BWDIK: Hicks, Naylor, Sabrowski, Smith, Soroka, Tong
Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) has allowed just one run in his last 10 outings. During that stretch, he has seven saves and has fanned 19 batters without issuing a walk.
September 21, 2025
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Some Canadian baseball news and notes from the past week:
Smith major reason for Guardians’ playoff push
Right-hander Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) is a major reason the Cleveland Guardians have won 10 in a row and are now tied for the final American League Wild Card spot.
Ever since Emmanuel Clase was placed on leave by Major League Baseball to investigate allegations of his involvement in sports betting on July 27, Smith has served as the Guardians’ closer. In his last 10 appearances, the 6-foot-5 Canadian has seven saves and has allowed just one run in 10 innings. During that stretch, he has struck out 19 without walking a batter.
And when Smith struck out Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez to close out the Guardians’ 4-0 win on Wednesday, it was his 100th strikeout of the season. According to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Smith is just the third Canadian reliever to have multiple 100-strikeout seasons.
Sabrowski also key reliever for Guardians
Fellow Canadian Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) has also excelled out of the Guardians’ pen. The 27-year-old left-hander has not permitted a run and has surrendered just one hit in his last seven appearances.
For the season, Sabrowski owns a 1.78 ERA in 29 games and has fanned 34 batters in 25 1/3 innings.
The Canuck southpaw missed the first three months of the campaign with left elbow inflammation. He was activated by the Guardians on June 27.
Sabrowski made his major league debut with the Guardians in 2024 and did not permit a run in nine regular season outings. That convinced the Guardians to include him on their postseason roster and he registered a 1.69 ERA in five playoff games.
Josh Naylor joins 20-20 club
On Friday, Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) belted his 20th home run of the season. It was a solo shot in the eighth inning off reliever Craig Kimbrel in the Mariners’ 4-0 win over the Houston Astros. With that, Naylor, became just the fourth Canadian major leaguer to record 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season, according to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (See graphic below).
Naylor has a career-high 28 stolen bases this season. His season-best for home runs is 31, which he belted for the Guardians in 2024.
A great week for Bo Naylor
On Saturday, Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) belted two solo home runs for the Guardians to help them to a 6-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the first game of a doubleheader. That was the second two-home run game of his career. His first came on July 25, 2023 in a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field.
With those two homers, Naylor has 14 on the season, which is a new career-high.
That performance came on the heels of Naylor tying his career-high with four RBIs in the Guardians’ 6-2 win over the Twins on Friday. The Canadian catcher had two singles in that contest.
The younger Naylor has been red-hot for the surging Guardians. In his last seven games, he is 11-for-25 (.440 batting average) with three home runs and 12 RBIs.
It was also a good week off the field for Naylor. On Monday, he was named the Guardians’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee. This award is handed out annually by Major League Baseball to a player who “best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, and philanthropy on and off the field.” The Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team grad has devoted countless hours to charities that benefit youth in Cleveland. He has also volunteered for organizations that help animals in need.
Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) is the Cleveland Guardians’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee. Photo: Cleveland Guardians
Hicks also has four-RBI game
Bo Naylor wasn’t the only Canadian big league catcher to have a four-RBI game this past week. On Thursday, Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) homered and singled and drove in four to help the Miami Marlins’ to a 9-7 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
The four RBIs matched a career-high for Hicks, who’s in his rookie season. The Toronto Mets grad also had four RBIs on April 19 in the Marlins’ 11-10 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Overall, Hicks is batting .248 with six home runs and 44 RBIs in 114 games for the Marlins this season.
Tong makes clutch start for Mets
On Thursday, with the New York Mets clinging to the final National League Wild Card spot, right-hander Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) delivered the best start of his young big league career. The 22-year-old righty allowed just an unearned run on four hits, while striking out eight, in five innings to lead the Mets to a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres.
It was Tong’s second big league win and a strong rebound from his previous start in which he gave up six runs in 2/3 of an inning. Tong is now 2-2 with a 5.94 ERA in four starts for the Mets this season.
Toronto Mets alum Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) has been named the New York Mets’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Photo: New York Mets
Tong’s start came after he was announced as the Mets’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year on Monday. Prior to his big league call-up, Tong had been dominant at triple-A and double-A, combining to go 10-5 with a 1.59 ERA in 22 starts. His 179 strikeouts are the most by any pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks this season.
Soroka activated by Cubs, moved to bullpen
Right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Chicago Cubs on Monday. The Cubs then announced that he’d be used a reliever for the rest of the season.
Soroka has since made two scoreless relief appearances for the Cubs and has not surrendered a hit, while fanning three, in three innings.
The Junior National Team grad does have experience as a reliever. After a rough beginning to the 2024 season as a starter with the Chicago White Sox, he was moved to the bullpen where he posted a 2.75 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 36 innings in 16 appearances.
Prior to being shifted to the bullpen by the Cubs, he made one injury shortened start with them and 16 with the Washington Nationals earlier this year. Overall, Soroka is 3-8 with a 4.69 ERA in 19 major league games (17 starts) this season.
Thomson guides Phillies to playoffs again
According to SABR (Hanlan’s Point chapter), when the Phillies clinched the National League East division title on Monday, Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) became just the ninth manager in major league history to lead his club to the postseason in his first four seasons. He is also the only Phillies manager to do it.
In 2022, Thomson became the first Canadian skipper since 1900 to manage a team in the World Series.
You can listen to his locker room speech after the Phillies clinched the division title on Monday here.
Rest in peace, Keith “Stubby” Clapp
I would like to extend my condolences to Canadian baseball legend Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) and his family on the passing of his father, Keith “Stubby” Clapp, on Tuesday at the age of 75.
“Stubby was known for his strong defense, fierce competitiveness, and relentless work ethic, but above all, he was admired as a loyal friend and an exceptional teammate,” reads Keith “Stubby” Clapp’s obituary in part. “A true legend on both the ice and the ball diamond, he proudly wore number 17 for the Mildewed Maple Leafs and number 11 for the Lanny’s and Merryfield’s softball teams. His passion for sport extended well beyond the rink and the diamond, as he also excelled in golf and bowling, embracing every game with the same dedication and spirit.”
You can read his full obituary and leave condolences here.
Sixty-three years ago today, Pete Ward made MLB debut
On this date 63 years ago, Pete Ward (Montreal, Que.) made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles.
With the O’s tied 1-1 with the Twins, Ward pinch-hit for second baseman Marv Breeding in the seventh inning and hit a two-run single. The O’s won the game 3-2.
Fun Fact of the Week:
