Article by Bob Elliott of the Canadian Baseball Network: Get to Know Team Canada
Excerpt: “Meet Mr. Average hitter for Team Canada: Emerson Frostad (Lewis-Clark State), 25, of Calgary Alta. A Texas Rangers farmhand, Frostad has split this season between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma in the Texas Rangers system. He had played 486 games in five seasons.
“Meet Mr. Average pitcher for Team Canada: Brooks McNiven (U. of British Columbia), 27, of Vancouver. He has spent time this season at Double-A Connecticut and Triple-A Fresno in the San Francisco Giants organization, pitching in 175 games in six seasons.
“Combined the average Team Canada player is 27.4 years old, has played 344 games in the minors over six-plus seasons.
“Canada will have to be more than average to return with our country’s first team medal in the summer games since the Berlin Olympics in 1936 (a silver medal in basketball, a 19-8 loss to Team USA in a game played outside on a clay court in the rain.)
“There is not a lot of major-league experience on the roster (countries are allowed to use pro players not in the majors as of July 23) and Canada lost starting shortstop Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) when he was recalled due to injuries with the Washington Nationals and their best starter in Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, BC) when the Blue Jays recalled him one start before the Aug. 1 deadline when rosters had to be filed.”
Update: Chris Begg (Niagara) gets the start for Canada’s opening game against China.
