Elliott: Moutzouridis a devil of a Canuck shortstop

SS PJ Moutzouridis starred this spring for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Photo: Cal Athletics

June 10, 2026

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Our country is best at producing left-handed power hitters like Larry Walker, Matt Stairs, Justin Morneau, Joey Votto and Josh Naylor.

Canada has also produced pitchers like Fergie Jenkins, Erik Bedard, Rich Harden, Jeff Francis, Rheal Cormier and Ryan Dempster, as well as catchers like Russell Martin, George Kottaras and Bo Naylor.

And second basemen like Dave McKay and Stubby Clapp plus third basemen like Corey Koskie, Pete Ward and Reno Bertoia.

And shortstop? Well, for whatever the reason -- weather, shortened season or who knows? -- we do not churn out shortstops.

Until this year, that is. The future could be bright for Canada at shortstop.

Exhibit A: SS PJ Moutzouridis of the Arizona State Sun Devils. Though he was born in San Jose, his father, John, is Montreal-born.

Exhibit B: SS Taj Marchand, a high schooler from Charleston, S.C. His father Hugo, is also Montreal born. He played for the Victoriaville Tigers in the Quebec League and was a seventh-round draft of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997. No matter what projected draft list you look at he is expected to go in the top 80 picks.

Moutzouridis’ grandparents were born in Greece and then moved to Montreal. His father, John, was born in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, spent three years in Quebec and then it was time for his family to move.

New York or San Jose?

“My parents chose California and opened two restaurants in the South Bay area of San Jose,” said John Moutzouridis, who did not chose the same path. “They worked almost 20 hours a day for 30 years.”

Instead he became a police officer. He was on the SWAT team for four years and investigated sexual assault cases (similar to Law and Order: SIV) for 17 years before retiring from the force. Now, he works 40 hours a week for NVIDIA Corporation in Santa Clara, Calif.

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“PJ is looking forward to the draft,” said the father, whose son batted .291 with six doubles, four triples, four homers, 40 RBIs and a .933 OPS in 54 games.

So, one of the shortstops could be an option for Canada at the next WBC.

“It would be a tremendous honour for my son to play for Canada,” John said. “The Greek team contacted us a couple of years ago. But it looked like a lot of work. I would have had to get paperwork from Sparta and Corinth. I looked at it and said, ‘this is going to painful.’ I have a citizenship in the US, Canada and Greece.”

After two years at California-Berkley, PJ Moutzouridis transferred to Arizona State in an effort to make the College World Series in Omaha. It started when Jarren Advincula transferred from Cal to Georgia Tech.

The Sun Devils made the NCAA regionals but fell short. They opened with a 7-6 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in 14 innings in Lincoln, Neb.

“In extras, PJ hit a ball to the warning track ... off the bat we thought it might have been a three-run homer.”

Moutzouridis singled in the game.

Next was a 17-0 win over South Dakota State as Moutzouridis singled and walked with the bases loaded to knock in a run.

The Sun Devils stayed alive -- with help from two hits from Moutzouridis -- beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 11-5.

In the elimination game, Ole Miss beat Arizona State 5-4 in 10 innings despite Moutzouridis walking twice and scoring a run. Arizona State finished the season 39-21.

John Moutzouridis, who played outside linebacker at San Jose City College, has not been back to Montreal since his uncle’s funeral in 2008, but “I always talk to my cousins.”

“As a freshman, PJ was being recruited by Willie Bloomquist and was about to commit when he decided to stay at home -- so we could come to every game,” said John Moutzouridis, who made four trips to Phoenix and one to Dallas where Arizona State met up with some of the big boys.

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Career starts at shortstop by Canadians in the majors:

(Up to June 10)

1. Arthur Irwin, Toronto, Ont. 947 starts 1888-1894

(Philadelphia Quakers, Providence Grays, Worcester Rudy Legs, Boston Reds, Washington Nationals)

2. Otto Lopez, Montreal, Que. 189 starts 2022-26

(Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins)

3. Milt Whitehead Toronto, Ont., 95 starts in 1884

(St. Louis Maroons, Kansas City Cowboys)

4. Kevin Nicholson, Surrey, BC, 24 starts in 2000

(San Diego Padres)

5. Dave McKay, Vancouver, BC, 19 starts 1975-82

(Oakland A’s, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins).

6. Peter Orr, Newmarket, Ont., four starts 2005-13

(Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals)

7. Danny Klassen, Leamington, Ont., three starts 1998-2003

(Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers)