Shushkewich: Who might start for Canada at 2026 WBC?
Right-hander Jameson Taillon pitched for Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He could do it again in 2026.
October 1, 2025
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
Post-season play is underway, with another action-packed offseason to follow in the winter months.
While this is standard procedure from the end of one campaign to the start of the next, the World Baseball Classic will return next spring, throwing a wrench into normal spring training routines.
At the last WBC tournament in 2023, Team Canada went 2-2 — beating Great Britain and Colombia but falling to both the United States and Mexico — ultimately failing to advance out of the round-robin stage. Canada has never advanced to the second round, something the 2026 squad will be looking to change.
Looking at the potential names available for Canada (based on WBC eligibility requirements), this could be one of the deepest squads the country has ever assembled. At the last tournament, the roster consisted of players returning from retirement and some from affiliated levels to fill in the gaps, plus major-leaguer Cal Quantrill.
That said, not every player may be available—whether due to injury, personal decisions (for example, Jameson Taillon didn’t suit up in 2023 after signing as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs), or team restrictions based on roster needs for the upcoming season.
While it’s very difficult to predict which teams may block player participation, we can still make some educated guesses about how Canada’s pitching staff might shape up this time around. In 2023, they carried 17 pitchers on their roster and will need four starters this go around in Pool A, where they will face Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, and Colombia.
A quick look at a few arms that could start for the Canucks:
Nick Pivetta – Victoria, B.C.
One of the top arms this past season has been right-hander Nick Pivetta, who authored a 2.87 ERA and a 3.49 FIP through 181 2/3 innings with the Padres. He compiled a career best 6.4 H/9 and a 0.985 WHIP. He last represented Canada at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
If Pivetta decides to participate, he likely faces either Puerto Rico or Cuba, two of the stronger clubs in this pool. He’s under contract with the Padres through next year, so unless he chooses not to participate or the Padres say no, Pivetta might be the ace of this Canadian squad.
Jameson Taillon – Lakeland, Fla .
Taillon’s parents are both Canadian, and the right-hander holds dual citizenship, which allows him to play for Canada at the World Baseball Classic (which he represented at the 2013 tournament).
Pitching for the Cubs this season, the right-hander authored a 3.68 ERA and a 4.66 FIP across 129 2/3 innings while battling a few different ailments this season.
Under contract through 2026, Taillon is one option to consider for Canada as he enters his age-35 season. He skipped the last tournament because he was starting a new deal with the Cubs and wanted to focus on the season ahead.
Michael Soroka – Calgary, Alta.
Splitting the season between Washington and the Chicago Cubs, Michael Soroka amassed a 4.52 ERA between both squads and 22 appearances (17 starts). He missed some time after the trade deadline and returned to the Cubs’ bullpen when he was healthy, finishing the year with a 9.5 K/9.
Soroka is a free agent this offseason and is looking for a new contract, which may deter him from repping Canada this spring. Should the stars align and Soroka don the Maple Leaf this spring, Canada could use his experience on the mound against either Panama or Cuba, two teams with some thunder in the lineup.
Jonah Tong – Markham, Ont.
One of the most exciting prospects across baseball this season has been right-hander Jonah Tong. The Mets hurler dominated in the minor leagues, striking out opposing bats at a 14.2 K/9 clip and was working with a 1.43 ERA and a 0.924 WHIP before being promoted to the big leagues in late August.
While he has struggled in the limited sample size with the Mets, there is a lot to like about Tong as he continues to carve out a role in the big league rotation.
Tong is one player who may get the hard stop from the Mets organization, as the club may want to keep the 22-year-old in spring training and on the mainland to continue working towards a full big league season. Should he wish to play and get the green light from New York, Tong may be one of the most electric arms in this Canuck pitching staff.
Cal Quantrill – Port Hope, Ont.
Starting the year with the Miami Marlins, right-hander Cal Quantrill made 24 starts with the Fish before being cut loose a week before the trade deadline.
The Ontario product posted a 5.50 ERA and a 4.16 FIP while limiting the walks to a stellar 2.5 BB/9 rate and adding in an immaculate inning, which he accomplished on May 18 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Following the waiver claim, he made two starts with the Atlanta Braves before signing a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers to cap off the campaign.
Quantrill represented Canada at the 2023 tournament, but there is no guarantee he will do so this spring as he seeks a new contract this winter. Should he find a new deal and still join the Canadians in San Juan this spring, he will be one option to consider for the rotation, given his 149 career big league starts.
Mitch Bratt – Newmarket, Ont.
Baseball fans got to know Mitch Bratt during the last World Baseball Classic tournament. He made the start against the United States, where he recorded one out in the valiant effort.
That start might not have gone Bratt’s way, but he learned from the experience and has been on a tear this season in double-A ball. Splitting the year between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks (he was traded at the deadline), the left-hander has amassed a 3.38 ERA and a 1.169 WHIP on the campaign, striking out opponents to a 10.9 K/9 while keeping the walks contained to a minuscule 1.5 BB/9.
Bratt is one of the lone minor leaguers on this list, and a redeeming start in the 2026 tournament would be something that he and the Canadians could look forward to this time around, considering he has more experience under his belt.
Curtis Taylor – Port Coquitlam, B.C.
A reliever/spot starter for most of his career, right-hander Curtis Taylor signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals this past winter and ended up spending most of the campaign in the triple-A rotation down in Memphis.
Across 24 starts (31 total outings), he compiled a 3.21 ERA, 1.187 WHIP, and walked just 51 batters across 137 1/3 innings, a career high for the B.C. product. Taylor kept the ball in the yard (0.9 HR/9) and produced a stellar 7.3 H/9 and a 42.5% groundball rate this season to go with a 2.31 K/BB rate.
Taylor has experience representing Canada at the WBC, donning the jersey for the 2023 tournament, and could be an option out of the rotation if some of the names mentioned above don’t end up heading to Puerto Rico. Regardless, he will likely make the team, although he could be an opt-out candidate as he tries to earn a big league spot next year, whether that is back with the Cardinals or with a different organization.
Matt Wilkinson – Vancouver, B.C.
Taking the world by storm last year with his high K-rate and his ‘Tugboat’ moniker, left-hander Matt Wilkinson continues to forge a path to the big leagues in the Cleveland Guardians’ organization.
The 22-year-old spent the 2025 season in high-A Lake County, where he compiled a 4.24 ERA and a 1.375 WHIP across 25 starts and 104 innings. He continued to sit down opposing bats, albeit at a slightly slower pace than his 2024 numbers, and saw a slight uptick in his H/9 (8.5), which is why he likely stayed in the Midwest League for the entire season.
Wilkinson is one name to keep in the back pocket for this Canadian squad, whether that’s in the rotation or the bullpen. He’s one name to consider because of his starting experience, and he could find himself in that role if a few names mentioned above don’t make the trek (similar to Bratt in 2023).
James Paxton – Richmond, B.C.
If all else fails, “Big Maple” is one name that might be of interest to Canada’s manager Ernie Whitt. Although he retired following the 2024 season, the left-hander has over 951 big league innings under his belt and could be one arm to consider if the likes of Tong, Soroka, and Quantrill are unavailable.
Canada is no stranger to calling some big names back to the diamond, and Paxton is one name that could meet the criteria if he’s healthy and ready to go.