Surprise Former Dodgers Player Might Come Out of Retirement for WBC

Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher John Axford could represent Team Canada at the upcoming World Baseball Classic, per Bob Elliot.

Axford, who hasn’t played in MLB since 2021, ranks second all-time in career saves among Canadians and currently coaches his son’s 15U baseball team.

Axford appeared for Team Canada in the 2013 WBC as well as the 2023 WBC. After a rough tournament in 2013 where he had a 5.40 ERA through two appearances, Axford came back in 2023 and posted a scoreless inning in his only appearance.

When Did John Axford Play for the Dodgers?

The Dodgers acquired Axford via trade from the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle of the 2018 season, though he didn’t make very many appearances for the team.

The right-hander suffered a right fibula fracture after just five games with the Dodgers, and entered free agency after the end of the season. Through his five games, Axford posted a 17.18 ERA — allowing seven earned runs through 3.2 innings pitched.

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He played for seven other teams during his 11-year MLB career, also featuring for the Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.

Throughout his career, Axford maintained a 3.90 ERA through 544 appearances, racking up 144 saves and even leading the National League in the category in 2011. He struck out 589 batters in 525.2 innings.

Will Any Other Dodgers Players Play for Team Canada?

The only current Dodger who would have played for Team Canada in the WBC is Freddie Freeman, though he revealed he wouldn’t play in the upcoming tournament due to a personal reason.

Freeman played in the previous two WBCs for Team Canada, though struggled to produce on offense in both tournaments. Across both of his WBC campaigns, Freeman had two hits in 21 at-bats.

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Team Canada will look to finally make it out of groups in 2026, though they have a tall task ahead of them. They will face Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama and Columbia in San Juan, and will look to enter the knockout rounds for the first time in the upcoming WBC.