8 C’s Alums, Manager Jose Mayorga Headed To World Baseball Classic

With the World Baseball Classic set to start next week, Canadians fans will have plenty to root for over the two-week tournament. Eight former C’s players – Jon Berti, Spencer Horwitz, Leo Jimenez, Adam Macko, Abdiel Mendoza, Eric Pardinho and Luis Quinones – and manager Jose Mayorga will represent their respective countries in a quest for global bragging rights.

Brazil – Eric Pardinho (2022-23)

Pardinho, 25, was once considered a top Blue Jays pitching prospect when he was signed as a teenager out of his native Brazil in 2017. Injuries and inconsistencies prevented him from reaching that potential, but he showed flashes of excellent throughout his seven-year stint in the organization. He suited up for the C’s over parts of two seasons – including 61 strikeouts in 56.2 innings in the championship-winning 2023 campaign – and made it as high as Triple-A in 2025 before his contract expired and wasn’t renewed.

Canada – Otto Lopez (2018), Adam Macko (2023)

Lopez, 27, was a Canadian in 2018 when he slashed .297/.390/434 with an .824 OPS in 51 games. His steady ascent through Toronto’s Minor League ranks culminated when he made his MLB debut for the Blue Jays on August 17, 2021. He played parts of three seasons with the big league club before he was traded to San Francisco in February of 2024 then was claimed off waivers by Miami in April of that year. He’s been with the Marlins since then, hitting .270 in 117 games that first year then posting a .246 average in 143 games in 2025. He's able to play for Canada after moving from the Dominican Republic to Montreal as a child. This is his second WBC; he also suited up for Team Canada in 2023.

Macko, 25, began his tenure with Toronto in 2022, when he was acquired via trade from the Mariners in the Teoscar Hernandez deal. He made his Blue Jays debut with the Canadians the following season, helping the C’s to a Northwest League Championship – over his former team, the Everett AquaSox, no less – by logging a then-career high 86.0 innings with 106 strikeouts across 20 starts. After rehabbing an injury in early 2024, he pitched in Double-A and Triple-A that season then returned to Buffalo in 2025 and transitioned to a bullpen role. Currently ranked as the #22 Blue Jays prospect by MLB Pipeline, the Slovakian-born, Alberta-raised lefty should feature prominently into Team Canada’s pitching plans in the tournament.

Israel – Spencer Horwitz (2019, 2021)

Horwitz, 28, is on the short list of players who played for the C’s in both the Rookie and High-A eras. He first took the field in Vancouver in his professional debut season, playing in six games at The Nat and another three in Everett to wrap up 2019. Those six games proved to be his last on 30^th and Ontario; he would return as a Canadian in 2021 but never had another chance to play in our historic ballpark. The Timonium, MD native was the highlight of that “home away from home” season in Hillsboro when he established a new Northwest League record with a 28-game hitting streak. That historic stretch was indicative of a larger season of success for Horwitz, who was named the league’s top MLB prospect and an all-star. He would go on to make his MLB debut for the Blue Jays in June of 2023 then was traded twice in one day in December 2024, first to Cleveland then to Pittsburgh. Horwitz has established himself as a key contributor in the Pirates’ current lineup.

Italy – Jon Berti (2011)

Berti, 36, is the elder statesman of this list. His professional career started all the way back in 2011, the year the Blue Jays drafted him in the 18^th round out of Bowling Green State. He debuted with the C’s and his .291 in 60 games while helping Vancouver win its first of what would be three consecutive Northwest League championships. Berti made his way up the ranks over the next seven seasons, eventually making his big league debut in 2018. He’d spend the next five seasons with Miami then was traded to the Yankees in 2024 before wrapping up his career with the Cubs last year.

Panama – Leo Jimenez (2022), Jose Mayorga (2025-present), Abdiel Mendoza (2022-23)

Jimenez, 24, will play in the WBC at a crucial time in his young career. Following Bo Bichette’s departure in free agency, the Blue Jays have turned to the Chitre native as a potential replacement on the infield – if he can stay healthy. He was limited to 26 games last year and 57 in 2024, following a career-high 94 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023. A career .273 hitter, Jimenez had his worst offensive season when he was with the Canadians in 2023 (he hit .230 in 69 games). Of all the players on this list, Jimenez has the most to gain – and lose – from his World Baseball Classic performance.

Mayorga, 33, will be the skipper for Team Panama after leading the C’s to a 75-win season a year ago, the second-most single-season wins in franchise history. Back home in Panama, he managed Los Federales de Chiriqui to consecutive league championships and appearances in the Caribbean Series. The former MiLB catcher will return to The Nat in April after what is hopefully a deep – and historic – run in the tournament for his squad.

Mendoza, 27, was excellent for the Canadians in 2022, posting a 2.78 ERA in 29 games (eight starts) that spanned 81.0 innings while limiting opponents to a .217 average. Those numbers were a great way to introduce himself to the Blue Jays organization; he had been acquired via a waiver claim from the Rangers in the previous offseason. He appeared in 22 games with Vancouver in 2023 before heading to Double-A then split 2024 between the Fisher Cats and Triple-A Buffalo. When his contract with Toronto expired, he was signed as a free agent by the Brewers and spent all last season in Double-A with Biloxi. He’s now in the Mariners system ramping up for 2026.

Puerto Rico – Luis Quinones (2019, 2021)

Quinones, 28, might not get to play in the WBC due to insurance issues, but he’s still listed on Puerto Rico’s roster. The right-hander first played for the C’s in 2019 and posted a 2.97 ERA in 10 games (four starts) then returned to the Canadians in 2021 for his High-A debut. That year, he made nine starts and logged a 3.00 ERA before ascending to Double-A. The Arecibo, PR native would make it as high as Triple-A in 2023 and returned to the Bison in 2024 before missing most of 2025 with an injury. He was released by Toronto last September and landed with the Twins three months later. He’ll attempt to break into the big leagues with Minnesota this season.

Catch all the World Baseball Classic action throughout the month of March as an appetizer for the 75^th anniversary of historic Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. Opening Night at The Nat is set for April 7. Tickets and more information are available by calling 604-872-5232, visiting CanadiansBaseball.com or following the C’s on social via @vancanadians.