Canada put 27 players onto its provisional roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. 28 players would have been allowed. But manager Ernie Whitt and the others of the Canadian staff hope that they can give the last spot to Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto. Due to a knee injury he played only 111 games in 2012. Therefore a physical is needed for insurance purposes. Canada hopes that he passes the exam in early February when he reports back to Spring Training.
The 29-year-old former National League MVP is heavily needed, as the Maple Leafs face Team USA, Mexico and Italy in Pool D of the first round at the WBC in Phoenix, Arizona in March. Canada, which is the number six in IBAF’s Men’s Baseball World Ranking, didn’t win a single game in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and had to re-qualify at the WBC Qualifier (Regensburg, Germany) in September to remain in the 16-team field.
Photo: Walter Keller