Glew - BWDIK: Brash, Kirwer, Paxton, Puhl, Siddall, Toro, Wilkinson

Okotoks Dawgs alum Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.) was outstanding out of the bullpen for Canada at the World Baseball Classic. Photo: Baseball Canada

March 15, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball news and notes:

Wilkinson dazzles at WBC

If I’m the Cleveland Guardians, I’m feeling really good about Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.) after his performance at the World Baseball Classic.

A 10th round pick of the Guardians in 2023, the 6-foot-1 left-hander struck out nine batters and allowed just one hit in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a Team Canada uniform over the past two weeks.

After striking out five Philadelphia Phillies in two innings in an exhibition game on March 4, Wilkinson fanned both Panama batters he faced in the ninth on Sunday and then proceeded to strike out Cal Raleigh and Bryce Harper in two scoreless frames against the U.S. on Friday.

The 23-year-old Okotoks Dawgs alum did this all with a fastball that topped out at 91 mph.

So how does Wilkinson get so many strikeouts?

Back in 2024, I spoke with Okotoks Dawgs Academy head coach Jeff Duda, who worked extensively with Wilkinson during the lefty’s teenage years, and Kevin Erminio, Wilkinson’s pitching coach with the Guardians’ High-A Lake County Captains. Both had high praise for the lefty nicknamed “Tugboat.”

Erminio told me the reason Wilkinson is able to rack up so many strikeouts is a combination of the arm angle the Canadian lefty throws from and the “ride” and movement on the pitch.

“His fastball is just special,” said Erminio. “It’s not one of those super fastballs in terms of velocity. He throws it in the low 90s and guys still have a really tough time with it.”

Duda praised Wilkinson’s focus on the mound.

“He’s just got an absolute killer mentality on the mound. It’s predator versus prey and he is the apex predator,” said Duda.

Toro needs full-time big league opportunity

If I could have one wish for Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.), it would be for a major league team to start him on Opening Day and stick with him for an entire season.

The 29-year-old Canadian has never had that opportunity.

I’m hoping that will happen this year with the Kansas City Royals after his outstanding World Baseball Classic.

Toro had eight hits for Canada in the tournament, which tied Victoria, B.C. native Michael Saunders‘ record (set in 2013) for most hits by a Canadian in a single WBC.

Over the past two weeks, the switch-hitting Toro’s versatility and athleticism were also on full display for Canada. He manned the hot corner for Canada, despite playing the bulk of 2025 at first base with the Boston Red Sox.

Toro signed a minor league deal with the Royals in December. The Royals have Vinnie Pasquantino at first base and Maikel Garcia at third, but Toro can also play second base and the outfield.

Maybe the Royals can find a super utility role for him?

In 2025, Toro was a valuable contributor for the Red Sox for much of the season. In 77 games, he batted .239 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.

In total, he has played in parts of seven major league campaigns with the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A’s and Red Sox. He owns a .223 batting average and has 41 home runs in 442 major league contests.

Paxton to stay retired

In his World Baseball Classic outing against Cuba on Wednesday, James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) struck out six batters in 2 2/3 innings. Those six strikeouts tied the record set by Erik Bedard (Navan, Ont.) for the most by a Canadian in a single WBC game. Bedard fanned six South African batters in 2006.

Paxton’s fastball was also clocked at 97 mph during the WBC.

Despite his success, and the interest he’ll garner from MLB teams, the 37-year-old Paxton, who retired from his major league career in 2024, told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi that he plans to stay retired.

“I don’t think so, no,” Paxton told Davidi when asked about coming out of retirement. “My family wants me home. I want to be home with my family, put my kids to bed at night. It’s flattering, but I think the most likely scenario is that I’ll just continue mentoring and helping the next generation of baseball players do their thing.”

In total, in the WBC, Paxton registered eight strikeouts, which established a new record for most total strikeouts by a Canadian pitcher in WBC play.

In parts of 11 major league seasons with the Mariners, New York Yankees, Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, Paxton finished with a 73-41 record and a 3.77 ERA in 177 starts.

Astros legend and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.) delivers the game ball prior to the WBC quarterfinals game between Canada and the U.S. on Friday. Photo: Baseball Canada

Puhl delivers game ball ahead of Canada/U.S. WBC showdown

I was happy to see Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and Astros legend Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.) deliver the game ball in a Team Canada jersey prior to Canada’s quarterfinals matchup against the U.S. at Daikin Park in Houston on Friday.

Puhl starred for the Astros for 14 seasons and was elected to the team’s Hall of Fame in 2022. Puhl also managed Canada’s team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The former outfielder now lives in the Houston area, but he has never forgotten his Canadian roots. He tries to return to Saskatchewan at least once a year.

Brash makes first Cactus League appearance

Right-hander Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) made his first 2026 Cactus League appearance for the Mariners on Wednesday.

He entered the game in the fifth inning and allowed one run in 2/3 of an inning to the Colorado Rockies. He threw 16 pitches and his sinker was clocked at a healthy 97 mph.

The Mariners have been cautious with Brash after he experienced some mild inflammation in his throwing arm early in the off-season. More recently, he had to recover from a tooth infection.

In 2025, Brash served as a key setup man for the Mariners after his return from Tommy John surgery in early May. In 53 relief appearances, the 6-foot-1 right-hander posted a 2.47 ERA and had 21 holds and four saves. He fanned 58 batters in 47 1/3 innings. He also recorded a 2.00 ERA in eight postseason appearances, striking out 10 batters in nine innings.

Women’s national team legend and 2026 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Kate Psota (Burlington, Ont.), middle, visited the Canadian ball hall in St. Marys, Ont., on Thursday. She is shown here with Lindsay Earle, the Hall’s care of collections and public engagement supervisor and Scott Crawford, the Hall’s director of operations. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Psota visits Canadian ball hall ahead of induction

Women’s national team legend Kate Psota (Burlington, Ont.) was in St. Marys, Ont., on Thursday for a tour of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame prior to her induction on June 20.

When the Women’s National Team was formed in 2004, Psota made the team and developed into a star at first base who regularly hit near the top of the order.

In her 15 seasons with the Women’s National Team, she was a two-time team MVP (2009, 2010) and she helped teams capture six Women’s World Cup medals, including silvers at the 2008 and 2016 tournaments.

In total, Psota was named to the World Cup All-Star team four times (2010, 2012, 2016 and 2018) and was also a member of the silver medal-winning Canadian squad at the 2015 Pan Am Games.

She hung up her playing spikes in 2021 and became a coach with the Women’s National Team.

Siddall to replace Buck Martinez on Sportsnet Blue Jays broadcasts

Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) will take over as the regular analyst on Sportsnet’s Blue Jays broadcasts alongside Dan Shulman, according to a report by Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.

Legendary analyst Buck Martinez announced his retirement in February.

Siddall started as an analyst on Blue Jays radio broadcasts alongside Jerry Howarth in 2014 before moving to television and working with Jamie Campbell on Blue Jays Central in 2018. For the past three seasons, Siddall has split his time between the TV broadcast booth and Blue Jays Central.

Prior to his broadcasting career, Siddall enjoyed a successful pro playing career. Signed as a free agent by the Montreal Expos in 1987, he spent 13 seasons in the pro ranks as a catcher in the Expos, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers and Red Sox organizations. He also suited up parts of four big league seasons with the Expos (1993, 1995), Marlins, (1996) and Tigers (1998).

Happy Birthday to Tanner Kirwer!

Former Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta.) turns 30 today.

He was selected in the 20th round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Blue Jays out of Niagara University. He would play four seasons in the Blue Jays system, rising as high as double-A. His best season came in 2018 when he batted .280 with 28 stolen bases in 61 games with the class-A Vancouver Canadians.

The right-handed hitting outfielder spent his final two pro seasons in the Seattle Mariners’ organization. He played nine games for the triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in 2023.

Kirwer is now a baseball coach and the marketing director at ATHX Performance, an athletic performance facility in Edmonton, Alta.

March 15th Birthdays

1944 – Wayne Granger, former Expos pitcher (died on February 25, 2026)

1959 – Harold Baines, Hall of Fame outfielder/DH

1969 – Motorboat Jones, former player with Saskatoon Riot of the independent Prairie League in 1995