Team Canada makes surprising last minute roster changes ahead of WBC
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Victor William
Feb 28, 2026 (12:20)
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Photo credit: Zachary BonDurant-Imagn Images
Brock Dykxhoorn joining Team Canada brings incredible international experience and massive excitement to the pitching staff.
Losing a talented young arm right before a massive international tournament is always incredibly frustrating for the entire nation.
We completely understand the sheer disappointment of seeing an exciting relief prospect forced off the active roster today.
Dealing with complex insurance issues consistently creates massive headaches for national teams trying to assemble their absolute best players.
Canadian roster change for World Baseball Classic: Brock Dykxhoorn in for fellow righty Carter Loewen, who didn't get insurance clearance.
Dykxhoorn, a member of Taiwan's Uni-President Lions, helped Canada win gold at 2015 Pan Ams.
Loewen is a reliever in the Padres system.
Dykxhoorn, a member of Taiwan's Uni-President Lions, helped Canada win gold at 2015 Pan Ams.
Loewen is a reliever in the Padres system.
But pivoting quickly to add a proven champion completely alters the vibe inside the clubhouse for the better.
Carter Loewen (Drafted Round 40, 2016 by Toronto Blue Jays) will unfortunately miss out on wearing the red and white.
The talented 27-year-old righty posted a brilliant 2.16 ERA over 25 innings in the minors last season before hitting this roadblock.
Canada is building a relentless pitching staff
Fans are feeling a massive wave of relief knowing we replaced him with an absolute bulldog who knows how to win.
The 31-year-old Brock Dykxhoorn (Drafted Round 6, 2014 by Houston Astros) is a legitimate hero in international baseball circles.
He proudly helped Canada capture a historic gold medal at the Pan American Games over a decade ago.
Finding a late replacement with that specific type of high leverage tournament experience is incredibly rare today.
He currently stars overseas and dominates hitters for the Uni-President Lions in Taiwan.
He logged a solid 7-9 record alongside a 4.13 ERA and 89 strikeouts over 122 innings last year.
His unique ability to eat valuable innings and miss bats provides immediate stability to the entire pitching rotation.
Adding a massive physical presence to the mound instantly commands serious respect from opposing hitters in tight games.
The coaching staff desperately needs resilient veterans capable of staying completely calm under intense global pressure.
This sudden roster swap perfectly balances the youthful energy of the team with steady veteran wisdom and composure.
We completely trust this tough group of guys to shock the world on the biggest international stage.
The entire country is ready to proudly stand behind this squad when the first pitch is finally thrown.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 28|185 ANSWERS Team Canada makes surprising last minute roster changes ahead of WBC Will Brock Dykxhoorn help lead Team Canada to a deep run in the World Baseball Classic? | ||
| Yes | 79 | 42.7 % |
| No | 106 | 57.3 % |
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