Taillon to pitch for Canada at WBC

Right-hander Jameson Taillon has confirmed he will pitch for Canada at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He last pitched for Canada at the 2013 WBC.

January 8, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon confirmed on X on Wednesday that he has agreed to pitch for Canada at the World Baseball Classic in March.

It will be his first appearance for Canada at the event since 2013.

“Honored (Honoured?) to play for Baseball Canada in the World Baseball Classic!” wrote Taillon on X on Wednesday. “Excited to put on the uniform and represent my family and our Canadian roots!”

Though he was born in Lakeland, Fla. and drafted out of The Woodlands, Tex., Taillon has Canadian parents. His mother was born in Toronto while his father is from St. Andrews West, Ont. (near Cornwall).

When he was 21, Taillon started for Canada against the U.S. in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and allowed just one earned run in four innings in Canada’s eventual 9-4 loss.

Since then Taillon has developed into a reliable big league starter who owns an 82-60 record with a 3.87 ERA in 224 appearances (223 starts) in nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs.

In 2025, Taillon went 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 23 starts for the Cubs. He struck out 98 batters in 129 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-5 right-hander had 14 quality starts, while his 1.057 WHIP was second among Cubs’ starting pitchers. He was particularly good in the second half after returning from injuries. In six starts in August and September, he went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA and had 24 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings.

He also had a strong start in the third - and deciding game - of the National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, permitting just two hits in four scoreless innings to help the Cubs to a 3-1 win.

Taillon will be a key starter for Canada, who are hoping to advance to the second round of the WBC for the first time.