Brock Dykxhoorn – Canada
The 6’8″, 250-pound right-hander was a hard-throwing prospect from rural Ontario when he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 2013, and again by the Houston Astros the following year. A hard-fought climb through the minors peaked with the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers before the big man packed up for China, where he continues to pitch effectively in the CPBL.
It goes without saying that Dykxhoorn is an imposing presence on the mound, but he clearly demonstrated, in the WBC, and during a pivotal game against Puerto Rico, that he has the poise to keep his team in the game in high-leverage situations. He threw three scoreless innings to close the game, showing pinpoint control and not allowing a single baserunner.
Team Canada now has a real chance of advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in WBC play. They have Dykxhoorn,and his outstanding performance against a lineup of MLB players, to thank for that.
Perhaps the Blue Jays, with Toronto being a two-hour drive from his hometown of Goderich, will give him another shot at the show.
Final Thoughts on WBC Pitching
The privilege of donning the national team jersey and playing for their country is not lost on even the richest and most famous players in this tournament. Everyone, it seems, is playing to win. For some, including the pitchers described here, the tournament might offer exposure that allows them to pursue their dream for a little while longer.
