It’s been a long time since Michael Soroka had the opportunity to suit up in the red and white of Canada.
The Calgary native was a fixture for the Baseball Canada Junior National Team in 2014-2015, and he’s been pining for the chance to represent the nation again.
He will finally get to do it when Canada opens the 2026 World Baseball Classic against Colombia, and the cherry on top is that he’s been named the team’s starting pitcher for that first contest.
Soroka is also hoping his stint representing his country will jumpstart the season with his new Major League Baseball team: the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I’m super-excited,” Soroka said in a Baseball Canada Instagram post.
“We’re going to fight hard and play that Canadian-style hockey baseball.”
The former goaltender will also be looked to as a veteran presence for a roster filled with young players, including Alberta-trained prospects Adam Macko and Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson.
FINDING HIS WAY TO ARIZONA
It’s been a challenging few years for Soroka after a breakout campaign with the Atlanta Braves in 2019.
The 2015 first round pick has suffered a series of injuries and setbacks since 2020, also getting traded to the Chicago White Sox, signing with the Washington Nationals, then getting traded to the Chicago Cubs before the 2025 playoffs.
It’s been a well-publicized journey which also included a successful move to the bullpen with the White Sox, although his heart has always leaned starter.
Going into this past offseason, that was where Soroka wanted to be and Arizona opened that door for him.
“My expectation is to help the team, and I think the best way that I can do that is to start,” the 28-year-old PBF Redbirds alum told Sports Illustrated earlier this year.
“We’ve talked about that. That’s why I signed here, and everything’s going really well so far.”
He knows nothing is a certainty, adding it will ultimately be his performance which determines where he fits with the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff.
A VETERAN PRESENCE
One way to make that decision more difficult for manager Torey Lovullo and his staff will be a stand-up performance at the WBC.
After missing out on the 2023 event, Soroka was hoping his health and performance from the past season would be enough to get the call from Greg Hamilton.
The Baseball Canada architect has been hoping to add the 6-foot-5, 250-pound hurler to the roster any chance he gets, and the stars finally aligned.
“Michael brings a talent component, which is special,” Hamilton told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.
“He brings the makeup, character and compete level which is also special.”
Aside from the on-field presence as a starter, which is something Canada will need if they want to finally get past the opening round, he says Soroka will mean a tonne to the team on other levels.
“He brings a great clubhouse presence and leadership,” Hamilton continued. “He’s always represented everything that is special about playing for your country and really gets it. It’s a huge add.”
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
What seems to excite Soroka more than anything heading into the WBC is about the impact Canada’s performance could have on the game back home.
He’s always been keenly aware of how he can provide a light for future baseball stars when he comes back home to train at Webber Academy.
Soroka also knows how real the “Blue Jays Bump” is, as he was with the Junior National Team when the team was making its playoff pushes in the mid-2010’s.
It’s the same feeling he got watching last year’s run to game seven of the World Series.
“What they did last year kind of reignites that torch a little bit and I hope we can carry it on,” Soroka told reporters on March 5th.
He says he likes the makeup of the roster with a mix of big-league veterans and some young up-and-coming talent.
“I hope we can show people how much this nation is moving forward in the sport of baseball,” Soroka continued. “The depth is just getting better and better.”
READ MORE: Kevin Glew’s latest story on Soroka
Soroka and Team Canada will face Colombia on March 7 before facing Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba to finish the round-robin. The playoffs will begin March 13 with the final set for March 17.
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