Jays alumni head to B.C. to teach youth baseball coaches

‎This weekend, 200 young ball players and 250 coaches from across British Columbia are in Langley to learn the tricks of the trade from some great instructors, including two former Blue Jays, Rance Mulliniks and Lloyd Moseby.

Mulliniks and Moseby, along with the likes of Director of National Teams for Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton and former All-Star outfielder Reggie Smith, are in B.C. as part of BC Minor's annual coaches convention.

The weekend consists of a kids clinic, a coaches clinic, a luncheon and a fund-raising banquet, ‎all to benefit baseball on the west coast of Canada.

"It's always great to be out with the kids having fun, but there is something special about working with coaches because at the end of the day they are the people who are mentoring these young ball players," Moseby explained. "We are only here for a short time, and after we leave, these coaches are the ones responsible of passing on our information to the kids."

"This is one of many events that the Blue Jays have assisted at this winter across Canada. Their support, and our partnership, is crucial to the development of baseball in our country," said Baseball Canada president Ray Carter, who is also in attendance for the convention this weekend.

Blue Jays alumni, including Roberto Alomar, Devon White, Duane Ward, Moseby, Homer Bush, Jesse Barfield and Mulliniks have now visited a total of seven provinces this winter in an effort to grow the game of baseball across Canada.

"Being able to come back to Canada and assist with the development of baseball in a country that gave us so many great memories in our playing days is truly a pleasure. Canada has produced a lot of great players in the last 20 years and from what we're seeing lately, that trend will continue," said Mulliniks about the ever-growing support of the Blue Jays towards amateur baseball in Canada.

"What the Blue Jays have done for us, not only this weekend but over the last four or five years, is more than we could have dreamed of," ‎said Mike Sarai, president of BC Minor. "Whenever we call for help and support they are always there to help."