Josh Johnson didn't know it, but he qualified to pitch for Canada at the WBC as his father, Al, was born and raised in Calgary. (Reuters)
Best Canadian player with the Blue Jays? Brett Lawrie.
Best pitcher? Is this a trick question?
It has to be bullpen catcher Alex Andreopoulos during batting practice on one day’s rest.
In breaking news ... the best Canadian arm on the 2013 Jays is Josh Johnson, former National League ERA champ, acquired from the Miami Marlins.
Now, we’d have felt a whole lot better about this — and so would Baseball Canada director of national teams Greg Hamilton — had we found this out months ago, before the World Baseball Classic.
It is a discovery similar to finding out that Jameson Taillon had Ontario roots weeks before the 2010 June draft and therefore was WBC-eligible.
“I’d consider pitching for Canada in 2017, I’d be 33,” said the 6-foot-7 right-hander sitting at a locker in the Jays clubhouse on Friday morn.
“Wearing a Canada uniform would be a good tribute to my father ... for all he’s done for me.”
