele],” Nolan said. Since then, however, Nolan faced challenges. In year two with the C’s, playing out of Hillsboro, Ore., he got away from what he was comfortable with. “I was thinking of it more like a business rather than just playing, and maybe put too much pressure on myself,” he said. “It took me away from my comfort zone because you’re just always stressing.” The rise through baseball’s ranks has not been quick for Nolan, but the jumps have been substantial at every point. For him and other long-serving members of the Canadians, moving up a level was a challenge. Although the situation is different in High-A in Vancouver than it was in Short Season A, it is still the same surroundings, a difficult adjustment for Nolan and others.

It was Tinnish, along with Lepage who pushed him to take his shot at the Summer Leagues in hopes of attracting the eyes of the MLB. While academics were of utmost importance at Brock, baseball was the priority for Nolan, and he made it count.

Still, there is an undoubted determination that the Burlingtonborn right-hander has when he steps on the mound, especially in front of a sold-out Nat Bailey Stadium. “The fanbase is insane, especially when it's full here,” he said. “They really make us want to play better and make us play better for Vancouver.”

After playing summer league and taking Brock baseball as seriously as anyone would take the NCAA, the 2019 MLB Draft came and went without his name being called. A serious disappointment at the time, Nolan shifted his mentality, seeing the situation as a test from MLB teams, including the Blue Jays.

In 2022, Nolan has begun settling into life in High A in Vancouver, dealing with rainouts and double-headers in British Columbia’s wet spring. However, he’s playing with a clearer mind than in Hillsboro and enjoying every minute of being back in Canada.

Days later, while Nolan was in the shower, his phone rang. The Toronto Blue Jays were offering him a contract as an undrafted free agent. “I wanted to be drafted so bad, I was pretty down just because my family are massive Blue Jays people, and I’m a massive Blue Jays person,” Nolan said. “I knew everyone we signed from the draft, and when I got to the Blue Jays [as a free agent], I was like ‘yeah, I know exactly who you are.” After instantly returning the call to Toronto, Nolan signed with the Jays and began his minor league career in Dunedin, before making his way to Vancouver later in 2019 with the Canadians in short-season baseball. Since then, he was released and re-signed by the organization, and since 2021 has found himself back in the Canadians' regular rotation in High-A. 18 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

There are just 13 Canadian players in Major League Baseball, and none of them have come through Canadian universities. Ontario university players just don’t make the MLB, but Nolan, a lifelong Blue Jays fan and Brock University alumnus, is trying to change that. Baseball has always had a pro element for the hardworking Nolan and playing in the big leagues is the goal for every baseball player. For Nolan, bucking the trend would be a dream. While he knows that the system is flush with prospects, he also believes in himself. “The life of a student-athlete, especially from the OUA and being those underdogs, I loved it,” Nolan said. “Playing at The Nat makes you want to work hard because you can see how good it can be, like, you know, if you work your way up through, and playing in Toronto is the ultimate goal.”


FRIDAYS

Gates Open at Noon. First Pitch 1:05 BUY TICKETS VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 19


D L O C E IC

T F A R C - LOC

R E E B H S E FR

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

20 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


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 CHARLIE MONTOYO

JOHN SCHNEIDER

MANAGER

GUILLERMO MARTINEZ

BENCH COACH

MARK BUDZINSKI

HUNTER MENSE

HITTING COACH

FIRST BASE COACH

LUIS RIVERA

THIRD BASE COACH

MATT BUSCHMANN

DAVE HUDGENS

ALEX ANDREOPOULOS

LUIS HURTADO

HITTING STRATEGIST

PITCHING COACH

DAVID HOWELL

BULLPEN COACH

BULLPEN CATCHER

PETER WALKER

ASSISTANT HITTING COACH

PITCHING STRATEGIST

GIL KIM

BULLPEN CATCHER

FIELD COORDINATOR

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

JEFF WARE

COREY HART

MANAGER

PITCHING COACH

HITTING COACH

CALEB DANIEL

JUSTIN BATCHER

KARA TERRY

ATHLETIC TRAINER

S&C COACH

DEVON WHITE

JAKE McGUIGGAN

POSITION COACH

DEVELOPMENT COACH

ROB DiBERNARDO

DIETITIAN

BRIAN SHERIDAN

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

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

JIM CZAJKOWSKI

MANAGER

MATT HAGUE

PITCHING COACH

LUKE GREENE

CASEY CALLISON

ATHLETIC TRAINER

CHRIS SCHAEFFER

HITTING COACH

GEOFF STALLMAN

S&C COACH

MATT VON ROEMER

POSITION COACH

DIETITIAN

DANIEL TUCKER

DEVELOPMENT COACH

RAUL PIMENTEL

BULLPEN COACH

KEVIN MCCARTHY

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

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

PHIL CUNDARI

RYAN WRIGHT

ASHLEY PONCE

ROELVIS VARGAS

TOMMY LABRIOLA

YUKA SANUI

RAUL PIMENTEL

MANAGER

PITCHING COACH

ATHLETIC TRAINER

HITTING COACH

S&C COACH

JOEL BONNETT

POSITION COACH

DIETITIAN

BULLPEN COACH

AJ ARIAS

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

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

DREW HAYES

MANAGER

MATT YOUNG

PITCHING COACH

BRANDON HAMMERSTROM ATHLETIC TRAINER

DANNY CANELLAS

HITTING COACH

ROSWELL DEL ROSARIO S&C COACH

POSITION COACH

GEOFF STALLMAN DIETITIAN

TAYLOR HILL

MAX GLASSER

BULLPEN COACH

ERIKA MONSALVE

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

COACHING ASSISTANT

CARLOS POLANCO

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

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

GEORGE CARROLL

MANAGER

BENCH COACH

JAIME VIEIRA

ATHLETIC TRAINER

S&C COACH

PITCHING COACH

PETR STRIBRCKY

POSITION COACH

SYDNEY JENKINS

CORY RIORDAN

PITCHING COACH

DENNIS HOLMBERG

HITTING COACH

FRANK ESPOSITO

ANTONIO CACERES

DEVELOPMENT COACH

EDWIN ORTIZ

HITTING COACH

ADRIAN MARTIN

DIETITIAN

PAUL ELLIOTT HITTING COACH

JON WOODWORTH

COMPLEX PITCHING COACH

BRYAN ROSALES

S&C COACH

JUSTIN ECHEVARRIA

ATHLETIC TRAINER

ERIKA MONSALVE

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

STEVEN CARDONA

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

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

ALAIN PACHECO

ATHLETIC TRAINER

YOEL HERNANDEZ PITCHING COACH

YSIDRO REYES

ATHLETIC TRAINER

FRED LANDERS HITTING COACH

IMBEWER ALVAREZ S&C COACH

DEIFERSON BARRETO POSITION COACH

JOSEPH CARDONA S&C COACH

BRYAN ROSALES DIETITIAN

JOSE MATEO

POSITION COACH

ERIKA MONSALVE

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH

JAIR MORELOS

COACHING ASSISTANT

ISIDRO LOPEZ

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 21


VANCOUVER CANADIANS PITCHERS HT 22 Ryan Boyer 6-2 30 Jol Concepcion 6-5 26 Chad Dallas 6-0 17 Garrett Farmer 5-11 32 Hunter Gregory 6-3 Roither Hernandez 6-4 34 Conor Larkin 6-1 16 Will McAffer 6-2 18 Alejandro Melean 6-0 23 Abdiel Mendoza 5-11 33 Alex Nolan 6-4 4 Naswell Paulino 5-11 44 Sem Robberse 6-3 15 Jimmy Robbins 6-3 40 Thomas Ruwe 6-9 36 Braden Scott 6-3 14 Mark Simon 6-0 31 Ricky Tiedemann 6-4 41 Sean Wymer 6-1 25 Yosver Zulueta 6-1

WT 225 240 205 190 220 185 205 205 175 195 240 205 190 190 240 215 190 220 205 190

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

DOB 5/4/97 9/17/98 6/6/00 5/14/97 11/16/98 03/05/98 3/17/99 5/30/97 10/11/00 9/19/98 3/21/96 4/17/00 10/12/01 12/22/97 9/9/95 2/6/98 8/4/95 8/18/02 3/19/97 1/23/98

HOMETOWN Bradford, PA Santiago, DR Orange, TX Huntsville, AL Chesapeake, VA Bonao, DR Royersford, PA North Vancouver, BC Maracaibo, VZ Chitre, PAN Burlington, ON San Cristobal, DR Woudenberg, NED Orlando, FL Arlington, NE Jasonville, IN Houston, TX Long Beach, CA Flower Mound, TX Remedios, Cuba

‘21 CLUBS Canisius (College) Dunedin, Vancouver Pro debut Aberdeen (BAL A+) Dunedin Dunedin, Vancouver Dunedin Vancouver, New Hampshire Dunedin, Vancouver Down East (TEX A-) Dunedin, Vancouver Dunedin Dunedin, Vancouver DNP Dunedin, Vancouver Indiana ND Missoula (MLB Partner Lg) Golden West JC (College) Vancouver Dunedin

Waivers, 12/8/21 ND FA, 6/14/19 INT FA, 7/4/16 INT FA, 7/24/19 20th Rd, ’19, Rollins ND FA, 11/24/20 FA, 2/2/22 ND FA, 1/28/22 3rd Rd, ’21, Golden West JC 4th Rd, ’18, TCU INT FA, 6/11/19

CATCHERS 6 Zach Britton 20 Anthony Morales 21 Andres Sosa

WT 205 190 215

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

DOB 9/9/98 11/13/98 11/7/97

HOMETOWN Batesville, IN Aibonito, PR Hermosillo, MX

‘21 CLUBS Dunedin DUN, VAN, NH, BUF FCL, Dunedin

ACQUIRED 5th Rd, ’20, Louisville ND FA, 2/12/21 INT FA. 8/16/21

INFIELDERS HT WT B/T DOB 9 Addison Barger 6-0 210 L/R 11/12/99 5 Miguel Hiraldo 6-0 190 R/R 9/5/00 8 Leo Jimenez* 6-0 200 R/R 5/17/01 35 Tyler Keenan 5-11 145 R/R 2/27/99 12 P.K. Morris 6-1 195 L/L 11/30/98 7 Trevor Schwecke 6-2 200 R/R 12/18/97 24 Riley Tirotta 6-3 215 R/R 8/21/98

HOMETOWN Everett, WA Santiago, DR Las Tablas, PAN Clayton, NC Tampa, FL Marshfield, WI South Bend, IN

‘21 CLUBS Dunedin, Vancouver Dunedin FCL, Dunedin Everett Dunedin, Vancouver FCL, Vancouver Dunedin

ACQUIRED 6th Rd, ’18, King HS (FL) INT FA, 7/2/17 INT FA, 7/2/17 Trade, 5/20/22 14th Rd, ’17, Steinbrenner HS (FL) 13th Rd, ’19, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 12th Rd, ’21, Dayton

OUTFIELDERS 19 Steward Berroa 29 Hugo Cardona 27 Mack Mueller 2 Harry Ray 1 Davis Schneider 28 Garrett Spain

HOMETOWN Santo Domingo, DR La Sabana, VZ Abilene, TX Orlando, FL Voorhees, NJ Clarksville, TN

‘21 CLUBS New Hampshire FCL, Dunedin, NH Dunedin Dunedin, Vancouver Dunedin, Vancouver FCL, Dunedin

ACQUIRED INT FA, 7/4/16 INT FA, 7/2/16 ND FA, 6/25/20 ND FA, 6/25/20 28th Rd, ’17, Eastern HS (NJ) 15th Rd, ’21, Austin Peay State

EVERETT AQUASOX SPOKANE INDIANS HT 6-1 6-0 6-0

HT 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-0

WT 178 145 230 200 190 185

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

DOB 6/05/99 9/5/99 12/16/97 1/11/98 1/26/99 9/21/00

INJURED LIST 7-day Ryan Boyer 7-day Harry Ray 7-day Zach Britton 7-day Riley Tirotta 7-day Roither Hernandez

60-day Edisson Gonzalez 60-day Cobi Johnson

ACQUIRED ND FA, 1/27/22 INT FA, 8/31/16 4th Rd, ’21, Tennessee MiLB FA, 4/12/22 8th Rd, ’21, Old Dominion INT FA, 7/4/16 9th Rd, ’21, Penn State 25th Rd, ’18, Tulane

60-day Donnie Sellers 60-day CJ Van Eyk 60-day Troy Watson

PRONUNCIATIONS Jol Concepcion – Yole con-sep-see-YONE | Robberse – row-BEAR-suh | Ruwe – roo-EE | Britton – Britain | Hiraldo – he-RAWL-dough | Barger – BARJ-er | Schwecke – shweck-ee | Tirotta – tir-AW-tuh | Mueller – MULE-er | Lavallee – luh-VALLEY Cundari – rhymes with “Ferrari” | Ponce – PAWN-say | Bonnett – like the hat | Roelvis – row-ELVIS | Labriola – lah-bree-OL-uh MANAGER: 37 Brent Lavallee PITCHING COACH: 13 Phil Cundari HITTING COACH: 10 Ryan Wright POS. PLAYER COACH: 11 Ashley Ponce

22 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

BULLPEN COACH: 38 Joel Bonnett ATHLETIC TRAINER: Roelvis Vargas STRENGTH & CONDITIONING: Tommy LaBriola DIETITIAN: Yuka Sanui

MENTAL COACH: Raul Pimental TECH ASSISTANT: AJ Arias * 40-Man Roster


EUGENE EMERALDS PITCHERS 39 Abel Adames 13 Nicholas Avila 35 Mason Black 48 Brooks Crawford 29 Clay Helvey 26 Will Jensen 45 Nick Morreale 15 Ryan Murphy 17 Mat Olsen 38 Randy Rodriguez 37 Juan Sanchez 49 Brett Standlee 31 Nick Swiney 23 Jake Wong

T HT WT RHP 6’5 190 RHP 6’4 195 RHP 6'3" 230 RHP 6'4 215 RHP 6'3 195 RHP 6'4 180 RHP 6'5 220 RHP 6'1" 190 RHP 5'11" 185 RHP 6’0 166 LHP 6'2 165 RHP 6'4 223 LHP 6’3 185 RHP 6'2 218

DOB BIRTHPLACE 12/8/95 Fantino, DR 7/25/97 Modesto, CA 12/10/99 Scranton, PA 8/19/1996 Athens, GA 2/14/97 Charlotte, NC 9/2/97 Phoenix, AZ 7/27/97 Minneapolis, MN 10/08/99 Poughkeepsie, NY 07/08/00 Florence, AZ 9/5/99 Santo Domingo, DR 11/12/00 Valencia, VZ 9/14/98 Tulsa, OK 2/12/99 Nashville, TN 9/3/96 Chandler, AZ

RESIDES -Turlock, CA -Athens, GA Fort Mill, SC Murray, UT Lake Elmo, MN ----Jenks, OK Cornelius, NC Chandler, AZ

SCHOOL -Long Beach State Lehigh Clemson Tampa Pepperdine Georgetown Le Moyne Central Arizona JC --Oklahoma State NC State Grand Canyon

CATCHERS 12 Patrick Bailey 32 Rodolfo Bone 46 Ronaldo Flores

B/T HT S/R 6'1 R/R 5'11 R/R 6'0"

WT 210 170 175

DOB 5/29/99 3/22/00 05/17/02

RESIDES Greensboro, NC ---

SCHOOL NC State ---

ACQUIRED 1st Rd, 2020 IFA, 7/2/17 UFA, 8/13/18

INFIELDERS 7 Carter Aldrete 6 Jimmy Glowenke 10 Marco Luciano 8 Ghordy Santos 28 Casey Schmitt 33 Luis Toribio 5 Simon Whiteman

B/T HT R/R 6'2 R/R 5'10 R/R 6'2 S/R 6'1 R/R 6'2 L/R 6'1 R/R 5'10

WT 205 200 178 177 215 185 165

DOB BIRTHPLACE RESIDES 10/12/97 Monterey, CA Monterey, CA 6/5/97 Chicago, IL Lewisville, TX 9/10/01 San Francisco de Macoris, DR -9/2/99 San Pedro de Macoris, DR -3/1/99 San Diego, CA San Diego, CA 9/28/00 San Francisco de Macoris, DR -1/28/1997 Trumbull, CT

VANCOUVER CANADIANS

SCHOOL Arizona State Dallas Baptist --San Diego State -Yale

ACQUIRED 15th Rd, 2019 2nd Rd, 2020 IFA, 7/2/18 IFA, 7/2/16 2nd Rd, 2020 IFA, 7/2/17 9th Rd, 2019

OUTFIELDERS 9 Hunter Bishop 1 Luis Matos 41 Jairo Pomares 14 Carter Williams

B/T HT L/R 6'5 R/R 5'11 L/R 6'1 L/R 6'3"

WT 210 160 185 210

DOB 6/25/98 1/28/02 8/4/00 01/14/98

SCHOOL Arizona State --NC Central

ACQUIRED 1st Rd, 2019 IFA, 7/2/18 IFA, 7/2/18 UFA, 6/18/20

HILLSBORO HOPS

TRI-CITY DUST DEVILS

BIRTHPLACE Greensboro, NC Masaya, Nicaragua Maracay, Venezuela

BIRTHPLACE RESIDES San Carlos, CA Palo Alto, CA Valera, VZ -Sancti Spiritus, Cuba -Brown Summit, NC

ACQUIRED IFA, 7/2/15 26th Rd, 2019 3rd Rd, 2021 29th Rd, 2019 22nd Rd, 2018 UFA, 6/23/20 14th Rd, 2019 5th Rd, 2020 9th Rd, 2021 IFA, 7/2/17 IFA, 7/2/17 17th Rd, 2021 2nd Rd, 2020 3rd Rd, 2018

PRONUNCIATIONS PRONUNCIATIONS: Nick Avila (uh-VILL-uh), Nick Morreale (more-ee-al-ee), Nick Swiney (Swin-ee), Ty Weber (web-er), Carter Aldrete (All-dret-ee), Rodolfo Bone (Bone-ehh), Jimmy Glowenke (Glow-en-key), Luis Toribio (Tor-ee-bee-oh)

EVERETT AQUASOX

MANAGER: 21 Carlos Valderrama PITCHING COACH: 43 Alain Quijano HITTING COACH: 16 Cory Elasik FUNDAMENTALS COACH: 2 Eliezer Zambrano TRAINER: Tim Vigue STRENGTH COACH: Nick Fajardo

SPOKANE INDIANS

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 23


Dream come two.

Introducing our new Premium cabin with spacious 2x2 seating.

We are proud to be an official partner of the Vancouver Canadians.

2x2 Premium seats are available on select Boeing 737 aircraft and will be retrofitted across our 737 fleet throughout 2019 - 2020. Not available on our 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 767, or flights operated by WestJet Encore or WestJet Link. 24 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


2022 ROSTER

BRENT

LAVALLEE MANAGER

PHIL

22

JOL

CUNDARI

PITCHING COACH

13

RYAN

30

CHAD

10

WRIGHT

HITTING COACH

11

ASHLEY

PONCE

POSITION PLAYER COACH

B:11 in

S:9.75 in

T:10.75 in

37

JOEL

BONNETT

BULLPEN COACH

HUNTER

GREGORY PITCHER

38

RYAN

BOYER

PITCHER

HT: 6-2 WT: 225 B/T: R/R DOB: 5/4/97 HOMETOWN: Bradford, PA ’21 CLUBS: Canisius (College) ACQUIRED: ND FA 1/27/22

32

HT: 6-3 WT: 215 B/T: R/R DOB: 11/16/98 HOMETOWN: Chesapeake, VA ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 8th Rd, ’21, Old Dominion

CONOR

LARKIN PITCHER

34

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

CONCEPCION PITCHER

HT: 6-5 WT: 195 B/T: R/R DOB: 9/17/98 HOMETOWN: Santiago, DR ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 8/31/16

WILL

McAFFER PITCHER

16

HT: 6-2 WT: 205 B/T: R/R DOB: 5/30/97 HOMETOWN: N. Vancouver, BC ’21 CLUBS: Vancouver, New Hampshire ACQUIRED: 25th Rd, ’18, Tulane

DALLAS PITCHER

26

HT: 5-11 WT: 206 B/T: R/R DOB: 6/6/00 HOMETOWN: Orange, TX ’21 CLUBS: Pro Debut ACQUIRED: 4th Rd, ’21, Tennessee

ALEJANDRO

MELEAN PITCHER

GARRETT

FARMER PITCHER

17

HT: 5-11 WT: 195 B/T: R/R DOB: 5/14/97 HOMETOWN: Huntsville, AL ’21 CLUBS: Aberdeen (BAL A+) ACQUIRED: MiLB FA, 4/12/22

18

HT: 6-0 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 10/11/00 HOMETOWN: Maracaibo, VZ ’21 CLUBS: Vancouver, Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/2/17

ABDIEL

MENDOZA PITCHER

23

HT: 5-10 WT: 160 B/T: R/R DOB: 9/19/98 HOMETOWN: Chitre, PAN ’21 CLUBS: Down East ACQUIRED: (TEX) Waivers, 12/8/21

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 25


ALEX

NOLAN PITCHER

33

HT: 6-4 WT: 225 B/T: R/R DOB: 3/21/96 HOMETOWN: Burlington, ON ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: ND FA, 6/14/19

MARK

SIMON

PITCHER

14

HT: 6-0 WT: 185 B/T: R/R DOB: 8/4/95 HOMETOWN: Houston, TX ’21 CLUBS: DNP ACQUIRED: ND FA, 1/28/22

ANTHONY

MORALES CATCHER

20

HT: 6-0 WT: 175 B/T: S/R DOB: 11/13/98 HOMETOWN: Aibonito, PR ’21 CLUBS: DUN, VAN, NH, BUF ACQUIRED: ND FA, 2/12/21

NASWELL

PAULINO PITCHER

4

HT: 5-11 WT: 170 B/T: L/L DOB: 4/17/00 HOMETOWN: San Cristobal, DR ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/4/16

RICKY

TIEDEMANN PITCHER

31

HT: 6-4 WT: 220 B/T: L/L DOB: 8/19/02 HOMETOWN: Long Beach, CA ’21 CLUBS: Golden West JC ACQUIRED: 3rd Rd, ’21, Golden West JC

ANDRES

SOSA

CATCHER

21

HT: 5-11 WT: 210 B/T: R/R DOB: 11/7/97 HOMETOWN: Hermosillo, MX ’21 CLUBS: FCL, Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA 8/16/21

26 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

SEM

ROBBERSE PITCHER

44

HT: 6-1 WT: 160 B/T: R/R DOB: 2010-12-01 HOMETOWN: Woudenberg, NED ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/24/19

SEAN

WYMER

41

HT: 6-1 WT: 205 B/T: R/R DOB: 3/19/97 HOMETOWN: Flower Mound, TX ’21 CLUBS: Vancouver ACQUIRED: I4th Rd, ’18, TCU

ADDISON

BARGER

INFIELDER

9

HT: 6-0 WT: 210 B/T: L/R DOB: 11/12/99 HOMETOWN: Everett, WA ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 6th Rd, ’18, King HS (FL)

JIMMY

ROBBINS PITCHER

15

HT: 6-3 WT: 190 B/T: L/L DOB: 12/22/97 HOMETOWN: Orlando, FL ’21 CLUBS: DNP ACQUIRED: 20th Rd, ’19, Rollins

YOSVER

ZULUETA PITCHER

25

HT: 6-1 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 1/23/98 HOMETOWN: Remedios, Cuba ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA, 8/16/21

MIGUEL

HIRALDO INFIELDER

HT: 5-11 WT: 170 B/T: R/R DOB: 9/5/00 HOMETOWN: Santiago, DR ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/2/17

5

BRADEN

SCOTT

PITCHER

36

HT: 6-3 WT: 215 B/T: R/L DOB: 2/6/98 HOMETOWN: Jasonville, IN ’21 CLUBS: Indiana ACQUIRED: ND FA, 2/2/22

ZACH

BRITTON CATCHER

6

HT: 6-1 WT: 200 B/T: L/R DOB: 9/9/98 HOMETOWN: Batesville, IN ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 5th Rd, ’20, Louisville

LEO

JIMENEZ INFIELDER

8

HT: 5-11 WT: 160 B/T: R/R DOB: 5/17/01 HOMETOWN: Las Tablas, PAN ’21 CLUBS: FCL, Dunedin ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/2/17


TYLER

KEENAN

INFIELDER

35

HT: 6-4 WT: 250 B/T: L/R DOB: 2/27/99 HOMETOWN: Clayton, NC ’21 CLUBS: Everett ACQUIRED: Trade, 5/20/22

HUGO

CARDONA INFIELDER

29

HT: 5-11 WT: 145 B/T: R/R DOB: 9/5/99 HOMETOWN: La Sabana, VZ ’21 CLUBS: FCL, Dunedin, NH ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/2/16

P.K.

MORRIS

INFIELDER

12

HT: 6-1 WT: 195 B/T: L/L DOB: 11/30/98 HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 14th Rd, ’17, Steinbrenner HS (FL)

MACK

MUELLER

OUTFIELDER

27

HT: 6-3 WT: 225 B/T: R/L DOB: 12/16/97 HOMETOWN: Abilene, TX ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: ND FA, 6/25/20

7

TREVOR

SCHWECKE OUTFIELDER

HT: 6-1 WT: 185 B/T: R/R DOB: 12/18/97 HOMETOWN: Marshfield, WI ’21 CLUBS: FCL, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 13th Rd, ’19, Wisconsin-Milwaukee

HARRY

RAY

OUTFIELDER

2

HT: 6-0 WT: 200 B/T: R/R DOB: 1/11/98 HOMETOWN: Orlando, FL ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: ND FA, 6/25/20

RILEY

TIROTTA

INFIELDER

24

HT: 6-3 WT: 195 B/T: R/R DOB: 8/21/98 HOMETOWN: South Bend, IN ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin ACQUIRED: 12th Rd, ’21, Dayton

DAVIS

SCHNEIDER OUTFIELDER

1

HT: 5-10 WT: 190 B/T: R/R DOB: 1/26/99 HOMETOWN: Voorhees, NJ ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, Vancouver ACQUIRED: 28th Rd, ’17, Eastern HS (NJ)

STEWARD

BERROA

OUTFIELDER

29

HT: 5-10 WT: 178 B/T: S/R DOB: 6/05/99 HOMETOWN: La Sabana, VZ ’21 CLUBS: Dunedin, NH ACQUIRED: INT FA, 7/4/16

GARRETT

SPAIN

OUTFIELDER

28

HT: 5-11 WT: 180 B/T: L/R DOB: 9/21/00 HOMETOWN: Clarksville, TN ’21 CLUBS: FCL, Dunedin ACQUIRED: 15th Rd, ’21, Austin Peay State

ROELVIS

TOMMY

YUKA

JESSE

AJ

ATHLETIC TRAINER

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

DIETITIAN

CLUBHOUSE MANAGER

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT

VARGAS

LaBRIOLA

SANUI

MENDEZ

ARIAS

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 27


28 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


Honda Odyssey

PROUDLY SPONSORING THE VANCOUVER CANADIANS FROM THE CORNER OF 8TH AVENUE AND BURRARD ST.

604 736 2821 www.carterhonda.com 8th & Burrard VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 29


THE ROAD TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES CAN BE SEEN FROM VANCOUVER

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 Rich Harden Neal Cotts Mike Wood 2004

P P P

Santiago Casilla Nick Swisher Joe Blanton 2005

P OF P

Mark Teahen Dan Johnson Omar Quintanilla Freddie Bynum Nelson Cruz 2006

INF INF INF INF OF

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

P OF P C P C INF

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

OF P OF P P INF INF P

Gregorio Petit John Baker Jeff Gray

INF C P

2001 2001 2001

POS C'S ALUMNI

2002 2002 2002

POS C'S ALUMNI

2002 2001 2003 2000 2002

POS C'S ALUMNI

2001 2003 2001 2004 2004 2002 2002

POS C'S ALUMNI

2005 2002 2004 2004 2004 2000 2004 2002

POS C'S ALUMNI

2004 2002 2005

MLB DEBUT

21-Jul 12-Aug 21-Aug MLB DEBUT

TEAM

2009

Oakland Chicago (AL) Oakland

Andrew Bailey Landon Powell Tommy Everidge Brad Kilby Jeff Baisley 2010

TEAM

09-Aug Oakland 03-Sep Oakland 24-Sep Oakland MLB DEBUT

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

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

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

TEAM

Kansas City Oakland Colorado Oakland Milwaukee TEAM

Texas Los Angeles (NL) Milwaukee Oakland Oakland Oakland Oakland TEAM

Oakland Cincinnati Oakland Oakland Oakland Texas Oakland Arizona TEAM

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

POS C'S ALUMNI

P C INF P INF

2006 2004 2004 2005 2005

TEAM

2017

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 2018

OF P OF INF P P P P INF INF

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

P P P INF P OF INF

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

A.J. Griffin Alexi Ogando 2011

2010 2004

24-Jun 15-Jul

Oakland Texas

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

P P

Justin Sellers Anthony Recker Corey Brown 2012

INF C OF

Pedro Figueroa Sean Doolittle Dan Straily 2013

P P P

Ian Krol Kevin Pillar Max Stassi Michael Choice 2014

P OF C OF

Bo Schultz Marcus Stroman Aaron Sanchez Dalton Pompey Daniel Norris 2015

P P P OF P

2005 2005 2007

POS C'S ALUMNI

2007 2007 2009

POS C'S ALUMNI

2009 2011 2009 2010

POS C'S ALUMNI

2009 2012 2011 2012 2012

POS C'S ALUMNI

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

Andy Burns Matt Dermody

2011 2013

C'S ALUMNI

30 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

MLB DEBUT

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

INF P

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

TEAM

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

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

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

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

TEAM

Washington Toronto Houston Oakland TEAM

Arizona Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto TEAM

Toronto Toronto New York (NL) Miami Kansas City Seattle TEAM

09-May Toronto 03-Sep Toronto

POS C'S ALUMNI

2012 2010 2013 2014 2012 2014 2014 2012 2014 2014

POS C'S ALUMNI

2014 2014 2009 2013 2014 2014 2011

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

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

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

TEAM

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

Toronto Toronto Toronto Detroit Toronto Toronto Toronto 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

Nate Pearson Dany Jiménez Patrick Murhpy Ángel Perdomo 2021

P P P P

Toronto San Francisco Toronto Milwaukee

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

OF P C P P INF

POS C'S ALUMNI

MLB DEBUT

TEAM

Vinny Capra Danny Young

INF P

1-May 9-May

Toronto Seattle

ALUMNI

2017 2017 2016 2015

POS C'S ALUMNI

2016 2019 2018 2015 2018 2018 2018 2015

DEBUT

29-Jul 23-Jul 18-Sep 18-Aug MLB DEBUT

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

TEAM

TEAM

Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto Toronto


Supporting local charities in our community APRIL 20

JUNE 15 YMCA

OUT ON SCREEN VIDEO & FILM SOCIETY

MAY 4

JUNE 29

AUGUST 24

BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

AUGUST 3

BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF BC

BOYS & GIRLS SOCIETY

MAY 20

JULY 13

SEPT 7

BIG SISTERS

GREATER VANCOUVER FOOD BANK

JUNE 1

JULY 27

UNITED WAY BC

FOUNDRY BC

CHALLENGER BASEBALL

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 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

SYMBOLS FOR PLAY

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

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 2022


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34 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


BY NIALL O’DONOHOE

Each week, we’ll feature a conversation between Niall O’Donohoe of C’s Plus Baseball and one member of the Canadians roster. Niall caught up with reliever Garrett Farmer to find out more about his past, what he’s working on this season and how his first Nat Bailey Stadium experiences have been.

C’S CHAT: RILEY TIROTTA The pride of South Bend, Indiana was a 12th-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Dayton. That was the highest a Flyers position player had ever gone in the draft. Tirotta had a breakout 2021 with Dayton by hitting .337/.451/.696 with 13 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs with 58 runs batted in. He also stole 14 bases in 17 tries.

walk and singled home what turned out to be the winning run in Lakeland August 29. His first home run came against Palm Beach September 5 and he completed his first season by hitting .305 with a .429 on-base percentage and a .390 slugging mark in 30 games. Tirotta had at least one hit in 20 games and reached base with at least a walk or a hit by pitch in six others.

Even though the 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthanded hitter struggled in 2020 by hitting just .228 with one home run in 14 games, Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com tabbed Tirotta as its Preseason Atlantic 10 Player of the Year for 2021. Tirotta proved them right as his 16 homers last year was tied for the most in the Atlantic 10 Conference, his .696 slugging percentage tied him for second and his 58 RBI tied him for third. He was also on the watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award and was named to the AllAtlantic 10 Second Team and A-10 All-Championship squad.

In his 2022 Canadians debut, Tirotta singled in his second atbat and doubled home the winning run in the 10th inning to give Vancouver an opening night victory in Spokane April 8 and wound up with five hits during the three-game set in Eastern Washington. He drove in the winning run with an RBI single in Tri-City in the first game of a doubleheader April 15. Two days later, Tirotta belted a three-run home run against the Dust Devils to put Monty’s Mounties ahead to stay April 17. His first homer at Nat Bailey Stadium was also a three-run shot to help the C’s completed a doubleheader sweep of the Eugene Emeralds April 22. His third homer came in Hillsboro April 27.

Tirotta combined his strong play on the diamond by excelling in the classroom as he was named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll for 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 and the University of Dayton’s Dean’s List in the fall of 2018. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in finance. Before making it to Dayton, Tirotta starred at Marian High School in Mishawaka, Indiana where he hit .535 in his senior year. He was voted Team MVP and captain for his final two years of high school and earned All-Conference honours and an All-State Honorable Mention. In Baseball America‘s 2021 draft report card on the Blue Jays, Tirotta was named the fastest runner and the best defensive player. BA noted that Tirotta stole 43 bases to give him a success rate of just over 82 percent during his four years with Dayton and added that the “Blue Jays believe in Tirotta’s athleticism and arm strength at first base.” After receiving a $125,000 signing bonus, Tirotta was off to Dunedin to begin his professional career with the Dunedin Blue Jays. He lined the first pitch he saw for a base hit to right field against Fort Myers in the first game of a doubleheader August 4 and jumped on the next pitch he saw in his second at-bat to pick up an infield single to first. Tirotta then stole second base and scored his first run. In game two of the doubleheader, he turned in another 2-for-3 performance with a run scored and a stolen base. Tirotta had a perfect night at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a

After playing exclusively at third base for Dunedin in 2021, Tirotta has seen time at first base and right field in addition to the hot corner with Vancouver this season. C’s Plus Baseball – You were drafted in the 12th round in 2021. Talk about your draft experience. Riley Tirotta – The draft was a little bit different for me. I kind of went back-to-back years with the draft because as a junior, with COVID and everything and a five-round draft so it got shortened. I didn’t get picked, didn’t end up signing as a free agent, so I went back to school, got my degree and everything like that so that was good. Then the 2021 draft came around. That was about the same spot as I was before, seventh-eighth round. It didn’t end up working out that early for me and ended up getting picked in the 12th, but you know, it’s obviously just a dream come true man, to play professional baseball. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do and for that day to happen, it’s incredible. CPB – Did you have a draft day party or was it just kind of a pretty low-key event? What was it like when you found out? RT – On draft day, it was just my family and I and my grandparents were in the room as well. But you know, it was just so long we were sitting there, you know, it could have been 12 hours worth of picks, you know, that I didn’t get picked that I could have gone, so it was tough. But yeah, the day after a lot of family came in

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 35


town, a lot of friends came in town and then had a party with the Wednesday before and then that Thursday, they called me down to Dunedin. CPB – Did you have any idea that it was going to be the Blue Jays (to select you)? Were there other teams that maybe you thought you might go to? RT – Yeah, there were a lot of teams that talked to my (advisor) and things like that. But from day one, the Blue Jays Tom Burns up in the Ohio area, he’s always at the games, you know, and kind of built a relationship with him through that process. CPB – And he was your signing scout, Tom Burns? RT – Yes sir. CPB – Talk about your four years at Dayton, it could have been three but it turns out to be four but how did that help you develop as a player? RT – I went into Dayton as an 18 year-old man. I was small, you know, I didn’t have any muscle on me. Dayton made me into the end, the player I am today, you know, on the field, in the weight room, things like that. But you know, going to Dayton for four years I think builds you as a person you know with baseball as well. With a coach like Coach King and the staff that we had there and all the teammates that I had in those years, it makes you a better player on the field and a better teammate. But going to Dayton, you know, is something special for anybody. As a student, it’s a great place to go for four years, you know what I mean? You can get a great degree there and a lot of different things. And then, yeah, like I said, you know, becoming a man, growing four years on your own. I think that’s just part of it and Dayton is a great place for me. CPB – When did you start playing baseball? RT – I played T-ball. I played every year growing up since probably 36 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

the time I was three or four years old. So yeah, every year since then. CPB – Third base was your position or did you play short or all around? RT – I was a short stop growing up, that was my spot. Every year I was playing short for whatever team I was on, I played a little outfield growing up too when I was 12-13 years-old and then in high school, I was shortstop/pitcher and then college came around. We had a shortstop who was a year older than me. So I moved over to third base and kind of just didn’t play third my freshman year at Dayton but I ended up getting in my sophomore year and after that, it’s been basically third base. CPB – Talk about who’s helped you develop as a player. I know you mentioned a name or two earlier, but who has helped you develop as a player? RT – I would say my hitting coach Tyler Mitchell. We’ve come a long way with my swing. Definitely my coaches at Dayton, Jayson King, Tommy Chase, who was there my first three years there really, really helped mold me as an infielder. And then, yeah, just going back man. the first baseball coach I ever had. I talk about him a lot. Andy Biskupski kind of took me in from playing I would say Little League coach/pitch, kind of not real baseball. He kind of transitioned to the team that I was on that year into basically real baseball. I guess you could say. But man, there’s so many people, you know. My dad, my parents driving me every weekend for years on end to tournaments out of town to every practice picking me up, dropping me off, you know. I don’t think it’s just three or four people, there’s tons of people, but yeah, those few coaches and then my parents absolutely. CPB – So you played for Dunedin for your first full season. Was that like getting out your feet wet? You had a really good year hitting over 300. Talk about that season with Dunedin.


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FUN FACTS

• Walk-up Song – Began with “Desperado (Male Version)” by Rihanna, currently “Hold On, We’re Going Home” by Drake • Major League Connection – Played for former Blue Jays reliever LaTroy Hawkins at the Collegiate Summer Baseball Invitational in Bryan, Texas in 2020 • College Teammate – Mariano Ricciardi, son of former Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi, taken in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB draft by Oakland • Summer Ball – Battle Creek (Northwoods League – 2018), Yarmouth-Dennis and Harwich (Cape Cod League – 2019) • Uniform Numbers – Wore number 2 at Marian High School and Dayton before wearing 26 with Dunedin in 2021 • Instagram – @riley.tirotta • Twitter – @TirottaR

RT – Yeah, I just didn’t really know what to expect. You were coming into a new group of guys. I didn’t know anybody other than the guys that I went up with my draft class and I knew Zach Britton a little bit because he’s from Indiana. But other than that, I was unfamiliar with all the faces around me so it was just about building a relationship with the guys around you. You don’t want to come into a new place acting like you know everything. So it was just, you know, I’m a rookie. I just want to show up every day and work hard as hard as I can, play as hard as I can and you know, let the results take care of themselves. CPB – What did you learn about pro ball in your first season? What lessons did you take away from it? RT – There’s so many games and you can’t beat yourself up. It’s not like college where you play three in a weekend and you know, you remember every single at-bat for basically the whole year, you know what I mean? Now you’re playing everyday and you know, even if you have a bad week, it’s not as bad as a bad weekend in college, you know what I mean? So I think you just understanding that you do have more time and you know, this is definitely not a Sprint, it’s a marathon and it’s about getting better every day as opposed to, you know, just performing well in that day. CPB – Baseball America did a draft report card and they listed you as the fastest runner in the class and best defensive player. How would you describe yourself as a player? RT – You know, I would like to keep the speed that I have. I think hitting-wise, I would like to consider myself more of a contact hitter with a little bit of power. And as I get stronger and as I get a little bit older, I think there will be more power to come. But as a player, I just kind of want to be an all-around player. I don’t want to be the guy that, you know, he only hits home runs or he can only play defense. I try to work on my game and all the aspects of my game to to really try and make there not be a standout point, you

know, just to be a complete player as I can. CPB – You’ve been playing third base up until now. You’ve seen some time at first base. How’s that been, the transition to the other side of the field? RT – Yeah, not bad. You have a different role over there. You know those guys, they expect you to make the plays that they throw over to first base. Right now, it’s just about getting comfortable with that and just being somebody that the other guys can trust over there. CPB – I just wanted to ask about that opening weekend in Spokane. You had the big hit in extra innings to win the game. Things were not going well that first few innings, but you guys managed to rally. Talk about getting that big hit to win the first game of the year. RT – You know, that was very fun. Like I said earlier, you know, not trying to do too much, just going out there especially in the cold nights. You can’t take a huge swing, you just got to shorten up and I eventually got one over the first baseman for the game-winner. So it was a great feeling, man, to get the season off in the right direction. CPB – You hit a home run not too long ago against Eugene. What’s it like to hit one out here at Nat Bailey? RT – Oh my gosh, the crowd is awesome. The crowd’s great and it’s the best home run crowd I’ve ever had in my life. So it’s awesome and the fans are great here. CPB – Final question, your goals for 2022. RT – Just to improve as a player every day, you know. I want to refine my offensive approach a little bit and make that a little bit better but moving forward, just working on all aspects of my game every single day.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 39


JUNE 19

PRESENTED BY

40 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 41


42 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


FORMER C’S – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

PHOTO: MARK STEFFENS-FOTOGUY

CANADIANS: 2016 CURRENTLY: TORONTO BLUE JAYS

The road to the Majors is littered with the sons, grandsons, nephews and cousins of former big leaguers. They pick up the family business, find varying levels of success but never make it to the highest level as they become another “what could have been?” with a recognizable last name.

CAVAN BIGGIO That pressure has been on Cavan Biggio – son of Hall of Famer Craig – since long before he began his professional career when he suited up for the Canadians in the summer of 2016. He grew up in the clubhouse during the Killer Bs era in Houston, idolizing Jeff Bagwell over his own father. Cavan took to the game, developed his talents and eventually broke into the college ranks with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. While in school, he played in all 167 games with 166 starts in three years, slashed .272/.406/.425 with 164 hits, 34 doubles, seven triples, 15 homers, 70 RBI, 257 total bases, 125 walks, 33 stolen bases and 117 runs scored. Biggio ranks eighth in school history in walks, had 42 multi-hit games and 8 multi-RBI games.

The Blue Jays selected him with their fifth-

round pick (162nd overall) in 2016 and he reported to Vancouver, where he would play 53 games to the tune of a .282 average with 11 doubles, three triples, 24 runs scored, 21 RBI, 29 walks and 28 strikeouts. Biggio finished that season with Low-A Lansing. He returned to action in 2017 with a promotion to High-A Dunedin and played in 127 games, though his average dipped to .233. Biggio did begin to find his power stroke; he cracked five homers and drove in 60 runs for the D-Jays, a preview of what was to come the following season. 2018 was a career year for Cavan. He made the Double-A New Hampshire roster out of Spring Training and joined the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette under the tutelage of former C’s

manager John Schneider on a team that took the Eastern League by storm. The Fisher Cats would go on to win the league championship by sweeping the postseason and Biggio was named league MVP after tying a ‘Cats single-season franchise record with 26 homers (he hit his 27th of the year in the playoffs). He hit .252, with 23 doubles and five triples, drove in 99 runs, scored 80 times and worked 100 walks. Biggio started 2019 in Triple-A and was with Buffalo for six weeks before he was called up to Toronto on May 24, 2019 to make his MLB debut. He hit his first big league homer on May 26 as part of a threehit day against the San Diego Padres. Since then, Cavan has amassed a .231 career average in 869 MLB at-bats as of this writing.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 43


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 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

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.

MR. KAPPA MAKI

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.

44 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022

CHEF WASABI

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!

SADAHARU SOY

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!

MS. BC ROLL

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'.

CHOP N’ STIX

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.


BASEBALL WORD SEARCH

BASEBALL CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

2

3

4

5

CATCH THE FLY BALL

7

6

START

8

9

10

BAG BALL BATTER BEAN BENCH BULLPEN BUNT CHARGE CLEANUP COUNT CURVE DECK DIAMOND DOUBLE DRIVE DUGOUT

FINISH

CONNECT THE DOTS 3 2

4 30

1

5

31

6 7

29 28

33

26

32 27

24

8

RBI RUN SACRIFICE SAVE SCORE SECOND SINKER SLIDE SPITBALL SPLITFINGER STRETCH STRIKE THIRD WALK WILD WINDUP

NAME THE MLB TEAM

25

40

ERROR FIELD FIRST FLY FORCE FOUL GLOVE GROUNDER HIT HOME LINED MOUND OUT PITCH PLATE POPUP

CAN YOU NAME THE TEAM BY ONLY SEEING A PART OF THEIR LOGO?

23 34

9

11

12

13

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

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL!

39

35

36

22

38

37

21

10 11

20 15

16

14

17

12

19

13

18

BASEBALL WORD JUMBLE 1.

LALBSEAB

2. EOBULD 4. TARETB 4. ELVGO 5. ICADAANSN 6. LTESA

CAN YOU SPOT 5 DIFFERENCES

2 3 WHICH TWO ARE EXACTLY ALIKE?

1

7. ORROWABBNBBE 8. OMCPHNAIS

4

5

6

9. HIPTRCE 10. DILESR

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 45

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

KIDS FUN PAGE


LIKE HITTING A HOMERUN EVERY TIME YOU’RE UP TO BAT. YOU R U N FAI R A DVA N TAG E . Each office is independently owned and operated. VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 53


JOIN THE BEST KIDS CLUB FOR JUST $99

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CANADIANSBASEBALL VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 /

47


2022 CANADIANS BROADCAST SCHEDULE SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

APRIL

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

JUNE

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

AUGUST

MAY JULY SEPTEMBER

LIVE ON MILB.TV Watch on MiLB.TV Subscription Required

CANADIANS RADIO Live games at canadiansbaseball.com

CANADIANS PRE-GAME SHOW Before games

CANADIANS ON DECK Most Sundays on Sportsnet AM650

GET A HALF HOUR OF BASEBALL TALK

EVERY SUNDAY FROM 9-9:30AM LIVE ON SPORTSNET 650 WITH HOST TYLER ZICKEL PRESENTED BY A&W

48 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


SATURDAY

SATURDAY

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

JUNE 4

JUNE 18

JUNE 30

JULY 2

JUNE 16

GET TICKETS

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SATURDAY

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

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JULY 30

AUG 6

AUG 27

SEPT 10

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GET TICKETS


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.

To learn more about playing baseball in your neighbourhood contact Baseball BC

www.baseball.bc.ca 604-586-3310

Baseball BC is proud to present the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Buddies Program, where a youth baseball team gets to take a position on-field for the National Anthems. Reserve your team’s spot by calling the Vancouver Canadians at 604-872-5232.


Tuesdays at the NAt

VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022 / 51


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. 52 / VANCOUVER CANADIANS 2022


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