Glew - BWDIK: Hicks, Lopez, Naylor, Pivetta, Quantrill, Soroka, Young
Calgary Redbirds grad and Arizona Diamondbacks righty Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) recorded his fourth win of season on Friday. Photo: MLB/Facebook
April 19, 2026
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Some Canadian baseball news and notes
Soroka earns fourth win of the season
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) started and allowed just two runs on five hits, while striking out five, in seven innings to lead the D-Backs to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Chase Field on Friday night.
His performance earned him his fourth win of the season, which is one more than he recorded all of last year.
The 28-year-old Canuck’s start on Friday represented the first time since August 22, 2019 that he has thrown seven innings in a major league game.
In four starts in 2026, Soroka is 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.
Quantrill earns first win with Rangers
On Wednesday, the Texas Rangers called up veteran right-hander Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.).
He picked up a win the following day when he tossed a scoreless ninth in a 9-6 win over the Athletics.
Prior to his promotion, the 31-year-old Canadian made three starts for the triple-A Round Rock Express.
Quantrill signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on January 30 after finishing the 2025 season by posting a 1.64 ERA and striking out 14 batters in 11 innings in two starts in triple-A for the Rangers.
The Rangers were the third organization Quantrill played with in 2025 after beginning the season with the Miami Marlins and then making two starts for the Atlanta Braves.
The Ontario Terriers alum has also had tenures with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians and Colorado Rockies. He is in his eighth major league season.
Pivetta sidelined long term with a right elbow flexor strain
On Tuesday, the San Diego Padres placed Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.
An MRI on his elbow revealed a flexor strain that, according to Padres manager Craig Stammen, could sideline Pivetta for months.
The 33-year-old Canadian, who was the Padres’ Opening Day starter, left his start against the Colorado Rockies last Sunday with right elbow stiffness after tossing three perfect innings. It was Pivetta’s fourth start of the campaign.
After signing a four-year contract with the Padres in February 2025, Pivetta proceeded to lead all Canadian big league pitchers in wins (13), starts (31), innings pitched (181 2/3), strikeouts (190) and WAR (5.3) last season. He was also fourth among all major league pitchers in opponents’ batting average (.195), ninth in ERA (2.87) and 10th in quality starts (19). For his efforts, he finished sixth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
The Victoria Eagles and Junior National Team grad is in his 10th MLB season.
Ontario Blue Jays alum and Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) belted two home runs for the Seattle Mariners on Monday.
Naylor belts first two homers of the season
On Monday, Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) belted his first two home runs of the season to propel the M’s to a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park.
Naylor socked a three-run homer in the first inning and added a two-run blast in the third, giving him a five-RBI game.
It was the sixth, two-home run game of Naylor’s big league career and his first with the Mariners.
It was also the fourth time in his MLB career that he has knocked in five runs in a game.
Hicks just shy of NL RBI lead
Miami Marlins catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) knocked in five more runs this week to boost his season total to 18.
This leaves him just three behind Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages for the National League lead.
Hicks leads all Canadian big leaguers in home runs (4) and RBIs (18) this season. The 26-year-old Toronto Mets alum is in his second big league campaign.
Lopez continues to swing hot bat for Marlins
While Hicks sits just three back of Pages for the NL lead in RBIs, his Marlins and Canadian national team teammate Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) is just two back of Pages and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin for the NL lead in hits.
Lopez has 26 hits this season and is riding a seven-game hitting streak.
The Marlins infielder ranks in the top 10 in the NL in several other offensive categories, including tied for second in triples (2) and batting average (.342) and 10th in OPS (.959).
He has also been outstanding defensively at shortstop for the Marlins.
Mets place Young on injured list
The New York Mets placed Jared Young on the 10-day injured on Wednesday due to a meniscus tear in his left knee.
Young (Prince George, B.C.) will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks.
The Canuck first baseman/outfielder had been out of the Mets’ lineup with knee discomfort since last Saturday, but prior to that he had been one of the Mets’ best hitters, going 7-for-20 (.350 batting average) with two doubles in 11 games.
Signed by the Mets in December 2024, Young spent the majority of 2025 in triple-A but he also clubbed four homers in 22 games with the big league Mets.
Chosen in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs, the Okanagan Athletics alum also played parts of parts of two seasons with the Cubs in 2022 and 2023.
Langley Blaze grad and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.) has been sidelined with a concussion.
O’Neill out with concussion
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.) was placed on the seven-day injured list last Sunday (retroactive to April 9) with a concussion.
He had been fighting an illness and it’s believed he sustained the concussion after he became dehydrated and fainted on the O’s off-day on April 9.
The 30-year-old slugger was eligible to come off the injured list on Saturday, but O’s manager Craig Albernaz told reporters that O’Neill needs more time.
O’Neill is 7-for-29 (.241 batting average) with a home run and four RBIs in 10 games for the O’s this season, his ninth as a big leaguer.
Rest in peace, Garret Anderson
My condolences to the family of former Los Angeles Angels slugger Garret Anderson who died suddenly of a heart attack on Thursday at the age of 53.
“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” said Angels Owner Arte Moreno in statement on Friday. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series Championship.
“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond. His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”
A two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and three-time all-star, Anderson is the Angels’ all-time leader in several offensive categories, including hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489) and RBIs (1,292). He also ranks third in home runs (287). He was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame in 2016.
Prior to starring for the Angels, Anderson played parts of three seasons with the triple-A Vancouver Canadians. His best campaign with the Canadians came in 1994 when he batted .321 with 12 home runs and 102 RBIs in 123 games.
The Angels will honour Anderson with a memorial patch on their jerseys for the rest of the season.
Romano struggles
Naturally, the day after I declared Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) reborn as a closer with the Los Angeles Angels – and pointing out that he was 4-for-4 in save opportunities – he was shelled by the New York Yankees in the ninth inning.
On Monday, Romano entered the game with the Angels leading 10-8 and allowed a leadoff single to Jazz Chisholm and then a two-run home run to Trent Grisham to tie the game. José Caballero followed with a double and after Romano walked two batters, Caballero scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
It was Romano’s first blown save of the year.
Two days later, he blew another save against the Bronx Bombers. But this one was not really his fault. He was once again summoned into the game in the ninth, this time to protect a 4-3 lead. After he got Giancarlo Stanton to line out to left, Chisholm lifted any easy infield fly ball that dropped between shortstop Zach Neto and third baseman Oswald Peraza. Romano then walked catcher Austin Wells and Caballero doubled home both runners to complete a come-from-behind win.
To his credit, Romano was back on the mound on Friday and struck out the side and hurled a scoreless ninth in the Angels’ 8-0 win over the Padres.
Francis, Martin made history 11 years ago today
Eleven years ago today, Jeff Francis (North Delta, B.C.) and Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) formed the first all-Canadian battery in Toronto Blue Jays’ history.
Francis entered the game in the fifth and tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings with Martin catching.
The Blue Jays lost 5-2 to the Braves.
Four Canadians participated in MLB’s 2026 Girls Baseball Development Trailblazer Series
Four Canadians were selected to participate in Major League Baseball’s 2026 Girls Development Trailblazer Series that took place on Friday and Saturday at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla.
Presleigh Lawson (Calgary, Alta.), Marisa Shah (Mississauga, Ont.), Reagan Jane Allard (Beamsville, Ont.) and Mingqian Chloe Yang (White Rock, B.C.) were among the more than 90 girls from ages 12 to 14 to participate.
The two-day event provided participants with daily development, on-field games and off-field programming.
The Trailblazer Series offered the four Canadians an opportunity to train under several highly esteemed coaches, including U.S. National Team alumni Michelle Cobb, Amanda Gianelloni, Alex Hugo and Meggie Meidlinger. Off the field, the players could also attend panel discussions, one of which featured former professional players Maybelle Blair and Jeneane Lesko who starred in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).
Happy Birthday Spike Owen!
Happy 65th Birthday to Spike Owen!
The switch-hitting shortstop was one of my favourite players when I was growing up. He began his career with the Mariners and when I was 12, I wrote him a fan letter and mailed it to the Kingdome. He responded with this autographed postcard (below). It was the first major league autograph I ever received and I still have it and cherish it.
In total, in 1,544 games in 13 big league seasons with the Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees and California Angels, Owen batted .246 and accumulated 1,211 hits.
Some Blue Jays trivia and a birthday
In 1998, Shawn Green had 35 home runs and 35 stolen bases for the Blue Jays to become the first 30-30 player in Blue Jays’ history.
Who was the second Blue Jays player to record 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season?
The answer is Jose Cruz Jr., who in 2001 had 34 home runs and 32 stolen bases. That would be his best of six seasons with the Blue Jays between 1997 and 2002.
Cruz Jr. turns 52 today.
Happy Birthday to him!