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June 28, 2026
By Kevin Glew
Cooperstowners in Canada
Some Canadian baseball news and notes:
Bratt makes MLB debut
On Wednesday, left-hander Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) made his MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks when he started against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed just one run, while striking out three, in three innings.
About 20 friends and family members made the trek to Busch Stadium to watch him.
Bratt fanned Cardinals slugger Jordan Walker with one out in the first inning for his first big league strikeout. His other two strikeout victims were Pedro Pages to close out the second and Ivan Herrera for the second out of the third.
The Canuck lefty was called up three days after the D-Backs placed fellow Canadian pitcher Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) on the 15-day injured list with a glute strain.
Prior to his promotion, Bratt, 22, had posted a 1-1 record and a 2.84 ERA in 11 starts for the triple-A Reno Aces this season. He had 42 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings.
A Toronto Mets and Junior National Team alum, Bratt is in his second season in the D-Backs’ organization after being dealt to them by the Texas Rangers as part of the package for veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly at the trade deadline last year.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Rangers, Bratt pitched parts of five seasons in the Rangers’ organization before joining the D-Backs. In total, in 98 minor league appearances (89 starts), Bratt owns a 23-19 record and a 3.22 ERA. He has 492 strikeouts in 424 2/3 innings.
Soroka placed on IL with glute injury
As noted, the Diamondbacks placed Soroka on the 15-day injured list with a glute strain last Sunday. There’s no set timetable for his return but he is expected to be out for up to four weeks.
Soroka was removed from his start against the Minnesota Twins on June 19 after he experienced discomfort while warming up in the second inning.
It’s a tough blow for Soroka who seems to have rediscovered the form that made him the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2019. In 15 starts this season, Soroka is 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 82 innings.
The 28-year-old Calgary Redbirds and Junior National Team grad is in his seventh major league campaign.
Quantrill dominates Blue Jays again
There’s just something about the Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre that brings out the best in Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.).
With his father watching yesterday, the 31-year-old right-hander, making his second start of the season, tossed four scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. He allowed just two hits and struck out five.
Quantrill is now 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three starts at Rogers Centre. He has permitted just five hits and fanned 21 in 17 innings. Blue Jays batters are 5-for-58 against the Canuck righty at the Dome.
You might also remember that the Ontario Terriers and Junior National Team grad notched his first big league win against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre while he was with the San Diego Padres on May 25, 2019. In that contest, he surrendered just two hits in six innings in the Padres’ 19-4 victory.
Peters belts first MLB grand slam
Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) clubbed his first major league grand slam on Friday to help his club to a 22-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Peters connected in the sixth inning off Royals’ right-hander John Schreiber.
In all, in that contest, Peters finished with two hits, three runs and six RBIs, which represent a career-high.
According to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Peters became the 14th Canadian-born player to have six or more RBIs in an MLB game. The Canuck record is eight shared by George Selkirk (Huntsville, Ont.), Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.), Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.), Michael Saunders (Victoria, B.C.) and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.).
Peters is now batting .284 with four homers and 30 RBIs in 77 MLB games this season.
The Okotoks Dawgs alum played four games with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025 before he was sold to the White Sox in December. He still qualifies for the American League Rookie of the Year award this season.
Lopez still leading MLB in hits and batting average
We are over 80 games into the 2026 season and Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) still leads the majors in hits and batting average.
His 109 hits are 11 more than San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez and Rays DH Yandy Diaz for the MLB lead.
Also, his .336 batting average is tops in the majors, just ahead of Diaz, who is batting .334.
Despite his heroics with the Marlins, Lopez finished a disappointing fifth at the National League shortstop position in the All-Star Game fan voting.
The 27-year-old Lopez, who spent part of his youth in Montreal, has suited up for Canada in the last two World Baseball Classics.
Hicks on IL with back strain
Last Sunday, Marlins catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) was placed on the 10-day injured list with a lower back strain.
The Toronto Mets alum has enjoyed a breakout major league season. In 73 games, he’s hitting .278 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs. He has already clubbed double as many home runs and eclipsed his RBI total from his rookie 2025 campaign.
My hope is his injury doesn’t prevent him from receiving consideration for the National League All-Star team. He certainly deserves that.
The Marlins chose Hicks in the Rule 5 draft from the Detroit Tigers in December 2024. He was originally selected in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Rangers.
Caissie demonstrating his power for Marlins
Marlins outfielder Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) has four home runs, 13 RBIs and a .568 slugging percentage in his last 15 games.
This recent hot stretch has boosted his batting average from .215 to .227.
He now has nine home runs and 43 RBIs in 71 games for a surprisingly good Marlins team this season.
The Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National Team grad is in his first season with the Marlins after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs as part of the package for right-hander Edward Cabrera on January 7.
Pop back in Marlins’ organization
I’m not sure how I missed this, but right-hander Zach Pop (Brampton, Ont.) signed a minor league contract with the Marlins on June 12.
He has since posted a 6.23 ERA in five relief appearances for the triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies on May 30, Pop has returned to the team that he spent his first big league season with in 2021.
The Phillies let him go after he was activated from the 15-day injured list. He had been sidelined since April 13 with a right-calf strain.
Pop signed with the Phillies in December and cracked their Opening Day roster. He posted a 3.68 ERA in seven appearances in 7 1/3 innings with them before his injury.
Chosen in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Toronto Mets alum is in his sixth MLB season.
Happy Birthday to Corey Koskie!
Happy 53rd Birthday to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Minnesota Twins third baseman Corey Koskie!
Born in Anola, Man., Koskie was a multi-sport star in high school, excelling in baseball, hockey and volleyball. After choosing to focus on baseball, he honed his skills at the National Baseball Institute in Surrey, B.C., in 1993 before he was selected in the 26th round of the 1994 MLB draft by the Twins.
The 6-foot-3 slugger became a regular with the Twins in 1999 when he hit .310 and belted 11 home runs in 117 games. But his true breakout season would come two years later, when he scored 100 runs, socked 26 homers, collected 103 RBIs and swiped 27 bases to become the first third baseman in American League history to record at least 100 runs, 25 homers, 100 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in the same season. For his efforts, he was named co-winner (with Larry Walker) of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award.
In the ensuing three campaigns, he never hit less than 14 home runs in a season and he helped the Twins to three consecutive playoff berths.
On December 14, 2004, he signed with the Blue Jays and would slam 11 homers in 97 contests for the Canadian club in 2005 prior to being swapped to the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2006.
In all, in nine big league seasons, Koskie suited up for 989 games – more than any other player from Manitoba – and ranks ninth all-time among Canadians in home runs (124).
Young sets career-high in home runs
On Wednesday, New York Mets outfielder Jared Young (Prince George, B.C.) belted his fifth home run of the season. It was a two-run shot in the fourth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Cubs.
With that homer, Young set a new personal career-high for most home runs in a season. He clubbed four for the Mets last season.
He then added another round-tripper on Thursday against the Cubs – a solo blast in the seventh inning.
Young still has a long way to go to equal his most in a pro season. He hit 21 home runs with the triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2023.
Signed by the Mets in December 2024, the Okanagan Athletics alum also played parts of two seasons with the Cubs in 2022 and 2023.
Anniversary of Dempster’s first MLB win
It was 28 years ago today that Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.) secured his first major league win.
The then 21-year-old right-hander allowed just one run on four hits, and struck out six, in seven innings for the Marlins in their 5-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Pro Player Stadium.
Dempster would finish his major league career with 132 wins – the second-most by a Canadian to Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) who registered 284 victories.
Blue Jays recall Macko
The Blue Jays recalled left-hander Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) on Friday.
The Vauxhall Academy grad promptly threw a scoreless inning of relief against the Rangers on the same day. But that type of performance is nothing new for the 25-year-old southpaw, who had been returned to triple-A on June 9 to open up a roster spot for veteran starter Max Scherzer.
In 13 big league relief appearances this season, Macko owns a 2-0 record and a 1.38 ERA and has fanned 13 batters in 13 innings.
The Blue Jays acquired Macko from the Seattle Mariners, along with reliever Erik Swanson, for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez on November 16, 2022.
Thomas belted 500th homer while he was with Blue Jays
Nineteen years ago today, Frank Thomas, then a 39-year-old DH with the Blue Jays, belted his 500th MLB home run.
It was a three-run shot off Minnesota Twins right-hander Carlos Silva in the top of the first inning at the Metrodome in a Blue Jays’ 8-5 loss.
Thomas finished his career with 521 home runs, which is tied with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for the 20th most in MLB history.
Sabrowski activated by Guardians
Left-hander Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Cleveland Guardians on June 19.
He had been sidelined since May 25 with left elbow inflammation.
He has struggled since his return, allowing three runs in 1 1/3 innings in three appearances, but prior to the injury, the Canuck lefty had been outstanding out of the Guardians’ bullpen. In fact, despite missing nearly a month, he still leads the majors with 19 holds.
The Guardians have been extra cautious with Sabrowski who has a history of arm woes. Prior to joining the Guardians, Sabrowski underwent Tommy John surgery twice (2018 and 2021).
The Edmonton Prospects Academy grad has pitched in parts of three MLB seasons with the Guardians.
He was originally selected in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB draft by the Padres.
Happy Birthday to Kevin Reimer!
Happy 62nd Birthday to Kevin Reimer!
Though he was born in Macon, Ga., while his father, Gerry, was playing for the double-A Macon Peaches in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization, Reimer grew up in Enderby, B.C.
He was part of the Canadian national team on multiple occasions, including at the 1983 Pan Am Games and 1984 Olympics before he went on to enjoy a solid six-year big league career with the Rangers and Brewers that saw him hit .258 with 52 home runs in 488 games.
On August 24, 1993, he became the first – and still only – Canadian since 1900 to collect six hits in an MLB game when he did so for the Brewers.
Remembering Mike Kilkenny
Please take a moment to remember former big league pitcher Mike Kilkenny who passed away eight years ago today at the age of 73.
Born in Bradford, Ont., Kilkenny signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1964. The Canadian southpaw would toe the rubber for parts of five seasons in the Tigers’ minor league system before winning a spot on the big league staff out of spring training in 1969. That season proved to be his best in the majors. He’d compete in 39 games and make 15 starts, and by the end of that campaign, he was one of the Tigers’ top starters, hurling four complete-game shutouts in his final nine appearances. He finished that season with an 8-6 record and a 3.37 ERA.
Kilkenny served as a swingman for the Tigers for the next four seasons before he was dealt to the Oakland A’s on May 9, 1972. Eight days later – after making just one appearance for the A’s – he was swapped to the San Diego Padres who used him in five contests before flipping him to Cleveland. In just over a month, Kilkenny pitched for four different teams.
The versatile Canadian regained his form in Cleveland, posting a 3.41 ERA in 22 games and he took the mound in five contests with Cleveland in 1973 before walking away from the professional ranks.
In 1975, Kilkenny agreed to pitch for the Intercounty Baseball League’s London Majors and proceeded to register a 9-0 record and a 2.31 ERA to lead the Majors to a league title.
Trivia question
This week’s trivia question: Aside from Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) and Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.), there have been three other pitchers born in Canada that have registered 100 or more MLB wins. Can you name one of them? Please share your answer in the “Comments” section below.
Last week’s trivia question answer
The answer to last week’s trivia question (There have been two father and son combinations that have played for the Toronto Blue Jays over the years (in separate seasons of course). Can you name one of them?) was Steve Grilli and Jason Grilli or John Mayberry and John Mayberry Jr.
That’s a ton of info Kevin! Holly cow. Didn’t know it all so glad I read your stuff
Thanks for your support, Scott.