On a wild and memorable Saturday at the World Baseball Classic, here’s a look at how the Blue Jays at the even performed.
3B Kazuma Okamoto | Japan
The Blue Jays’ big free agent acquisition went 0-for-4 in Japan’s second contest of the tournament, an 8-6 win over South Korea. He’s just 1-for-8 so far at the event.
LHP Adam Macko | Canada
The young southpaw did not appear in Canada’s 8-2 win over Colombia.
CF Ismael Munguia | Nicaragua
Finished 3-for-4 and was intentionally walked in his country’s crushing 4-3 walk-off loss to the Netherlands. Munguia has been an offensive force through two games, going 5-for-8 with an RBI. He’s yet to make his MLB debut and isn’t on the Blue Jays 40-man roster, but I wonder if this tournament puts him more on the radar for a big-league club.
IF Leo Jimenez | Panama
Was not in the starting lineup after an 0-for-3 performance on Friday. His replacement, Jonathan Arauz, went 0-for-3 in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to Puerto Rico.
SS Andres Gimenez | Venezuela
Was not in the starting lineup Saturday and its unclear if his absence is at all related to being hit on the arm by a pitch on Friday, or his ill-advised head-first slide into first base. It could just be the Venezuela team trying to get as many players as possible into games on back-to-back days. His replacement in the lineup, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, went 3-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and run scored in Venezuela’s 11-3 win over Israel.
RF RJ Schreck | Israel
Hitting second and playing right field, the Blue Jays prospect hit a solo home run as part of a 1-for-4 performance in his club’s 11-3 loss. It was an impressive display of power for the lefty hitter, made even more impressive by the fact it came off a left-handed pitcher.
UT Ernie Clement | USA
Started at second base and hit 8th for the Americans. In his first plate appearance he came up with two out and two on but grounded out to third base. Like his Jays teammate Gimenez a day before, he slid head-first into the first base bag, causing stress for Jays fans and management alike. He would later reach on an error, single, walk twice, and score three times in USA’s 9-1 win over Great Britain.
OF Will Cresswell | Great Britain
Came on as a defensive replacement at catcher in the bottom of the 8th.
Off Saturday: C Alejandro Kirk (Mexico); 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr (Dominican Republic), RHP Yariel Rodriguez (Cuba)
Jays Balk 