McFarland: Rootman reconnecting with Canadian roots at Futures Showcase

Outfieder Ira Rootman was born in Toronto to Canadian parents, but he moved to California when he was four. This year’s Canadian Futures Showcase has given him an opportunity to reconnect with his roots and visit with his grandparents. Photo: Mark Zhuang, BCIT

September 18, 2026

By Joe McFarland

Canadian Baseball Network

The Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase was the perfect excuse for Ira Rootman to see his grandparents.

It also gave the California native a chance to clear the air about how he ended up north of the 49th parallel for the annual get-together of Canada’s best young high school baseball players.

When combing the list of invitees, Rootman’s name stuck given his place of birth but, as it turns out, his roots run deep across the country.

“Both of my parents (Dan and Jess) are from Vancouver and they lived in Toronto for about 15 years before I was born,” Rootman said. “My sister and I were both born in Toronto before we moved down to LA.”

The talented outfielder out of Harvard-Westlake High School and the Canes National 17U program is suiting up with Team Navy at the showcase and, as it turns out, he has a few familiar faces on the roster, too.

COMING BACK TO CANADA

Rootman was just four years old when his family packed up to head south to California.

His mom is a teacher while his dad is a doctor who was about to start his residency at UCLA when they made the trek across the continent.

But with both sets of grandparents and several cousins in Vancouver, the family was regularly back in Canada for holidays and summer vacations, which of course had to include some baseball.

“I’ve actually seen four or five games here at Nat Bailey Stadium,” Rootman said. “It’s good to be back.”

With a maple leaf on his birth certificate and the Canadian Futures Showcase being moved to Vancouver for 2026, it was a quick “yes” from the 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder when he was invited to attend.

Outfielder Ira Rootman is the No. 3 ranked prospect on the 2027 Canadian Baseball Network Draft List. Photo: Lorraine Massamba, BCIT

LAY OF THE LAND

It’s not like Rootman was going in completely blind when he came to the Nat.

He had played in different events with Calum Andersen (Calgary, Alta.) and Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.), who both ended up as teammates with Navy.

Both are veterans of the tournament, so they were able to give Rootman some intel on the level of play and what to expect going in.

“I think my biggest goal was just play hard and with energy,” said the right-handed batter. “I think I caught myself earlier in the summer striving for results and being mad when the results didn’t come.”

He’s come to realize “that’s baseball” and, sometimes, you’re going to go 0-for-4.

So far so good for Rootman as he went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in Navy’s 5-5 tie with Royal on Thursday night before going 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored in a 4-3 win over Black.

PLAY LIKE PETE

Don’t think for a second that Rootman is a fair-weather baseball player either despite his upbringing on the sunny west coast.

He admits he enjoyed playing the nightcap on Thursday where the temperature was hovering around 12 degrees Celsius.

By Friday afternoon, he was soaking up the rays in 20-degree sunshine and soaking up some knowledge from the Team Royal coaches – Andrew Albers, Aaron Myette, Chris Robinson and Cav Whitely.

He also draws inspiration from a player who went to his same high school: current Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“My new saying is, ‘Play like Pete,’” said the 18-year-old. “I’m embodying that now, trying to make an impact in any way possible.”

Unlike PCA, who was committed to Vanderbilt before being drafted in the first round by the Cubs in 2020, Rootman plans to attend the University of Texas after he finishes high school.

Unless he, too, hears his name get called, which could happen next summer as he is ranked third in the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2027 MLB Draft list.