Blue Jays outfield prospect Dasan Brown to join World Baseball Classic on Team Canada

Per multiple reports, there will be some more changing of hands going on for Team Canada in 2023 the World Baseball Classic.

Catcher/first baseman Andy Yerzy, a North York native who recently signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, is dropping out of the event in favor of joining his new team in Spring Training.

Replacing him will be 21-year-old Dasan Brown, an intriguing outfield prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Brown, an Oakville native, will be the third representative of Canada's only Major League Baseball team to be added to Team Canada's initial roster.

Other Blue Jays representatives on Team Canada will be utilityman Otto Lopez, who has made a pair of brief big league cameos for the Jays in the past two years, and up-and-coming slugger Damiano Palmegiani.

Brown throws and swings the bat from the right side and was drafted by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. While he made appearances in 2019 and 2021, the only thing that stood out about him was his speed on the basepaths.

Last year, he spent time in three different levels at the age of 20. In a total of 85 games, he hit 20 doubles and six home runs, drove in 24 runs and stole 24 bases. His impressive speed on the bases carried over from previous years and his outfield defense looked tremendous.

Brown is a center fielder by trade, having only lined up in center over the course of his three-year professional career. However, the World Baseball Classic, like the All-Star Game, is typically a place where you'll see guys line up at different positions than is standard for them in an effort to get their bat into the lineup. Look for Brown to spend time in both outfield corners as well in the event.