Jays to host Team USA and Team Canada

The Toronto Blue Jays' Spring Training season is normally filled with notable match-ups as they prepare for the upcoming season, but this year's schedule includes two exhibition match-ups that will allow fans to witness the best players in neighboring nations prepare for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

The Blue Jays will play host to both Team USA and Team Canada during their 2009 Spring Training season, with Team Canada visiting on Tuesday, Mar. 3 for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. Toronto will host Team USA on Wednesday, Mar. 4 at 1:05 p.m. as well.

The exhibition games will feature some of baseball's best players who will be preparing for the second incarnation of the 16-nation tournament. The inaugural tournament in 2006 saw Japan defeat Cuba in the finals, 10-6. Team USA and Team Canada were in Pool B together in 2006, and this year, they will once again be pooled together in a group that includes Italy and Venezuela. Pool games will take place at the Blue Jays' home field in Toronto, the Rogers Centre, starting on Mar. 5.

Preliminary rosters for the team were released on Jan. 19, and both teams boast high-level Major League talent. Expected to play for Team Canada this year will be Russell Martin (Los Angeles Dodgers), Justin Morneau (Minnesota Twins), Jason Bay (Boston Red Sox), Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) and Eric Gagné. Chicago Cubs pitcher Rich Harden declined his invitation to play.

Team USA has once again been pegged as a favorite for this year's tournament after a second-round exit in 2006. Expected to play for Team USA this year will be Jake Peavy (San Diego Padres), Scott Kazmir and Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays), Kevin Youkillis and 2008 American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox), Derek Jeter (New York Yankees), Grady Sizemore (Cleveland Indians) and the Blue Jays' own Vernon Wells.

Blue Jays pitchers B.J. Ryan and Scott Richmond are also on the preliminary rosters for both teams, with Ryan a part of Team USA and Richmond pitching for his native Canada. Five other Blue Jays have made the preliminary rosters for their respective countries in this year's tournament.

The final rosters for both teams will be compiled by Feb. 24, as the teams will cut from the 45-player preliminary roster down to 28 players, which includes a mandatory 13 pitchers.

Tickets are available for both exhibition games and range from $13-$20 and can be purchased online at www.bluejays.com and www.dunedinbluejays.com. They can also be bought at the Dunedin Blue Jays Ticket Office at 373 Douglas Ave.. For any questions, contact the Dunedin Blue Jays front office at 727-773-9302.

Fans are also invited to visit the Dunedin Blue Jays website at www.dunedinbluejays.com where you can sign up for The Inside Pitch, a free e-mail newsletter from the Dunedin Blue Jays which gives you updates on everything that is happening during the 2009 Spring Training season.