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Windsor natives Jacob Robson and Evan Rutckyj have jumped on board to try and help Canada’s late effort to secure a spot at this summer’s Olympic Games in men’s baseball.
The two are part of Baseball Canada’s 26-man roster set to head to West Palm Beach, Fla. on Monday to prepare for the WSBC Baseball Americas Olympic Qualifier.
“I really want to go to the Olympics,” the 29-year-old Rutckyj said. “I think that would be unbelievable. I think we’ve got a shot, but we’ll have to show up and play.”
Baseball returns to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008 this summer. However, only six teams will contest the sport this summer compared to eight in 2008.
“It makes it tough,” the 26-year-old Robson said. “A chance to play in the Olympics is a once in a lifetime and I would love to be in Tokyo, playing for Canada and competing.”
Four of the six spots have already been filled. Japan is in as the host country while Israel won the Africa/Europe Qualifying Event.
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Mexico and South Korea emerged from the WBSC Premier 12 in 2019 where Canada went 1-2 and lost on a tiebreaker to advance to the super round.
“Not our best,” said Robson, who was part of that team with Rutckyj.
Canada is in Group B for this event and will open May 31 against Columbia while also playing Cuba and Venezuela. The United States, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico play in the other pool.
The top two countries in each pool advance to the super round with pool play records carrying over. After another round of head-to-head play, the top team will earn an Olympic berth. The teams finishing second and third will head to Taiwan to join Chinese Taipei, Australia, China and the Netherlands seeking the final Olympic spot.
“We’re going to have to be ready to go right out of the gate,” Rutckyj said. “I guess we have to come out firing.”
A former New York Yankees left-handed pitching prospect that went to the Atlanta Braves as a Rule 5 pick in 2015, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Rutckyj was a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning Pan-American Games team in Toronto in 2015 and won a silver medal with Canada at the same event in 2019.
“For me, the opportunity to win a spot in the Olympics for Canada would be sweet,” Rutckyj said.
After pitching in Australia a year ago, Rutckyj was hoping to revive his career when this event was originally scheduled .It was ultimately postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After spending part of last fall pitching in Germany, Rutckyj has been in Florida for weeks working out to prepare.
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“I’ve been throwing since February and, being a free agent, it’s a good opportunity to get in front of some people and show what I can do,” Rutckyj said.
Rutckyj is a couple years older than Robson, but the two travel in mutual circles in Windsor.
“I know Robby,” Rutckyj said. “I’ve seen him in the off-season. I know he’s doing well right now.”
A 5-foot-10, 185-pound outfielder, Robson is actually the hottest player in the Detroit Tigers’ farm system.
Robson went into Wednesday’s night game for the Class AAA Erie SeaWolves leading the Eastern League with a .442 average in 13 games and also topped the league with .586 on-base percentage.
“It’s good to play everyday and hitting in the three hole’s nice,” Robson said of his start. “I’m getting a lot of at-bats and just been able to get into a rhythm.”
He appeared in 169 games at Class AAA Toledo in 2018 and 2019, but got caught up in a crowded Detroit system this season.
“I definitely did not (expect to be at Erie),” Robson said. “I just think I have a game, I want to play as well as I can and if it’s Erie, it’s Erie. If it’s Toledo or Detroit, so be it. I just view myself as a baseball player and my job is to play as well as I can.”
To play for the national team at this event, Robson and Baseball Canada had to get approval from the Tigers.
“This is the first time I’ve left during the season to play for Canada,” Robson said. “I’m sure it’s a little weird, but I’m definitely excited to play for my country. In years past, I wasn’t allowed, but the Tigers gave me the OK.”
A hot bat might be just what the Canadian squad needs heading into the event, but Robson is taking nothing for granted.
“I’m not certain what my role’s going to be,” Robson said. “I would like to contribute to this team, but I don’t make the lineup.”
Along with Robson and Rutckyj, Windsor’s Bernie Soulliere is serving as the team’s business manager, Keith Sanford is once again the team’s equipment manager and Paul Quantrill, who spent his youth in Kingsville, is on the coaching staff.
jpparker@postmedia.com
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