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Blue Jays pitcher Jordan Romano chooses to pitch for Italy instead of Canada at WBC

The only Canadian pitcher on the Toronto Blue Jays is opting to play for Italy instead of Canada on the international stage.

Blue Jays closer and Markham, Ont., native Jordan Romano will once again represent his family’s nation instead of the one he was born in for the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Romano was in Italy’s bullpen for the 2017 WBC and at that time, it was simply one international team wanting him more than the other.

“I wanted to pitch for Canada in 2017 but they didn’t have a spot for me and I was in low-A at the time (coming off Tommy John)," Romano said via Sportsnet's Hazel Mae. "Italy asked, and I had a great experience. They gave me a shot and I want to be loyal to them,”

Now that Romano is an established big-leaguer and the projected closer of the World Series-hopeful Blue Jays, he must have had quite the pitch from both nations, but the 28-year-old decided to reward the country that gave him that first taste of international baseball.

It certainly helps that he looks back at that 2017 tournament in a positive light.

“That was a great experience,” Romano said in 2019. “My dad, he was born in Italy so I still have family over there. Just to be a part of something like that. The season before I was in low-A, not too many crazy fans and big atmospheres and then going to Mexico and playing in some of those games against a lot of big-league talent. That was a cool experience.”

Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano won't be suiting up for Canada at the World Baseball Classic. (Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY)
Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano won't be suiting up for Canada at the World Baseball Classic. (Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY)

Romano was the only Italian pitcher at that tournament to earn a win, coming on in relief in the ninth inning against host Mexico and striking out the first two batters he faced before getting the third to fly out.

Last season for Toronto, Romano posted a 2.14 ERA in 63 innings and stuck out 12 batters per nine innings. He's slated to shoulder a lot of high-pressure moments once again in 2022.

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