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FRONT OFFICE STAFF
ALLAN BAILEY GENERAL MANAGER
AAllan 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. 2026 is his 20th season with the club
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 the Team Operations handling everything from player housing and travel right through to Information Technology (IT).
Born in Victoria, B.C., Allan was raised on the North Shore and up on the 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
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. 2026 is his seventh season at The Nat.
With a B.A. from the University of New Brunswick, Walter has worked with Proctor & Gamble, Molson Canada, Granville Island Brewing and Steamworks Brewing.
With a longstanding corporate partnership with the Canadians prior to his arrival in May of 2019, Walter joined the organization fully aware of the standard that has put the C's among the best in Minor League Baseball.
ROSEMARY ALBERTS MANAGER, MARKETING SERVICES
Rosemary has been with the Canadians since the 2024 season. She specializes in overseeing sponsorship servicing, ingame entertainment, social media, and fan communications while supporting fan engagement and brand growth for the Canadians. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with her Bachelor of Arts in May 2023 and her Master of Management in December 2023.
Born in Richmond, Rosemary was raised in Victoria where she grew up playing volleyball. Her previous work experience includes being the Communications & Administrative Coordinator for Athletics for Kids and a Varsity Game Day Statistician for UBC Athletics. When Rosemary is not at The Nat, she enjoys her time watching the Canucks, kickboxing, or spending time with family and friends.
BRENDA CHMILIAR
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
Brenda enters her 17th season at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium and her sixth as Financial Controller for the Canadians. She spent the first 10 of those years with Aramark Food Services in the company's financial division, dividing her time between the ballpark and Rogers Arena. Her knowledge of stadium operations thanks to her time with both Aramark and the Canadians have proven to be invaluable during her tenure.
Brenda is responsible for all aspects of the financial operations and is right at home here at The Nat; much of her childhood was spent on local baseball fields up in Kamloops.
ROB FAI DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING
Rob returned to the Vancouver Canadians in 2025 and embarks on his 16th year with the organization in 2026. He has previously served as Communications Director and Broadcaster. In his role as Director of Sales, Marketing & Merchandise, Rob focuses on expanding the organization’s outreach, managing outgoing sales and sponsorships, overseeing merchandise, and revitalizing the Canadians Baseball Foundation.
In 2015, Rob was inducted into the Vancouver Canadians Broadcast & Journalism Hall of Fame. He also received Baseball B.C.’s Meritorious Award that same year in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the sport of baseball in British Columbia. During his time away from the organization, Rob hosted weekend programming at 980 CKNW and is currently a faculty member in the Journalism Department at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
JACOB NAKHLEH MANAGER, TICKET OPERATIONS
Jacob joined the C’s for the 2016 season, starting his time at The Nat in the Box Office. Jacob was first hired as a member of the game day staff, then promoted to Box Office Assistant before joining the sales team at the conclusion of the 2021 season. After spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons working in sales and community relations, Jacob is thrilled to be back where it all started – working in (and now running) the Nat Bailey Box Office.
Prior to joining the C’s in a full-time role, Jacob earned his Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Saskatchewan. When he’s not at The Nat, Jacob can be found wishing he was out ice fishing back in Saskatchewan or rooting on his USask Huskies, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Seahawks.
TYLER ZICKEL MANAGER, BROADCASTING & MEDIA RELATIONS
2026 is Tyler’s sixth with the Canadians, ninth within the Blue Jays organization and 12th in Minor League Baseball.
Before the C's, Tyler served as the Director of Promotions & Entertainment and Radio Broadcaster for the Double-A 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 has especially fond memories of the 2018 campaign, when he worked alongside current Jays (and former C’s) skipper
John Schneider and the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and Jordan Romano.
He began his MiLB career in 2014 as a communications intern for the Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm in the California League. He made his professional baseball radio debut with the Storm and handled the middle innings of road games for the rest of his tenure.
COOPER MISIC SENIOR COORDINATOR, SALES
Cooper enters his fifth season with the Canadians and his second season as Senior Coordinator, Sales. He is excited to continue taking on more responsibilities with the club as well as continuing to grow within the Canadians Organization itself.
A former Langley Blaze star pitcher who took his talents south of the border to play for both Galveston College in Texas and Central Washington University in Washington State. Cooper graduated from CWU with a degree in Sports Management with a Specialization in Business.
When Cooper’s away from The Nat, you can find him enjoying his time outside, trying out all the new restaurants and cafes in town , and hitting up the golf course as much as possible.
ZACH MAHAFFY
COORDINATOR, SALES
Zachary is entering his fifth season with the Vancouver Canadians, and his second as Sales Coordinator. He first joined the club as Box Office Assistant prior to the 2022 season, and moved into a sales role in 2024.
In April 2023, Zachary graduated with a BBA from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, concentrating in Marketing and Strategic Analysis.
Born in Mississauga, Ontario, but raised in Surrey, Zachary played rep hockey with Semiahmoo MHA as well as one season in the Pacific Junior Hockey League with the White Rock Whalers and Port Moody Panthers, in addition to playing baseball with the White Rock South Surrey Baseball Association. Outside the Nat, you can find him at your local arena officiating a hockey game, at the gym, or cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Blue Jays, or Seattle Seahawks..
CHARLENE YAROSHUK ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR
Charlene has been with the Vancouver Canadians since the 2018 season. She spent her first summer working as a co-op student before transitioning to working full time in the accounting department.
Charlene graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 2020 with her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.
Growing up in New Westminster Charlene spent over 10 years practicing martial arts and currently holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Before joining the Canadians she previously worked as an assistant martial arts instructor.
DREW HOWSON COORDINATOR, SALES
2026 marks Drew’s fifth season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization and fourth in Vancouver. This year is his second as a Sales Coordinator.
After graduating St. Clair College with a degree in Sport and Recreation Management and interning with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, Drew began his career in professional baseball as a member of the Canadians Grounds Crew. He would go on to gain experience with the Toronto Blue Jays Facility Department, assisting with the renovation and clean-up of Rogers Centre before returning to Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Drew is a baseball savant. He played and coached at many levels in his hometown community of Windsor, Ontario, most notably with the Tecumseh Rangers. In his off time, you’ll usually find him hiking, playing his guitar, or cheering on the Detroit Tigers and his beloved Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!
CHRIS GEORGES SALES ASSOCIATE
Chris Georges returns for his third year with the Canadians, adding sales to his arsenal after two seasons as a media relations and broadcast assistant.
Born and raised in Pickering, Ontario, Chris played varsity baseball for four years at the University of Waterloo. He continued his studies with the completion of BCIT's Radio Arts and Entertainment program in 2024.
When he isn't at The Nat, Chris can be found playing an array of different sports, including a weekly dodgeball league. He is a longtime loyal fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, and Colorado Avalanche.
MATTHEW REYES
SALES
ASSOCIATE
Matthew is beginning his first season with the Vancouver Canadians as a Sales Associate. After spending over a year in B2B sales with PepsiCo, he decided to return to the diamond and pursue a career in professional baseball.
A 2021 graduate of Graceland University, Matthew has played and coached baseball internationally in Austria and Australia, as well as locally with the North Shore Twins back in 2016.
When he’s not at the Nat, Matthew can be found coaching high school baseball, biking around the city, or having coffee on Main Street. His long-term goal is to one day work with the Toronto Blue Jays or within Major League Baseball.
DAWSON MARCHAND COORDINATOR, SALES
2026 marks Dawson’s second season with the Vancouver Canadians as a Sales Associate. He is excited to apply his skills and continue growing within the organization.
Growing up in Maple Ridge, Dawson graduated from BCIT in 2024 with a diploma in Marketing Management, specializing in Digital Marketing and Brand Strategy. His passion for sports and marketing led him to pursue a career in the sports industry, where he is eager to contribute to the team’s success. When Dawson’s away from The Nat, you can find him training in Muay Thai Kickboxing, going to the gym, watching NBA basketball, or cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
CHARLES O’NEILL DIRECTOR, STADIUM OPS
Charles is in his third season with the team in 2026 after working for a variety of baseball clubs including the Long Island Ducks and New York Mets. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his prior experiences to Nat Bailey Stadium.
He previously completed his Bachelor of Sports Management from Farmingdale State College in New York.
MAYELA RODRIGUEZ
MARKETING
ASSOCIATE
This is Mayela’s first season with the Canadians. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Communication.
Mayela was part of the Vancouver Canucks Top Prospect Internship Program where she discovered her passion for the sports industry.
Outside of work she can be found reading, at the gym or watching Formula One.
BEN LETWIN COORDINATOR, SALES
Ben enters his second year with the Canadians as a Sales Associate. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Langara College in December 2025.
He formerly worked at Nat Bailey for two seasons on the food service side as a lead cook in the premium third base porch section and is passionate about his role as a Sales Associate.
Growing up in Vancouver, Ben played rep hockey with the Vancouver Thunderbirds and won the AAA Provincials with the team in 2018. Outside of the Canadians, he enjoys playing hockey In the UBC Rec League, playing golf in his free time, and watching the Seahawks and Canucks.
LEVI WEBER HEAD GROUNDSKEEPER
Levi – the 2023 Northwest League Groundskeeper of the Year – is no stranger to this circuit, with prior experience as the Head Groundskeeper for the Spokane Indians at Avista Stadium. His talents have also taken him to the desert, where he was the Field Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Spring Training facility in Arizona. 2026 is his fifth season at The Nat.
The Colton, WA native graduated from Washington State University with a Double Major in Turfgrass Management 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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REEGAN BOND INTERN, TICKET OPERATIONS
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DOMINIQUE HUNTER INTERN, TICKET OPERATIONS
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LAVALLEE
CATCHER LUIS HURTADO
BY TYLER ZICKEL
THERE ARE COACHES WHO MANAGE GAMES, AND THEN THERE ARE LEADERS WHO SHAPE CAREERS. JOHN SCHNEIDER BELONGS FIRMLY IN THE SECOND CATEGORY. THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS SKIPPER IS FRESH OFF GUIDING HIS CLUB TO THE DOORSTEP OF A WORLD SERIES TITLE IN 2025 — A RUN THAT CAPTIVATED A NATION AND EARNED HIM RECOGNITION FROM NONE OTHER THAN NBA COACHING LEGEND STEVE KERR. BUT LONG BEFORE SCHNEIDER WAS ORCHESTRATING LATE-INNING MAGIC AT THE ROGERS CENTRE, HE WAS CUTTING HIS TEETH IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, MANAGING THE VANCOUVER CANADIANS DURING TWO FORMATIVE STINTS IN 2011 AND 2014–15.
In those years at The Nat, Schneider didn't just develop players — he developed himself, building the culture-first philosophy that would eventually carry a franchise and a country all the way to October. Vancouver Canadians broadcaster Tyler Zickel caught up with Schneider at the start of the 2026 Blue Jays season for a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, leadership, Steve Kerr, and what The Nat still means to one of baseball's most compelling managers.
Tyler Zickel: Let’s jump right into it. I don't want to talk too much about last year, because I know the vibe is 2026, we are attacking, we are not defending, but holy cow! What a whirlwind of a postseason to be literally 2 inches away from a World Series championship. How was your off-season? I did some reading about, you know, you waking up in the middle of the night, replaying some things in your head. How was the off-season? Were you able to disconnect? And, you know, I know you love to spend time with your family, so just tell me about the winter months.
John Schneider: I think it was quick, for one — quick off-season
to wake up and have a different outcome, but that never happened. You know, Jess was getting to the point where she'd just start yelling at me when I would wake up in the middle of a bad dream, but I think after probably a couple months, you start to really just say, okay, what did we do good that got us there, and how can we continue to do that and hopefully get back there?
TZ: The ability to put that in the past — both failure in the moment for any given game during the regular season and on the world's biggest stage — that's something you have to communicate to the returning guys in your group as well. How have you been able
JOHN SCHNEIDER
— and, you know, if there's one thing I love more than baseball, it's my wife and kids. Got to spend some time with them, and that was really, really nice to just kind of get away from the bells and the whistles of the World Series and the postseason and all the stress and all that kind of stuff. But it was really, really cool to hear people give feedback about our team, and the way we played, and, you know, how many people became Blue Jay fans. So, there were definitely some sleepless nights — when you're that close, you want
to communicate that message? I certainly saw the clip from the beginning of spring training. So that seems to be the theme for you and the coaches: hey, that's the past, we've moved on, and it's a new identity for this year, while retaining some of the good stuff from 2025.
JS: Yeah, and it's a fine line, it's a balance, right? My goal was to not shy away from what we did and how we accomplished it, but just really say, okay, it was more so the how — it was the process of
SCHNEIDER
how. And that we're all going to be tied to that World Series forever. Everyone that was here, and every person in the organization, every fan. That's never going to leave you, right? But you can't let it define you. You can't let the loss, the heartbreak define you. You can have it give you lessons and great memories and, you know, figure out the reasons why you got there, and that's what we were focused on. It's like, okay, what did we do good? What did we do great to put ourselves in that situation? You know, when you get there — we say baseball happens, you know, a ball gets stuck in the wall, you're a couple inches short of the plate, a great catch gets made, or a pitch gets hit — baseball happens. But the fact that we're there and we feel good about the way we got there is what we're looking into doing more of this year.
TZ: I know you're a big vibes guy. I got a big taste of that back in 2018, when you were managing the Fisher Cats with Vladdy and Bo and Cavan and Jordan and all those guys, and I got to be Pluto orbiting around the Sun of that team, which was so great. And now, being down at Spring Training 10 days ago, watching you work, watching everybody go about their business — the vibes are high. It seems like everybody is truly pulling on the same side of the rope. I had a chance to be a fly on the wall for your message to the minor leaguers when you and your staff were talking to all the minor league guys as well. And it really does seem to be, one, the best time to be in this organization — and you know better than anybody, 25 years in the org, you certainly have seen every iteration of the Jays in this new millennium. And two, it seems like you never know who's going to be the next Trey Yesavage. Obviously, he's a bit of a unicorn, but it's next man-up mentality, as good as the big league club has been.
JS: I think we leaned into that big time last year here in Toronto with the roster we had. For one, I just wanted all the new signings, or the non-roster invites to spring, or every single person in the organization to know that this is what we value as important, and this is what we know works. It's almost like, you know, you get a little bit of street cred to say that, because you accomplished what you accomplished, and kind of the proof is in the pudding a little bit. And I just — I'm a big believer, like you said, you were around me all year in 2018 — I'm a big believer in everyone being on the same page, and everyone having their voice being heard. I really meant it when I said to the whole minor league camp, like, hey, if you guys have questions, come on over to my office and ask. I do think this is an unbelievable time to be a Blue Jay, between — not just, you know, again, not what we did last year, what we're going to do — I think locking up Vladimir, and Kirky, and Dylan Cease, and Tyler Rogers, and our fans, our payroll flexibility, just kind of everything about this organization, our facilities. It's such a good time to be a Blue Jay, so I just really want everyone to know that. And you kind of get some feedback on some of the guys you bring in that have been at different places, and they are giving really good feedback. You know, it's a pretty cool environment that I really try deliberately to create, and to harbor, and to let the guys kind of grow.
TZ: Tell me what it was like to get that letter from Steve Kerr. Obviously reading Mitch's article in The Athletic, it just seems like such a special little feather in your cap. I know that's not why you do it, but that seems to be a nice result of you and your staff — but you as the leader going through your processes, and also just being the guy that you are.
JS: Yeah. And I didn't, you know — I was shocked when I got the letter, right? I've never met Steve. He's someone that I watched in the 90’s with Michael Jordan, watched The Last Dance, and admired him as a player — really admired him as a coach. What he has done in his coaching career, I think, is up there. We're talking top 5, top 10 of all time in any sport. So to kind of have the coaching fraternity come full circle — and I view myself as a guy kind of just getting going in this — I've since been in touch with him, which was great. Mark Shapiro had his number, and we've been going back and forth a little bit. It was just reassuring that someone who had been through a similar tough loss — I don't want to say heartbreak; heartbreak is,
in my opinion, kind of outside of the sporting world — but a tough loss in 2016. What he said was exactly what we started talking about in late November as an organization, and what we wanted the players to hear, what we wanted the fans to hear, which is that that loss won't define you. But how you handled the adversity, how you came together as a team, and what you value as important is what's going to define the group going forward. And that kind of led into my message of, you know, we're not defending anything, we're attacking this year. But to have him — and I didn't know this story was going to get out the way it did — I already told Steve, I hope it doesn't offend you that it got out, and he's totally cool with it. It was just so powerful to me because he's a role model of mine from a coaching standpoint. So to have him kind of recognize what I was really trying to do deliberately was really, really humbling.
TZ: People who've known you for a little while — we’re not surprised to see you get that love from Steve Kerr, and I absolutely see the comparison between the two of you. I know different stages of coaching careers, but what a cool thing to be included. When I read that, it just once again hit home that “Schneids is doing it at the highest level. How cool is that?”
JS: Yeah, and it was cool, because I had no idea what that was. I opened up the envelope, and it had a Golden State Warriors logo on it, and the date jumped out at me — it was November 2nd, 2025. So to have him watch the World Series and then write that the next day was just really cool. You know, again, like you said, it's not why any of us do it — you do it for the guys, and you do it for the want and the drive and the obsession to get better. And I think, if anything, it's the way that guys handled it too that everyone really recognized in terms of how we went about our business and what we value as important as an organization.
TZ: Before we flashback to your time at The Nat to wrap up our time together today — just quickly take the temperature of these first three games of the season. I want to know what the fans have been like at the Rogers Centre. Of course, we've been watching on TV here in Vancouver; it seems electric. To go back-to-back walk-off wins — as much as you'd love to win a game cleanly, especially having a lead in the ninth, that sort of thing — but the boys found a way, and then to do what you guys needed to do yesterday, and looking to take care of business tonight against Colorado. Tell me what it's been like to start this season, coming off last year and now just really picking up where you all left off.
JS: Two words: emotional and electric. You know what I mean? Like, what our team did on opening night — there were, myself included, some teary eyes on the field, just because we never... when you do what we did last year and the run we went on, you never saw it through the eyes of the fan. You saw it through your own eyes and what you do every day, so to hear the fan messages was like, wow. That whole production was 10 out of 10 by our team. And then just the atmosphere, man — like, the cheers for the players, the lights, the electricity, the place was packed at like 6:30 and the ceremony didn't even start till 7. The city is different around the ballpark. I live close to the ballpark, and it's a different feel than it's ever been, and it's so cool. It's just so unique and so special to be a part of that field, to be connected to a city, and really for us, for a country. And the feeling of the dugout was cool, man. Like, I think there's so many things to fall back on from last year — yes, all being a little bit short of your ultimate goal, there's so many instances that are going to be beneficial for the guys this year that were there. Just slowing things down, understanding that they've been in the highest stakes, pressure-packed spot this sport has to offer. So, hopefully some situations for these guys, for myself, are just a little bit slower. And that's what it felt like the first two games — when you're down, or there's a little bit of a gut punch, there was absolutely no panic in the dugout. It was a very calm, cool, collected feel. And what I loved about it was we played our game. We just played our game. We continued to do what we do well, and we continued to lean into what's important to us. We want to just continue to do that going forward, no matter the opponent, no matter the stakes. I think we're
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really seeing that if we play our game, we're as good as anybody. And really, really cool that we get to open up two series at home here, because I think they said almost every home game this season is sold out already.
TZ: Wow.
JS: You get 40,000 on a Sunday afternoon — I mean, what's better than that? So it's a heck of a joy to be back here, man.
TZ: I'll tell you what, we are feeling the ripple effects out here in the West, simply based on the success of the big league club. Obviously, you know what we do here at The Nat with the Canadians. We'll talk about your memories in just a second, but truly the Jays have lifted an entire nation, and people here on the West Coast who maybe didn't even care that much about Blue Jays baseball — all of a sudden they're locked in. We've got people admitting they're bandwagon fans jumping on board, and we've been saying “hey, there's room for everybody right now, get on while you can.”
JS: Yeah, no doubt, no doubt. There are new fans here in Toronto too. I've been out to dinner just in the last week with Jess and the boys, and people are just coming up to us and saying, “hey, we didn't even watch baseball until last year, but you guys were so fun to watch, and now we don't miss a game,” and it's like, wow, that's awesome. And they're saying thank you to me, and I'm like, man, I wish you could just go find all the players. It’s just so cool to feel connected to the fans, it really is.
TZ: That's fantastic. Well, some fans here in Vancouver are still very much feeling connected to you and the Canadians alumni who have been contributing on the game's biggest stage. Of course, we've talked about Trey, Mason, Davis, Addison, even Yuka, of course, doing her thing on the dietitian side. It’s so nice to see some Canadians alums up there doing it at the highest level. Take me back to your time here — two different stints as Canadians manager, and correct me if I'm wrong, Schneids, but it feels like that time in your life was really the transformative period to set you on the path that you have now been on and have achieved: the big league managerial position. JS: Without a doubt. You know, my first time stepping foot in Vancouver — this was 2011, right? My first stint there — I felt like I had kind of made it, because it's a big league city. It is a big league operation by every measure. I'm still in touch with Andy Dunn, and Jake Kerr, and Jeff Mooney, and Allan Bailey, and Rob Fai, who married me and Jess, you know what I mean? So, I still have very strong ties there. I saw Andy Dunn down in Lakeland this spring, and it's like I never kind of left. Being there was such a unique feeling of... you felt the connection to the big league team, right? It's a very unique thing being a Canadian affiliate and a Canadian big league team. And then in 2014 and 15, yeah, man — you really felt it with some players we had there. We had some really good players, we had a really good team in 2014. And it felt like a big league stage in the minor leagues, and I think that the job that you guys do there — from the fan support to housing the players to the facilities that have been upgraded, the atmosphere at The Nat — what it creates for culture and teammates and vibes, you know what I mean? It is such a unique place. And a place that really kind of reignited me in terms of coaching, if that makes sense, because you spend a couple years down in rookie ball at the complex and you're playing at noon and it's hot and there's no fans, and then you get back into this environment that just goes, oh wow, baseball is the best. It's a place that I will always have a special place in my heart for, and how welcomed I was there is just something I'll never forget. I know it's gotten better since I've left — both the facilities and the way that people are treated. So really, really thankful that I got my feet wet with the Blue Jays there in Vancouver.
TZ: Are there any moments that stand out from your tenure here, whether they were on-field moments or opportunities to take in the city and the culture? Anything that stands out? I know it's been over a decade since you were last here.
JS: Yeah. Crazy. There are so many. I remember getting my first smart
car there in 2011, that was cool — driving up to Whistler, where the Olympics had just been. Doing Grouse Mountain with Jess. A really cool moment for me personally — I remember being on the top of the... are you sitting in the press box right now?
TZ: I'm in the home broadcast booth, yes, I'm looking down at the field.
JS: I remember being on top of where you are for the first time, and looking down at The Nat, and looking at the park in the back, and just saying “oh my gosh, this is absolutely stunningly beautiful.” That stands out to me about Vancouver. I remember being on a beach with Jess — this was before we had Gunnar and Grayson — and we were sitting there, having a beer after a game one day, and we were looking up at snow-capped mountains, and we made a promise that someday we will bring the boys back to that very beach, just to show them that this is kind of where mom and dad started our baseball journey together. So that kind of makes me emotional, you know what I mean? The fact that I can still remember that that vividly. And then just the atmosphere at the ballpark — there isn't one moment, I mean, maybe like day games where you look up at the sun and the crowd, and coaching third, it felt like the fans were right on top of you. There are so many of those memories — the playoff memories, the bus rides up and down the West Coast. There are just so many things that I'll never forget that really will just... I'll look back, and I'm smiling right now talking about it. I'll always do that.
TZ: Lastly, we've got our group here in Vancouver. They showed up yesterday — Jose Mayorga, our manager, Matt von Roemer, our bench coach, the whole coaching staff, and of course this roster of players — a mix of returners and guys who are making their High-A debut. As the big league manager, what's your message to the guys here in Vancouver to start the season? And I know you had a chance, as we talked about earlier, to talk to all the minor leaguers, but for the guys here in Vancouver specifically, any words of wisdom to share with them for the season?
JS: For one, I mean — for Hosey and the staff, man, I love him, I love the way he's evolved in his career, and I think he's an awesome guy to lead that team. And to be a spokesman for the organization there — not just the Blue Jays, but for the Canadians. I think he's a very, very exciting young manager for a lot of different reasons. For the players, the first thing is, enjoy the city, enjoy what you are about to experience, because there is probably not a better experience in any level of the minor leagues that they're going to go through. That's one. And then two, understand that they're not as far away from the big leagues as they think. The guys that you mentioned that are making huge impacts here — players and staff — you're not that far away. And if you can lean into what you're good at, if you can be obsessed with being a great teammate, and be obsessed with winning, things will take care of themselves — not just for your own personal stats or accomplishments, which is very prevalent in the minor leagues, but it'll take care of itself for the team, and it'll take care of yourself going forward in life, you know what I mean? So that's what I want everyone to kind of lean into. And leave it all out on the field every day, because you're ging get tremendous support from the fans of the Nat.
TZ: Schneids, you're the man. Thank you very much for doing this, dude.
JS: Of course, Zick. Yeah, man, thank you so much. Sorry it took a little time, but I always got time for you, man. You're one of my favorites.
TZ: I appreciate you, thank you very much. Your legacy lives on here at this ballpark, and lives on here in my heart as well.
JS: Thanks again Zick. Go C’s!
FOOD TRUCKS · MUSIC · DANCING CELEBRATIONS START AT NOON · FIRST PITCH: 1:05
SATURDAY, MAY 16 PLUS GAME WORN JERSEY AUCTION
38 Danny Thompson Jr. R 6-0 180 08/09/02 New Bern, NC UNC Greensboro/NC Wesleyan 8th round, 2025 2nd 33 Jonathan Todd R 6-6 225 08/21/01 Reidsville, NC Western Carolina 15th round, 2024 3rd 1 Juanmi Vasquez L 5-11 205 12/01/03 Santo Domingo, DOM Intl. Free Agent, 08/06/22 5th 30 Holden Wilkerson R 6-4 205 06/07/03 Roanoke, VA Virginia Military Institute 18th round, 2024 2nd
Brennan Orf L-R 6-2
09/06/01 Wildwood, MO So. Illinois Edwardsville 13th round, 23 4th 26 Matt Scanell L-L 5-11 205 08/31/01 Stone Oaks, TX Wake Forest/Princeton NDFA, 07/22/25 2nd Sam Shaw L-R 5-10 180 02/26/05 Victoria, BC 9th round, 23 4th
2 Mathieu Vallee L-R 5-9 175 08/08/00 Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, QC So. Illinois/NE Okla. A&M/DBU NDFA, 02/19/26 1st
TORONTO SYSTEM: AAA - Buffalo; AA - New Hampshire; A+- Vancouver; A - Dunedin ^Development List
INJURED LIST: RHP Silvano Hechavarria (7-Day), INF Adrian Pinto (7-Day), OF Jake Casey (7-Day), OF Mathieu Vallee (7-Day), LHP Connor O’Halloran (60-Day), OF Sam Shaw (60-Day)
PRONUNCIATIONS: Kendry Chirinos (chee-REE-nos) | Daniel Guerra (GAIR-uh) | Alexis Hernandez (alexee) | Landen Maroudis (muh-ROW-diss) Arjun Nimmala (ARJ-in ni-MAUL-uh) | Kelena Sauer (ka-LEN-nuh sour) | Jay Schueler (SHEE-ler) | Maddox Latta (LAH-tuh)
Mathieu Vallee (matthew val-AY) | Jose Mayorga (my-OR-guh) | Matt von Roemer (von ROW-mer) | Petr Stříbrcký (pet-er stree-BRICK-ski)
Dalton Holemo (daulton ho-LAY-mo) | Callista Tsangarakis (tenga-RACK-iss)
FIELD STAFF
17 Manager: Jose Mayorga
15 Bench Coach: Matt Von Roemer
29 Pitching Coach: Eric Yardley
13 Asst. Pitching Coach: Tommy Caulfield
11 Hitting Coach: Jonathan Davis
14 Position Player Coach: Petr Stříbrcký
Athletic Trainer: Dalton Holemo
Athletic Trainer: Callista Tsangarakis
Strength & Conditioning: Joe Cardona
Asst. Strength & Conditioning: Noah Or
Dietitian: Kat Musial
Mental Performance: Juan Garcia
Technology & Coaching Asst.: Owen Ruddock
Clubhouse Mgr: Nolan Bowker
54 Luis De La Torre LHP 5'11 209 9/6/03 Phoenix, AZ
15 Trey Dillard RHP 6'0 214 11/15/98 Phoenix, AZ
52 Hunter Dryden RHP 5'10 184 16/10/02 Spokane, WA
17 Cole Hillier RHP 6'2 210 12/7/00 Pasadena, CA
Ogden HS (UT)
Intl. FA(7/3/23)
Texas A&M University MiLB FA (2/19/26)
Whitworth University 17th Round, 2024 Draft
Point Loma Nazarene University UFA (8/4/23)
29 Gerelmi Maldonado RHP 6'2 256 12/21/03 Palo Negro, VEN Intl. FA(1/15/21)
28 Yunior Marte RHP 6'6 236 8/9/03 Azua, DOM Trade with KC (7/31/25)
47 Niko Mazza RHP 5'10 193 2/19/02 Richardson, TX
31 Charlie McDaniel LHP 6'3 208 7/4/01 Lake Mary, FL
University of Southern Mississippi 8th Round, 2024 Draft
Presbyterian College UFA (7/19/24)
41 Brayan Palencia RHP 5'11 204 1/14/03 San Felipe, VEN Intl. FA(10/6/20)
32 Ben Peterson RHP 6'3 219 8/18/01 Cary, NC
45 Liam Simon RHP 6'4 251 10/16/00 Princeton, NJ
43 Ryan Slater RHP 6'3 203 5/23/02 Lake Forest, IL
16 Austin Strickland RHP 5'11 234 5/31/02 Winchester, OH
University of North Carolina UFA (7/19/24)
University of Notre Dame 5th Round, 2022 Draft
University of Florida 18th Round, 2024 Draft
University of Kentucky Trade with PIT (4/2/24)
14 Tyler Switalski LHP 6'4 248 6/18/03 Washington, PA West Virginia University 16th Round, 2024 Draft
48 Ryan Vanderhei RHP 6'5 202 1-01-06 Tucson, AZ Texas Christian University 10th Round, 2023 Draft
56 Cade Vernon RHP 6'2 211 1/17/02 Bowling Green, KY Murray State University 10th Round, 2024 Draft
59 Esmerlin Vinicio LHP 6'1 146 1/31/03 Santo Domingo, DOM Intl. FA(7/2/19) NO CATCHERS (3)
7 Diego Cartaya R/R 6'1 217 9/7/01 Maracay, VEN MiLB FA (7/29/25)
53 Ty Hanchey L/R 5'9 195 12/19/99 Norfolk, VA Florida A&M University UFA (7/25/23)
23 Onil Perez R/R 5'11 226 9/10/02 Santo Domingo, DOM Intl. FA(7/2/19)
NO INFIELDERS (6) B-T HT WT BORN
12 Zander Darby L/R 6'2 218 11/26/02 Palo Alto, CA UC - Santa Barbara 12th Round, 2024 Draft
35 Robert Hipwell L/R 6'1 223 3/6/03 Los Gatos, CA Santa Clara University 6th Round, 2024 Draft
6 Gavin Kilen L/R 5'11 188 3/28/04 Janesville, WI University of Tennessee 1st Round (13th), 2025 Draft
13 Walker Martin L/R 6'3 215 2/20/04 Greeley, CO Eaton HS (CO) 2nd Round, 2023 Draft
8 Jack Payton R/R 5'11 209 8/7/01 Orland Park, IL
9 Zane Zielinski R/R 6'2 195 7/28/01 Evanston, IL
University of Louisville 11th Round, 2023 Draft
University of Illinois-Chicago 9th Round, 2024 Draft
NO OUTFIELDERS (4) B-T HT WT BORN BIRTHPLACE COLLEGE ACQUIRED
1 Trevor Cohen L/L 6'0 192 10/29/03 Galloway, NJ Rutgers University 3rd Round, 2025 Draft
38 Lisbel Diaz R/R 6'2 204 7/19/05 Pinar Del Rio, CUB Intl. FA(7/17/23)
2 Carlos Gutierrez L/R 5'9 180 8/22/04 Cuauhtemoc, MEX Intl. FA(1/15/23)
5 Dakota Jordan R/R 6'0 231 5/9/03 Canton, MS Mississippi State University 4th Round, 2024 Draft
SAN FRANCISCO SYSTEM: AAA - Sacramento ; AA - Richmond; A+ - Eugene Emeralds; A - San Jose ^Development List
INJURED LIST:
PRONUNCIATIONS: Luis Pino (PEEN-yo) | Nate Keavy (KEE-vee) | Bo Babich (bab-ick) | Brayan Palencia (like 'Brian') | Ryan Vanderhei (VAN-dur-high) Esmerlin Vinicio (es-MER-lin vin-EE-cee-oh) | Gavin Kilen (KEE-lin),
FIELD STAFF
34 Manager: Jacob Heyward
10 Pitching Coach: Luis Pino
51 Hitting Coach: Braxton Lee
61 Fundamentals Coach: Nate Keavy
Trainer: Joseph Holstedt
Strength Coach: Michael McAvinn
Player Development Associate: Jordan Kaplan
FIELD STAFF
JOSE MAYORGA
17 MANAGER
After leading the C’s to a 75-win season in 2025 – the second-most regular season wins for the club this millennium – and a franchise-record 11-game winning streak, Jose Mayorga is back on the top step in the home dugout. Mayorga has been managing in the Blue Jays system since 2022. He spent two seasons at the helm for the FCL Blue Jays then managed Single-A Dunedin to a 69-61 record in 2024, the club’s best mark since 2019. The Pueblo Nuevo, Panama native was also the bench coach for the C’s in 2018. Mayorga brings a championship pedigree to Vancouver, leading the Federales de Chiriqui to back-to-back Panamanian Professional Baseball League titles in 202223 and 2023-24. The latter squad went 5-1 in the 2024 Caribbean Series and placed third in the tournament. Mayorga returned to Los Federales this offseason and will be the head man for Panama at this year’s World Baseball Classic. As a player, Mayorga was a catcher in the Philadelphia Phillies system from 2010 to 2015.
MATT VON ROEMER
BENCH COACH
15
von Roemer is back as Mayorga’s right-hand man, continuing his impressive rise as a professional coach since joining the Blue Jays as an intern in 2019. Among many team highlights in 2025, he celebrated his first win as a pro manager when he filled in during Mayorga’s paternity leave. He has rapidly ascended the organizational ranks, first as Technology Operations Coordinator then as Double-A New Hampshire’s development coach in 2023 before making his bench coach debut on Mayorga’s staff with Single-A Dunedin last year. The Kendall Park, NJ native played collegiately at Kenyon College from 2015 to 2018, slashing .366/.416/.503 with a .919 OPS in 147 games played across four seasons with the Lords (now known as the Owls).
ERIC YARDLEY
29 PITCHING COACH
Eric Yardley returns to the same role he thrived in last year, shepherding the likes of ranked Blue Jays prospects Trey Yesavage, Gage Stanifer and Fernando Perez as part of one of the Northwest League’s best pitching staffs. A native of Richland, WA, the former right-handed reliever posted a career ERA of 3.52 in 53.2 innings of work across 51 MLB games. Yardley also logged Triple-A innings with the Cubs and Blue Jays in 2022. He joined the coaching ranks last season and served as Double-A New Hampshire’s bullpen coach.
JONATHAN DAVIS
HITTING COACH
11
Jonathan Davis, Hitting Coach – Former big leaguer Jonathan Davis will work with the hitters this season after joining the C’s staff in the same role in the second half last year. Originally drafted by Toronto in the 15th round of the 2013 draft out of Central Arkansas, Davis stopped in Vancouver in 2014 then continued up the ladder until he made his MLB debut on September 5, 2018. He appeared in 102 games across four seasons with the Blue Jays then was picked up by the Yankees, where he wrapped up the 2021 campaign. He signed with Milwaukee in 2022 then spent his final big league season with Miami in 2023. After retiring as a player, he joined Single-A Dunedin’s coaching staff in 2024.
TOMMY CAULFIELD
ASSISTANT PITCHING COACH
13
Bautista will handle the Vancouver relief corps in 2025 after two seasons as the pitching coach for the DSL Blue Jays. Originally from El Seibo, DR, Bautista graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2019 and joined the Blue Jays as Player Development Intern later that year.
PETR STŘÍBRCKÝ
14 POSITION COACH
Petr Stříbrcký, Position Coach – Petr Stříbrcký returns to the C’s for his second High-A season after serving in the same role last year. The Blansko, Czech Republic native has played and coached all over the world, including an eight-year stint as the director of the Portuguese Baseball Academy. Stříbrcký joined Toronto’s organization as the hitting coach of the DSL Blue Jays in 2019 and returned to that role in 2021 before arriving stateside as the development coach of the FCL Blue Jays in 2022. He was promoted to Single-A Dunedin in 2023 and spent two seasons with the D-Jays.
GILBERTO BATISTA 28 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-0 WT: 190
DOB: 2001-08-05
HOMETOWN: San Cristobal, DR
ACQUIRED: Trade w/BOS, 07/27/24
PRO YEAR: 4th
COLBY HOLCOMBE
21 PITCHER THROWS: Right
HT: 6-6 WT: 250
DOB: 2012-12-02
HOMETOWN: Florence, AL
SCHOOL: Mississippi State/NE Miss. CC
ACQUIRED: 9th round, 2024
PRO YEAR: 3rd
MASON OLSON
THROWS: L eft
HT: 5-10 WT: 180
DOB: 12/23/01
HOMETOWN: Spanish Fork, UT
SCHOOL: BYU/College of So. Idaho
ACQUIRED: NDFA, 06/30/25
PRO YEAR: 2nd
AUSTIN CATES 10 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-1 WT: 200
DOB: 05/20/03
HOMETOWN: Henderson, NV
SCHOOL: UNLV/College of So. Nevada
ACQUIRED: 7th round, 2024 PRO YEAR: 2nd
JOHNNY KING 44 PITCHER THROWS: Left
HT: 6-3 WT: 210
DOB: 07/26/06
HOMETOWN: Naples, FL
SCHOOL: Naples HS
ACQUIRED: 3rd round, 2024 PRO YEAR: 2nd
CARSON PIERCE 35 PITCHER THROWS: Right
HT: 6-3 WT: 215
DOB: 2009-10-01
HOMETOWN: Edmond, OK
SCHOOL: Oklahoma/Cowley College
ACQUIRED: NDFA, 08/04/23
PRO YEAR: 3rd
EMINEN FLORES 27 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 5-11 WT: 180 DOB: 02/27/03
HOMETOWN: Santiago, DR
ACQUIRED: Intl. Free Agent, 01/15/22
PRO YEAR: 5th
LANDEN MAROUDIS 22 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-3 WT: 190 DOB: 12/16/04
HOMETOWN: Largo, FL
SCHOOL: Calvary Christian HS
ACQUIRED: 4th round, 2023 PRO YEAR: 3rd
KELENA SAUER 32 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-3 WT: 230
DOB: 09/26/02
HOMETOWN: Mililani, HI
SCHOOL: San Diego State
ACQUIRED: 15th round, 2023 PRO YEAR: 3rd
DANIEL GUERRA 31 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-6 WT: 230
DOB: 03/13/04
HOMETOWN: Catia La Mar, VZ
ACQUIRED: Intl. Free Agent, 08/06/22
PRO YEAR: 5th
AARON MUNSON 5 PITCHER THROWS: Right
HT: 5-10 WT: 180 DOB: 03/15/02
HOMETOWN: San Antonio, TX
SCHOOL: Angelo State
ACQUIRED: 19th round, 2023 PRO YEAR: 4th
JAY
SCHUELER 34 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-3 WT: 205
DOB: 2006-05-01
HOMETOWN: Rock Falls, IL
SCHOOL: Southeastern/Parkland College
ACQUIRED: NDFA, 07/22/24 PRO YEAR: 3rd
SILVANO HECHAVARRIA 48 PITCHER THROWS: Right
HT: 6-4 WT: 200
DOB: 03/18/03
HOMETOWN: Cueto, Cuba
ACQUIRED: Intl. Free Agent, 06/07/24
PRO YEAR: 3rd
CONNOR O’HALLORAN
PITCHER
THROWS: Left
HT: 6-2 WT: 195
DOB: 22 - 09/01/02
HOMETOWN: Mississauga, ON
ACQUIRED: 5th Round, 2023 PRO YEAR: 4th
DANNY THOMPSON JR. 38 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-0 WT: 180
DOB: 2008-09-02
HOMETOWN: New Bern, NC
SCHOOL: UNC Greensboro/NC Wesleyan
ACQUIRED: 8th round, 2025
PRO YEAR: 2nd
JONATHAN TODD 33 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-6 WT: 225
DOB: 08/21/01
HOMETOWN: Reidsville, NC
SCHOOL: Western Carolina
ACQUIRED: 15th round, 2024
PRO YEAR: 3rd
JACOB SHARP
3 CATCHER
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 5-7 WT: 180
DOB: 09/15/01
HOMETOWN: Whittier, CA
SCHOOL: UNLV
ACQUIRED: Trade w/SEA, 07/26/24
PRO YEAR: 4th
DUB GLEED 39
HT: 6-1 WT: 200
B/T: R/R
DOB: 09/01/02
HOMETOWN: Ladera Ranch, CA
SCHOOL: UC Irvine
ACQUIRED: Trade w/MIA, 03/29/26
PRO YEAR: 2nd
JUANMI VASQUEZ 1 PITCHER
THROWS: Left
HT: 5-11 WT: 205
DOB: 2012-01-03
HOMETOWN: Santo Domingo, DR
ACQUIRED: Intl. Free Agent, 08/06/22
PRO YEAR: 5th
MANNY BELTRE
7 INFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 5-10 WT: 175
DOB: 2006-09-04
HOMETOWN: Invivienda, DR
ACQUIRED: Intl. Free Agent, 01/15/21
PRO YEAR: 6th
MADDOX LATTA 6 INFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 5-11 WT: 193
DOB: 01/21/03
HOMETOWN: Granada Hills, CA
SCHOOL: CSU Fullerton/LA Valley College
ACQUIRED: NDFA, 07/18/25 PRO YEAR: 2nd
HOLDEN WILKERSON 30 PITCHER
THROWS: Right
HT: 6-4 WT: 205
DOB: 2006-07-03
HOMETOWN: Roanoke, VA
SCHOOL: Virginia Military Institute
ACQUIRED: 18th round, 2024
PRO YEAR: 2nd
KENDRY CHIRINOS
INFIELDER
EDWARD DURAN 12 CATCHER
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 5-11 WT: 210
DOB: 05/29/04
HOMETOWN: Caracas, VZ
ACQUIRED: Trade w/MIA, 08/31/22
PRO YEAR: 6th
23
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 5-11 WT: 190
DOB: 2010-06-04
HOMETOWN: Bachaquero, VZ
ACQUIRED: Intl. Free Agent, 01/15/22
PRO YEAR: 5th
ARJUN NIMMALA 18 INFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 6-1 WT: 205
DOB: 10/16/05
HOMETOWN: Valrico, FL
ACQUIRED: 1st round (20th overall), 2023
PRO YEAR: 4th
HAYDEN GILLILAND 25 CATCHER
BATS/THROWS: Left/Right
HT: 5-11 WT: 206
DOB: 10/29/01
HOMETOWN: Maryville, TN
SCHOOL: Tennessee Tech
ACQUIRED: NDFA, 07/21/24
PRO YEAR: 2nd
CARTER CUNNINGHAM
INFIELDER
16
BATS/THROWS: Left/Right
HT: 6-4 WT: 220
DOB: 11/06/00
HOMETOWN: Haymarket, VA
SCHOOL: East Carolina/Florida
SW State
ACQUIRED: 10th round, 2024
PRO YEAR: 3rd
ADRIAN PINTO 1 INFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: R/R
HT: 5-8 WT: 170
DOB: 09/22/02
HOMETOWN: Caucagua, VZ
ACQUIRED: Trade w/COL, 07/09/2022
PRO YEAR: 6th
JR FREETHY 9 INFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: S-R
HT: 6-0 WT: 215
DOB: 12/23/02
HOMETOWN: Rocklin, CA
SCHOOL: Nevada
ACQUIRED: 14th round, 2024
PRO YEAR: 3rd
TUCKER TOMAN
8 INFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: S-R
HT: 6-0 WT: 207
DOB: 2011-12-03
HOMETOWN: Columbia, SC
SCHOOL: Hammond School
ACQUIRED: 2nd round (CB), 2022
PRO YEAR: 5th
JAKE CASEY 4 OUTFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Left/Right
HT: 6-2 WT: 190
DOB: 04/17/03
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, PA
SCHOOL: Kent State
ACQUIRED: 15th round, 2025
PRO YEAR: 2nd
ALEXIS HERNANDEZ 24 OUTFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Right/Right
HT: 6-1 WT: 185
DOB: 2010-05-02
HOMETOWN: Tinaco, VZ
ACQUIRED: Rule 5 (BOS), 2023
PRO YEAR: 6th
BRENNAN ORF 19 OUTFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Left/Right
HT: 6-2 WT: 230
DOB: 2009-06-01
HOMETOWN: Wildwood, MO
SCHOOL: So. Illinois Edwardsville
ACQUIRED: 13th round, 2023
PRO YEAR: 4th
SAM SHAW 9 OUTFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: L/R
HT: 5-10 WT: 180
DOB: 02/26/05
HOMETOWN: Victoria, BC
AQUIRED: 9th, 2023
PRO YEAR: 4th
MATHIEU VALLEE 2 OUTFIELDER
BATS/THROWS: Left/Right
HT: 5-9 WT: 175
DOB: 08/08/00
HOMETOWN: Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, QC
SCHOOL: So. Illinois/NE Okla. A&M/ DBU
ACQUIRED: NDFA, 02/19/26
PRO YEAR: 1st
HT: 5-11 WT: 205
B/T: L/L
DOB: 08/31/01
HOMETOWN: Stone Oaks, TX
SCHOOL: Wake Forest/Princeton
ACQUIRED: ND FA, 07/22/25
PRO YEAR: 2nd
DOG DAY OF SUMMER
BRING YOUR PUP TO THE PARK!
THURSD AY, MAY 28
SUNDAY, MAY 3 | 1:05
AT THE NAT
Roy Campanella played his first game for the Baltimore Elite Giants in 1937 at the age of 15, making him the youngest player in MLB history.
(National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
ONLY A NUMBER
Roy Campanella debuted in the Negro Leagues at 15, making him the youngest player in big league history.
Catcher Roy Campanella was a trailblazer, a legend and an inspiration. Decades after his passing, though, the Hall of Famer officially became the youngest player in big league history.
For years, the title of youngest MLB player belonged to lefty hurler Joe Nuxhall, who debuted with the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1944, at the age of 15 years and 316 days.
But when Major League Baseball announced in December 2020 that they had officially designated the Negro Leagues as Major League status and incorporated the statistics and records of seven Negro Leagues that operated between 1920 and 1948 into the record books, Campanella, who played as a 15-year-old (younger than Nuxhall) in 1937 with the Negro National League’s Washington Elite Giants (also referred to as the Baltimore Elite Giants), added another record to his legacy.
“All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game’s best players, innovations and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice,” said Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred at the time of the announcement. “We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where they belong: as Major Leaguers within the official historical record.”
According to Manfred, this action corrected a historical oversight and officially recognizes the achievements of the approximately 3,400 players who competed in these leagues, placing them on par with other major league ball players.
During World War II, the major leagues desperately needed replacements for those players who were serving in the armed services. Those who left the ballfield for the battlefield included, among others, such future Hall of Famers as Luke Appling (Army), Yogi Berra (Navy), Bill Dickey (Navy), Joe DiMaggio (Army), Larry Doby (Navy), Bob Feller (Navy), Hank Greenberg (Army), Monte Irvin (Army), Stan Musial (Navy), Buck O’Neil (Navy), Phil Rizzuto (Navy), Jackie Robinson (Army), Duke Snider (Navy), Warren Spahn (Army) and Ted Williams (Marines).
On June 10, 1944, with the Reds trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 13-0 in the bottom of the eighth, Reds manager Bill McKechnie brought Nuxhall in to pitch for the first time on a big league diamond.
“I was only 15, after all. I had just finished junior high school,” Nuxhall later said. “Probably two weeks prior to that, I was pitching against seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders, kids 13 and 14 years old. All of the sudden, I look up and there’s Stan Musial and the likes.”
Cincinnati had gotten clearance under the child labor laws to sign Nuxhall to a contract. On Feb. 18, 1944, he signed for $175 per month along with a $500 signing bonus.
“The boy’s background runs along the Feller pattern,” said Reds public relations manager Lee Allen at the time of the signing. “His father was an old semipro player and raised the lad to play ball practically from the diaper stage. By the time he was nine he was pitching on a knothole team, and he now has completed six seasons of knothole ball. Last year he tossed a pair of no-hitters and another pair of onehitters.”
In his debut, Nuxhall’s pitching line in two-thirds of an inning was two
hits, five walks and five earned runs. Musial collected a single. The Reds lost the game, 18-0. It was the only game the young southpaw pitched in the majors that year.
“I’m lucky. Never thought that at 15 I’d be pitching in the big time. Guess lots of kids would like to do that,” Nuxhall said in the clubhouse after his outing. “I was nervous. Sure, I had watched ’em as they came to bat, thinking I ought to know their weakness.”
With some minor league seasoning. Nuxhall made it back to the majors in 1952 and would ultimately enjoy a successful 15-year big-league career before embarking on a long stint as a beloved broadcaster for the Reds. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 79.
While the date of Campanella’s debut date is up for debate, depending on the source, either option would still make him younger than Nuxhall. Seamheads.com pegs it as June 22, 1937, while Retrosheet. org has it as June 19, 1937.
“Validating Negro League statistics remains a challenge due to the absence of a centralized media source,” said acclaimed Black baseball historian Larry Lester. “The league’s fluid scheduling further
complicates efforts to pinpoint a player’s official debut, as it often depends on whether the game was part of league play or merely an exhibition. Yet, for the dedicated and meticulous researcher, no obstacle is insurmountable. Careful analysis of game accounts and editorial coverage can help reconcile discrepancies and bring clarity to the historical record.”
The Philadelphia Tribune’s Randy Dixon was prescient when writing about the young backstop in a June 24, 1937, piece.
“It seems tough that I must be so defunct when the topic of Roy Campanella, a 15-year-old marvel from the Tioga sector, comes up for discussion,” Dixon wrote. “When such an unusually promising and talented chappie as Campanella has the floor, the guy doing a column should be at his best.
“Roy pastimed last campaign for the Nicetown Giants. Just a mere slip of a kid with oodles of guts and determination plus. He changed his short pants for a catcher’s mask and a uniform and went behind the platter alongside the big guys. He listened and learned and improved. The result has been that Biz Mackey, probably the greatest catcher of all-time Negro baseball, gave Campanella the onceover last week, liked his attitude to say nothing of his work, and signed him to do duty for the Elite Giants. A kid of 15 summers in the big time. Get that angle will you please!
“Roy went on exhibition last Saturday when the Elites and the Newark Eagles cavorted on local loam while the Philadelphia Stars were out on the road having assault and battery committed on them by auto. And what he showed was a revelation. ‘Your Man’ Dixon says without qualification that no one, anywhere, possesses a more deadly or accurate throwing arm from home plate to second base than this mere slip of a lad. Ask anyone who was on hand Saturday to see him mow down ambitious base stealers with his rifle pegs.
“The ballplayers marveled, the fans went into delirium. The critics gaped. But Roy just took it all as a matter of routine duty. Once he learns a little more tricks and brushes up a bit, he’ll be a star of stars. The only thing I don’t like about him is the length of his name. Sorta tough on columnists and headline writers to spell correctly. Otherwise, he has more earmarks of a future great than any lad his age these eyes have ever seen.”
Campanella, who was born in Philadelphia on Nov. 19, 1921, played his first organized baseball at the age of 12 with a team of newsboys. While playing American Legion ball, he was spotted by Tom Dixon of the Bacharach Giants, a local semipro all-black team.
The youngster soon moved up to the Baltimore Elite Giants of the professional Negro National League. He played for them through 1945, initially only during the summer but full-time after he turned 16 and quit school.
“I’ll never forget the day he came to my house,” Campanella said about Elite Giants owner Tom Wilson’s initial visit with his parents. “My mother (Ida) and father (John) were sitting in the living room. They told him very politely that I couldn’t play baseball on Sunday. In fact, no professional team could play on that day. So, he arranged it that I could play on the weekends, but not on Sundays.
“It was better than a college education. Here I was, a young boy, traveling in and out of big cities, coming into contact with so many different people, living with 17 or 20 different fellows on a team. And I was the youngest, and all those older fellows were looking out for me.
I had a lot of big brothers back then.”
In a 1979 newspaper interview with Art Rust Jr., Campanella recalled those early days in Black baseball.
“I was still in school in Philadelphia, and I would just play on the weekends with the old Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National
League. When I started, we received 50 cents a day for meal money. We traveled by bus and we didn’t think it was bad. I didn’t think it was anything extraordinary because I just wanted to play ball. I was 15 and gee how I wanted to play ball. I also wanted to be an architect. That was my goal. I wanted to go to college and major in architecture, but I wanted to play sports, too. I found out that I couldn’t do both.
“At the time I was a third-string catcher. They had fellows by the names of Biz Mackey, Nish Williams and myself, and being 15 years old, it was out of this world playing with these guys. We had a tremendous pitching staff with approximately four starting pitchers and about two reserves and that was it.
“Nobody ever believes me, but I didn’t know Blacks were not playing major league ball until the owners of the Baltimore Elite Giants came to my house and asked my parents to let me play with them on weekends. My attitude hadn’t changed about wanting to play ball. But I couldn’t understand why Blacks couldn’t play in the major leagues. Being brought up and raised in Philadelphia and going to an integrated school all my life, and having always played with whites on the football, baseball, basketball, track and field teams, it really never came to be an issue with me. But it did when I found out I couldn’t play big league ball. Being one of the youngest players on our team of the Baltimore Elite Giants, I had this explained to me by the older players and explained in such a way as to show me that none of the white players in any of the other leagues, major or minor, could play any better than we could.”
Throughout his later life, Campanella would praise future Hall of Famer Biz Mackey as a mentor, the elder statesman the Elite Giants catcher and manager when the 15-year-old broke in.
“In my opinion, Biz Mackey was the master of defense of all catchers,” Campanella said. “When I was a kid in Philadelphia, I saw both Mackey and Mickey Cochrane in their primes, but for real catching skills, I don’t think Cochrane was the master of defense that Mackey was. When I went under his direction in Baltimore, I was 15 years old. I gathered quite a bit from Mackey, watching how he did things, how he blocked low pitches, how he shifted his feet for an outside pitch and how he threw with a short, quick, accurate throw, without drawing back. I got all this from Mackey at a young age.”
“Campy” would eventually sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers prior to the 1946 season. First applying his skills in the minors before making his debut with the franchise in 1948. He excelled with the famous “Bums,” spending 10 seasons there while capturing three National League Most Valuable Player awards.
Campanella’s career came to an unimaginable halt in the early hours of the morning of Jan. 28, 1958, when, while driving to his home on Long Island, N.Y., he hit an ice patch and his car slammed into a telephone pole. At the age of 36, he was paralyzed from the chest down.
The Hall of Fame Class of 1969 member would pass away at the age of 71 in 1993.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1985, Campanella said: “I’ve always thought I was born at just the right time. My generation had a valuable opportunity and made a tremendous impact – and how many persons can say that? I was one of the first of my race to play in the major leagues, and I feel I helped the situation quite a bit. I’m proud of the way I conducted myself – on and off the field.”
Bill Francis is the senior research and writing specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Reprinted with permission from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
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 ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Rich Harden P 2001 21-Jul Oakland
Neal Cotts P 2001 12-Aug Chicago (AL)
Mike Wood P 2001 21-Aug Oakland
2004 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Santiago Casilla P 2002 09-Aug Oakland
Nick Swisher OF 2002 03-Sep Oakland
Joe Blanton P 2002 24-Sep Oakland
2005 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Mark Teahen INF 2002 04-Apr Kansas City
Dan Johnson INF 2001 27-May Oakland
Omar Quintanilla INF 2003 31-Jul Colorado
Freddie Bynum INF 2000 30-Aug Oakland
Nelson Cruz OF 2002 17-Sep Milwaukee
2006 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
John Rheinecker P 2001 22-Apr Texas
Andre Either OF 2003 02-May Los Angeles (NL)
Chris Mabeus P 2001 29-May Milwaukee
Kurt Suzuki C 2004 12-Jun Oakland
Jason Windsor P 2004 17-Jul Oakland
Jeremy Brown C 2002 03-Sep Oakland
Mark Kiger INF 2002 13-Oct Oakland
2007 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Travis Buck OF 2005 02-Apr Oakland
Jared Burton P 2002 04-Apr Cincinnati
Danny Putman OF 2004 23-Apr Oakland
Dallas Braden P 2004 24-Apr Oakland
Connor Robertson P 2004 17-May Oakland
Marshal McDougall INF 2000 05-Jun Texas
Kevin Melillo INF 2004 24-Jun Oakland
Bill Murphy P 2002 03-Sep Arizona
2008 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Gregorio Petit INF 2004 18-May Oakland
John Baker C 2002 09-Jul Florida
Jeff Gray P 2005 08-Sep Oakland
2009 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Andrew Bailey P 2006 06-Apr Oakland
Landon Powell C 2004 11-Apr Oakland
Tommy Everidge INF 2004 28-Jul Oakland
Brad Kilby P 2005 02-Sep Oakland
Jeff Baisley INF 2005 09-Sep Oakland
2010 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
A.J. Griffin P 2010 24-Jun Oakland
Alexi Ogando P 2004 15-Jul Texas
2011 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Justin Sellers INF 2005 12-Aug Los Angeles (NL)
Anthony Recker C 2005 25-Aug Oakland
Corey Brown OF 2007 06-Sep Washington
2012 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Pedro Figueroa P 2007 21-Apr Oakland
Sean Doolittle P 2007 05-Jun Oakland
Dan Straily P 2009 30-Aug Oakland
2013 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Ian Krol P 2009 05-Jun Washington
Kevin Pillar OF 2011 14-Aug Toronto
Max Stassi C 2009 20-Aug Houston
Michael Choice OF 2010 02-Sep Oakland
2014 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Bo Schultz P 2009 23-Mar Arizona
Marcus Stroman P 2012 04-May Toronto
Aaron Sanchez P 2011 23-Jul Toronto
Dalton Pompey OF 2012 02-Sep Toronto
Daniel Norris P 2012 05-Sep Toronto
2015 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Miguel Castro P 2014 06-Apr Toronto
Roberto Osuna P 2012 08-Apr Toronto
Noah Syndergaard P 2011 12-May New York (NL)
Justin Nicolino P 2011 20-Jun Miami
Dusty Coleman INF 2008 03-Jul Kansas City
David Rollins P 2011 04-Jul Seattle
2016 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Andy Burns INF 2011 09-May Toronto
Matt Dermody P 2013 03-Sep Toronto
2017 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Dwight Smith Jr. OF 2012 18-May Toronto
Seth Frankoff P 2010 09-Jun Chicago (NL)
Ian Parmley OF 2013 23-Jun Toronto
Franklin Barreto INF 2014 24-Jun Oakland
Taylor Cole P 2012 09-Aug Toronto
Tim Mayza P 2014 15-Aug Toronto
Jairo Labourt P 2014 01-Sep Detroit
Carlos Ramirez P 2012 01-Sep Toronto
Richard Urena INF 2014 01-Sep Toronto
Tim Locastro INF 2014 29-Sep Los Angeles (NL)
2018 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Ryan Borucki P 2014 26-Jun Toronto
Justin Shafer P 2014 18-Aug Toronto
Murphy Smith P 2009 27-Aug Toronto
Dawel Lugo INF 2013 30-Aug Detroit
Jose Fernandez P 2014 01-Sep Toronto
Jonathan Davis OF 2014 05-Sep Toronto
Jon Berti INF 2011 26-Sep Toronto
2019 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
John Schneider MGR 2011/14-15 28-Mar Toronto
Travis Bergen P 2015-17 29-Mar San Francisco
Cavan Biggio INF 2016 25-May Toronto
T.J. Zeuch RHP 2016 03-Sep Toronto
Lane Thomas OF 2015 17-Apr St. Louis
Ryan McBroom INF/OF 2014 03-Sep Kansas City
2020 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Nate Pearson P 2017 29-Jul Toronto
Dany Jiménez P 2017 23-Jul San Francisco
Patrick Murhpy P 2016 18-Sep Toronto
Ángel Perdomo P 2015 18-Aug Milwaukee
2021 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Josh Palacios OF 2016 09-Apr Toronto
Alek Manoah P 2019 27-May Toronto
Riley Adams C 2018 08-Jun Toronto
Tayler Saucedo P 2015 17-Jun Toronto
Nick Allgeyer P 2018 02-Jul Toronto
Otto López INF 2018 17-Aug Toronto
2022 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Zach Jackson P 2016 9-April Oakland
Zach Logue P 2017 19-April Oakland
Christian Lopes INF 2012 20-April Oakland
Vinny Capra INF 2018 1-May Toronto
Danny Young P 2015 9-May Seattle
Josh Winckowski P 2018 28-May Boston
Jake Fishman P 2017 31-July Marlins
2023 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Samad Taylor INF 2017 18-Jun Kansas City
Spencer Horwitz OF 2021 19-Jun Toronto
Davis Schneider INF/OF 2022 4-Aug Toronto
Hagen Danner P 2021 11-Aug Toronto
Cam Eden OF 2021 21-Sep Toronto
Jose Espada P 2018 24-Sep San Diego
2024 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Addison Barger INF/OF 2021 24-Apr Blue Jays
Brandon Eisert P 2021 17-Jun Toronto
Adam Kloffenstein P 2022 20-Jun St.Louis
Orelvis Martinez INF 2021 21-Jun Toronto
Steward Berroa INF 2022 23-Jun Toronto
Yosver Zulueta P 2022 25-Jun Cincinnati
Leo Jimenez INF 2022 4-July Toronto
Luis De Los Santos INF 2021 31-July Toronto
Griffin Conine OF 2018 26-Aug Miami
2025 POS ALUMN MLB DEBUT TEAM
Alan Roden OF 2023 27-Mar Blue Jays
Mason Fluharty P 2022 01-Apr Blue Jays
Matt Svanson P 2022 17-Apr Cardinals
Paxton Schultz P 2021 20-Apr Blue Jays
Will Robertson OF 2021 12-Jun Blue Jays
Lázaro Estrada P 2021 5-Jul Blue Jays
Trey Yesavage P 2025 15-Sep Blue Jays
TUESday, may 12
capilanos pennant giveaway
FIRST 1,000 fans
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: 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.
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.
If a runner scores, put a circle at the bottom of the box, and inside the
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
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.
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).
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.
1. CENTER FIELDER
2. SHORTSTOP
3. 1ST BASEMAN
4. 3RD BASEMAN
5. RIGHT FIELDER
6. LEFT FIELDER
7. DESIGNATED HITTER
8. 2ND BASEMAN
9. CATCHER
Called Out on Strikes:
Fielder’s Choice: Hit by Pitch: Wild Pitch:
SHORTSTOP LEFT FIELDER CENTER FIELDER RIGHT FIELDER
FOUL BALL
FOUL TIP STRIKE OUT
BASIC UMPIRE SIGNS FOR THE PLAYERS AND FANS
BY LINA
MEET OUR MASCOTS
THE VANCOUVER CANADIANS HAVE AN ARMY OF MASCOTS THAT ARE ALL DESIGNED WITH ONE COMMON GOAL – ENSURE EVERYONE OUT AT HISTORIC ROGERS 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
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.
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.
