Five Can-Am League players will represent their countries at the Pan-Am Games, which officially begin today, July 11. Toronto, Ontario is the host site for the 2015 edition of the games. The Pan-Am Games are held every four years and are open to nations from the Americas.
The men’s baseball portion of the event will consist of seven teams — Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United States of America. The tournament begins July 11 with preliminary rounds, and culminates with the Gold Medal Game on the evening of Sunday, July 19.
Two of those teams will feature American Association players.
The Canadian National team will host three American Association players. RHP Scott Richmond of the Wichita Wingnuts has made two starts this season, and is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA. Richmond has eight strikeouts and no walks in 11 innings. INF Brock Kjeldgaard of the Sioux City Explorers is batting .274 with eight doubles, two triples and nine home runs with 38 RBI. He will be joined by Sioux City infield mate Rene Tosoni, who leaves the X’s with a .311 average, seven doubles, a home run and 28 RBI.
The Puerto Rican National Team will also have American Association Representation. RHP Rene Rivera of the Winnipeg Goldeyes has a 2-1 record and 5.89 ERA in 16 relief appearances this season. Over 18.1 innings, he has 13 strikeouts.
Additionally, five Can-Am League players will take part in the event: INF Tim Smith (Canada), INF Yordan Manduley (Cuba) and RHP Ismel Jimenez (Cuba) from the Quebec Capitales, and INF Pedro Lopez (Dominican Republic) and OF Steve Brown (Colombia) of the Trois-Rivieres Aigles.
Follow the pursuits of these players here at www.americanassociationbaseball.com, on Twitter at @AA_Baseball and at www.toronto2015.org.
