Jays notebook: Canadians get their shots (on both sides) in Blue Jays’ rout of national junior team
MARK ZWOLINSKI DUNEDIN, FLA.— The Blue Jays hosted the Canadian junior team (18 and under) in Dunedin on Thursday, giving the teenagers some valuable exposure to pro level ball.
Toronto also called up several Canadian-born players from their minorleague camp, including Ladner, B.C.’s Tom Robson, who tossed three perfect innings and topped out at 97 m.p.h. on the speed gun.
The score didn’t matter but, for the record, the Jays’ split squad beat the juniors 12-0. The other half of the Jays fell 7-5 to the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla., with 37-year-old right-hander Brad Penny giving up five earned runs in his two innings of work for Toronto.
Here are a few takes from the game against the juniors and the day in Dunedin:
CONNOR PANAS
The Jays turned the junior game over to the minor-league callups after three innings. Toronto’s Connor Panas showed his power, with a home run that sailed well over the rightfield fence. The six-foot, 218-pound Panas, Toronto’s ninth-round selection in 2015, attended Canisius College in Buffalo and spent part of last summer with Class-A Vancouver.
EZEQUIEL CARRERA
The reserve outfielder smashed a triple in the fifth inning to cash Mattingly Romanin, the son of the Jays’ manager of baseball information, Mal Romanin. It was a proud moment for Dad, and an overdue show of extra-base power for Carrera, who could break camp with the fourth outfielder’s job. A couple of the candidates — local boy Dalton Pompey and Darrell Ceciliani — have hit the ball harder, but both have minorleague options; Carrera and Junior Lake do not.
MARCUS STROMAN
The Jays’ No. 1 got his work in at the minor-league complex. Stroman worked five innings, giving up six hits, three runs (two earned), while striking out three. It wasn’t the tidiest outing but the 24-year-old worked on his off-speed stuff (he has four offspeed pitches). It is expected Stroman will soon be announced as the opening day starter.
MATHIEU DENAULT-GAUTHIER
The Canadian junior team pitcher took a wicked comebacker to the leg off the bat of Jays infielder Andy Burns. Denault-Gauthier was in pain for a moment, but bounced up and walked it off like nothing happened.
ANDY BURNS
Burns, playing shortstop with most of the Jays regulars off, made an incredible play the next inning, ranging to his right — almost to the thirdbase line — pivoting in the air and throwing out the runner. An inning later, Burns moved to left field, showing the versatility that could get him a major-league call-up. He will likely start at Triple-A Buffalo.