Onyshko to replace Pivetta on Canadian roster for upcoming World Baseball Classic

OTTAWA – Reliever Ben Onyshko was added to the Canadian roster for the World Baseball Classic on Thursday as a replacement for right-hander Nick Pivetta.

Onyshko, who has spent four seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization, was 3-2 with a 4.36 earned-run average over 43 appearances for Double-A Arkansas last year.

The Winnipeg left-hander represented Canada at the 2021 WBSC Baseball Americas Olympic Qualifier.

Pivetta, from Victoria, was expected to be a key starter for the Canadian side along with Cal Quantrill of the Cleveland Guardians.

Pivetta recently had COVID-19 and has not recovered to the point where he felt comfortable to play in the WBC, a Baseball Canada spokesman said in an email.

Over 33 starts for the Boston Red Sox last season, Pivetta was 10-12 with a 4.56 ERA and 175 strikeouts.

Canada will play in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix from March 11-15. The United States, Colombia, Great Britain and Mexico are also in the group.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2023.