Canadian Josh Naylor to make MLB debut vs. Blue Jays

San Diego Padres' Josh Naylor flips away his bat as he watches the flight of his home run against the Cleveland Indians during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 18, 2019, in Goodyear, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

San Diego Padres prospect and Mississauga, Ont., native Josh Naylor is expected to make his major-league debut in Toronto.

The Padres have called up Naylor for their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, which starts Friday at Rogers Centre. He will bat sixth as the designated hitter on Friday.

The 21-year-old first baseman and outfielder is hitting .299/.378/.538 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 45 games for triple-A El Paso this season. He quickly rose up the farm-system ranks, posting impressive numbers during his five seasons in the minors.

A first-round pick with the Miami Marlins in 2015, Naylor was traded to the Padres the following year along with pitcher Luis Castillo for major-league pitchers Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea.

Right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill, another Canadian rookie on the Padres roster, is scheduled to start the second of the three-game set against the Blue Jays on Saturday. The 24-year-old Port Hope, Ont., native has started three games for San Diego this season and currently has a 5.40 ERA with a 1.733 WHIP, 10 strikeouts and five walks in 15 innings pitched.

Quantrill was the eight-overall pick out of Stanford by the Padres in 2016.

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