From Sandy To The World Stage: Micah Ashman Named To Team Canada For 2026 WBC
Feb 6, 2026, 3:50 PM
Former Utah closer Micah Ashman will pitch for Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. (Credit to Sophia Kuder, University of Utah Athletics)
(Credit to Sophia Kuder, University of Utah Athletics)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former Utah baseball closer Micah Ashman, a left-handed bullpen arm in the Baltimore Orioles organization, will be representing Team Canada in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Canadian representatives open the WBC on Saturday, March 7, against Team Colombia. First pitch for the Pool A matchup at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is at 9 a.m. MT.
RELATED: Team USA Finalizes 2026 World Baseball Classic Roster
🍁🍁🍁
Micah Ashman will be repping Canada in the @WBCBaseball‼️
📰 https://t.co/72kWUSDYW9 pic.twitter.com/lF2IwbdyVd
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) February 6, 2026
Canada will also face Puerto Rico (March 10) and Cuba (March 11) in pool play, with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
The Canadian pitching staff includes several past and current MLB veterans, including Chicago Cubs Starter Jameson Taillon and Arizona Diamondbacks free-agent signing Mike Soroka.
Ashman is making his first appearance in the World Baseball Classic.
Who is Micah Ashman?
Ashman, listed at 6-foot-7 and 195 pounds, prepped at Jordan High School before signing with Utah before the 2022 season.
He helped the Beetdiggers win a baseball state championship as a freshman and later reached the basketball state finals as a sophomore.
In his first campaign with the Utes, the lanky lefthander went 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 27 1/3 innings. His 25 appearances (two starts) were second-most on the team, and his eight games finished ranked third.
Ashman took over as Utah’s closer as a sophomore, earning Pac-12 all-conference honors and a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year midseason watch list.
The Sandy, Utah, native recorded nine saves — the most by a Ute since 2016 — ranking second in the Pac-12.
Team Canada is ready to represent in the #WorldBaseballClassic 💪
FULL ROSTER: https://t.co/2PcLd0uyJB pic.twitter.com/eW8KbNMZL0
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) February 6, 2026
He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th-round of the 2024 MLB draft.
Ashman made 28 appearances with High-A Western Michigan before earning a promotion to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves.
He appeared in two games with the SeaWolves before being shipped to the Baltimore Orioles organization at the MLB trade deadline in return for starting pitcher Charlie Morton.
Baltimore assigned Ashman to Double-A Chesapeake Bay, where he finished with a 4.80 ERA in 13 appearances and 15 innings. He has not given up a home run since reaching Double-A.
Ashman has six saves in his pro career.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering the Utah State Aggies, Locals in MLB, and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees, Beehive baseball, and Aggie athletics coverage here.
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