Canada's Rise on the Diamond Is for Real

Nearly four years ago in October 2011, the Canadian men's national baseball team achieved something it had never done before.

Former Blue Jays right-hander Scott Richmond was entrusted with protecting a one-run lead against the powerhouse Americans after Jimmy Van Ostrand provided the offense for the underdog Canadians. Richmond, who made 24 starts over a career-high 138 2/3 innings for the 2009 Blue Jays, was up for the challenge. The British Columbia native rose to the occasion and shut the door, picking up the save in an Andrew Albers victory that helped Canada win its first-ever gold medal at the Pan American Games by defeating the U.S., 2–1.

Canada's victory snapped a dominant run by the Cubans, who had won gold in the previous 10 Pan Am Games. It was arguably the Canadian program's greatest feat, and with the 2015 version of the tournament taking place in Canada—just east of Toronto in Ajax, Ontario—it means the men in red and white get to defend their gold medal on home soil.

Richmond and Albers—who made one appearance with the Blue Jays this season—are back, as are a couple key contributors from the 2011 team, including big-bearded former Kansas City Royals farmhand Tim Smith, who hit .350 with a .985 OPS a week after helping Canada win bronze in Panama at the Baseball World Cup. Right-hander Shawn Hill, who played in parts of seven big league seasons, also returns to a team that features pitchers Jeff Francis and Phillippe Aumont. Francis, a former first-round pick with the most major league experience of any pitcher on the roster, has made eight appearances out of Toronto's bullpen this season, in addition to spending time at Triple-A Buffalo, while Aumont made one start with the Phillies.

Although Canada's top major league talent, including Joey Votto, Russell Martin, Brett Lawrie and James Paxton, are unable to participate—rules permit players on 40-man rosters from competing—the team's comprised of a number of players who've played in the majors and veterans of the national program with extensive international experience.

The staff is not short on big names, either, with the likes of manager Ernie Whitt and coaches Larry Walker and Paul Quantrill. Whitt, who played 12 seasons with the Blue Jays, and Quantrill each made one All-Star appearance, while Walker made five and became the first Canadian to capture an MVP award in 1997 when he hit .366 with a career-high 49 homers and robust 1.172 OPS.

Denis Boucher also joins them, as does former international staple Stubby Clapp and director of the national programs Greg Hamilton, a leading figure behind Canada's emergence as a legitimate threat on the world baseball stage.

The festivities begin this weekend, with Canada taking on the Dominican Republic on Saturday in the preliminary round of the tournament. Canada will play six times in seven days, concluding with a 2011 gold rematch against the Americans, before the tournament winner is determined next weekend. While Canada isn't recognized in the same light as the Americans or Cubans—the tournament's top two challengers—a repeat remains not just the goal, but a distinct possibility.

It's yet another reason why Canada is proving its no longer just a breeding ground for NHL players.

Two of the last three No. 1 overall picks in the NBA were Canadians, including 2014 Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, while tennis has seen the rise of Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard. Thirty Canucks, meanwhile, were selected in MLB's draft this past June. Among them were No. 12 overall pick Josh Naylor, a power-hitting lefty bat who went to the Marlins, and fellow first rounder Mike Soroka, widely considered the top amateur pitching prospect in the country leading up to the draft. He went to the Braves and joined Adam Loewen and Aumont as pitchers from the Canadian junior national team to go in the first round.

Naylor became the highest Canadian position player ever drafted, a mark that was previously held by Lawrie, who went 16th overall to the Brewers in 2008.

If 2011 taught the baseball world anything it's that Canada is no longer just a participant, but a major player on the international scene. Canada's taken major strides on the baseball diamond and more talent is on the way—from Dalton Pompey to Naylor, Gareth Morgan and Demi Orimoloye. Canada's future in the sport looks bright. With a rich amateur program backed by instruction from former professional players, there's reason to believe the best is yet to come.

Canada already made history once. Four years later it has a chance to do it again, and join Cuba as the only countries to repeat as Pan Am champions.