Tyler O’Neill, the power hitter and Gold Glove winner from Maple Ridge, will take his considerable talents onto the field with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, starting today.
Canada starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 7 against Colombia, with a roster full of Major League players, including the 30-year-old outfielder who is now with the Baltimore Orioles.
He struggled with three different injuries last season, which was the first of a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Orioles. But O’Neill has looked great in spring training games, going seven-for-11 at the plate with a home run and a double.
He will be looked to for an impact bat with Team Canada, and their other games on the schedule are:
• March 8, 4 p.m. against Panama
• March 10, 4 p.m. against Puerto Rico
• March 11, at noon against Cuba.