Blue Jays agree to sign Tournament 12 righty Case
TORONTO -- Tournament 12 instantly made an impact on one Canadian baseball player.
The Blue Jays announced on Saturday that they agreed to a deal with right-hander Andrew Case of Saint John, New Brunswick.
Case, 20, dazzled in the inaugural Tournament 12.
Case hurled a no-hitter in the semifinals vs. Quebec Blue. In the seven-inning contest, the Maritimes prospect walked a lone batter, striking out 13.
Over the tournament, Case threw nine shutout innings while striking out 19 and walking two.
"To pitch like that in front of everyone, in this place, it's something else," Case said after his no-hitter.
The signing of Case -- who is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and throws mainly a low-90s fastball and a slider in the 70s -- was exactly what Roberto Alomar was hoping for prior to the beginning of the tournament.
Congrats to Maritimes pitcher Andrew Case or @caser137 for signing with the @Bluejays @Alomarbaseball #Tournament12
- Roberto Alomar (@Robbiealomar) September 28, 2013
"I'm looking forward for this opportunity for certain guys who may never have this opportunity, and to find talent here in Canada," Alomar said in mid-September prior to the tournament. "For some of these guys, there's going to be guys here that we don't know, and maybe one of those guys take this opportunity and make their dream come true."