C’s Chat – 2026 Vancouver Canadians RHP #27 Troy Guthrie – C's Plus Baseball

Starting up another C’s Chat with 2026 Vancouver Canadians pitcher Troy Guthrie.

The Lakewood Ranch, Florida native got an early start in baseball by playing Little League in Buffalo Creek Park in Palmetto at the age of four. Guthrie would attend Parrish Community High School in Parrish, FL, about a 25-minute drive north of Lakewood Ranch between Tampa and Sarasota. After splitting time on the junior varsity and varsity squads in his freshman season in 2021, Guthrie was on the varsity from 2022-2024 with the Bulls and put together career totals of 187⅔ innings, 262 batters, 16 victories and a 2.01 earned run average. In his senior campaign, he fanned 113 batters against 18 walks in 65⅓ innings and was 7-2 with a 1.09 ERA to earn his second straight Manatee County Pitcher of the Year Award. In addition to a stellar high school career, Guthrie starred on the showcase circuit and captured nine Perfect Game All-Tournament Team selections.

The option to attend college was available for Guthrie as he had a commitment to go to Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. He decided to turn pro instead after the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft on the advice of scout Matt O’Brien. Guthrie’s signing bonus was $200,000.

After taking part in the Blue Jays draft camp, Guthrie would not throw his next competitive pitch with the Florida Complex Blue Jays in 2025. Things started well as he pitched five shutout frames over his first two appearances and had a standout relief effort of six innings in which he gave up one run while striking out six to get the win against the host FCL Tigers on June 27. Guthrie proved that start was not a fluke as he earned another victory in Lakeland against the FCL Tigers thanks to five innings of two-run ball on July 4. He was also ready for the big stage when he received the starting assignment in the FCL semi-finals against the FCL Astros on July 26. Guthrie delivered five shutout innings and struck out four to help the FCL Jays reach the final where they downed the FCL Twins to win its first-ever FCL championship. He finished his first pro season with a 3-2 record, a 2.28 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 43⅓ innings.

A bump to Low-A Dunedin awaited Guthrie in 2026 and he was supposed to start the D-Jays home and season opener but it was rained out. Instead, Guthrie would piggyback with the rehabbing Trey Yesavage and supply three perfect frames with four strikeouts against Bradenton on April 3. Aside from one other relief appearance, Guthrie was a fixture in the Dunedin’s starting rotation.

Guthrie finished the month of April with a 3.00 ERA with a strikeout/walk total of 17-3 in 18 innings. He began to build his innings total by starting a run from mid-May to mid-July by pitching at least five innings in nine of 10 starts and reaching the six-inning mark three times. The highlight was six shutout stanzas and eight strikeouts to earn his first Florida State League victory against Daytona on June 3. The other times Guthrie reached six innings came in back-to-back starts at Lakeland on June 16 and June 21, outings in which he allowed just one run. The latter outing saw him fan six to get the win.

After a 3.97 ERA and 72 strikeouts against 16 walks in 79⅓ innings with Dunedin, Guthrie got the call to report to Vancouver on July 18. He earned his first two victories in the Northwest League in his league and Nat Bailey Stadium debuts to finish out July.

The month of August and early September had its ups and downs for Guthrie. He no-hit Tri-City for five shutuut innings in an eventual win against Tri-City on August 11 and limited the Dust Devils to one run over five frames in another victory on August 16 at The Nat. Guthrie followed that up with five innings of two-run ball and struck out eight to get the win at Eugene on August 22. Those efforts were bookended by three tough starts but he was able to turn the page in the postseason.

In Game 2 of the Northwest League Championship Series against the Eugene Emeralds on September 9, Guthrie set the tone early with four strikeouts over three shutout frames in which he allowed just a single. The only blemishes came in the fourth inning when Kaeden Kent (son of former Toronto Blue Jay Jeff Kent) singled to right field on a ball that deflected off a diving Dameury Peña at second base. That was followed by a two-run homer to put the Emeralds ahead by one. Guthrie would retire the next two hitters before giving up a leadoff double in the fifth inning when another ball deflected off Peña at second. A two-out walk was issued but Guthrie got out of the jam by sandwiching two strikeouts, giving him seven on the evening. Guthrie’s start was instrumental in an eventual 10-inning win for the C’s in Game 2.

Two nights later, Guthrie got to join another dogpile when Monty’s Mounties completed the three-game sweep with a 12-inning win at Eugene to capture the 2026 Northwest League Championship.

C’s Plus Baseball spoke to the 20-year-old Guthrie during the team’s late-July homestand against Spokane. This interview has been edited for clarity.

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C’s Plus Baseball – Troy, you get promoted to Vancouver. How’d you find out about it?

Troy Guthrie – My coaches told me and I was pumped up and ready to go. I’m excited to get up here.

CPB – Who told you the news?

TG – (Dunedin manager) Ryan Castille told me. He was like, “Hey, you’re going to Vancouver.” I was like, “Okay, let’s go.”

CPB – How long did it take you to join the team? I know the team was on the road at the time, but where did you had to fly out of and where did you arrive?

TG – I flew out of Tampa and I arrived in Vancouver, and then the day after I flew, we drove out on the bus to Tri-City.

CPB – First time in Vancouver?

TG – First time ever out of the country.

CPB – What are your initial impressions so far of Vancouver?

TG – I love it. It’s awesome. I mean, the crowd is insane. It’s just a great environment.

CPB – How did you find it pitching your first time here at Nat Bailey Stadium? It seemed like you settled in pretty much right away.

TG – Yeah, I mean, I kind of used it to my advantage. I thought it was a pretty electric, fancier, great environment.

CPB – Okay. Let’s talk about how you got started in your career. You’re from Florida. How did it all start for you?

TG – My Dad got me involved when I was little, playing some T-ball. Pretty much my Dad got me into baseball.

CPB – You went to Parrish High School. What do you remember about your time there and how did that help you develop as a pitcher?

TG – Just becoming a ready baseball player. I mean, it’s a great program. Just being in the clubhouse with those guys, I mean, it was incredible. I was actually the first player ever drafted from there. It felt great. I mean, it’s just a really small town, really small school, a brand new school. I felt honoured.

CPB – Draft day comes around. You had a commitment to go to Florida Gulf Coast, what was your draft day experience like?

TG – I woke up pretty early in the morning, got a call from the Blue Jays saying they’re going to take me in the 11th (round). And I was like, ‘I’m good to go. I’m ready. I’m excited, pumped, ready to go.’

CPB – Did you see that coming at all? Did you know beforehand the Blue Jays had interest in you?

TG – I knew the Blue Jays liked me. I mean, the Tigers were there as well, but I knew the Blue Jays liked me the most.

CPB – How did it feel getting drafted when you first found out? Where were you and who did you get to celebrate with?

TG – I was with my family in my house, and I was just flabbergasted.

CPB – What was draft camp like for you? The good news was it was pretty close to your home anyways in Florida. What do you remember about that experience, getting introduced to pro baseball?

TG – It was fun. I mean, just meeting the guys there was a blast, and then just grinding with them and getting out, grinding at the facility and just working was a lot of fun as well.

CPB – Was there anyone you hit it off with right away?

TG – Oh, yeah, Khal Stephen and Johnny King.

CPB – You get to join Johnny again and see some familiar faces. How has it been settling in here?

TG – It’s awesome. I also have a bunch of friends here, like Holden Wilkerson. I mean, it’s just awesome being here.

CPB – What was that you took away from draft camp and how to get ready for what was your first full season, 2025?

TG – Definitely paying attention to my routine and just the work that goes into it. I mean, other than that, nothing really. Just keeping my head down and just working.

CPB – Speaking of routine, what is it that you do leading up to your next start?

TG – Yeah. Today I have, like, a medium day. Tomorrow, I’ll have a pen. Then I’ll lift after. And then I’m watching what I’m eating as well. Like, nothing too crazy. But just paying attention to what I do and recover with my body.

CPB – Your first pro season, you got assigned to Dunedin. What did you take away from tha first season? Anything that stood out for you?

TG – Nothing really. I mean, just being with my guys again was a lot of fun and just spending time with those guys and just working with them as well.

CPB – How have you found that difference, I guess, weather-wise pitching in Florida as compared to here? What have you noticed as far as the weather goes?

TG – I mean, in Florida it feels like you’re in a pool. But here it’s much better. I mean, it’s kind of cold, I think, for the summer. But it’s awesome.

CPB – Pitching in the Florida State League, have you noticed a huge difference from there to here in the Northwest League so far?

TG – I mean, not really. Some guys are a little more patient than the others. The guys in the Florida State League like to chase a little bit more than up here. But, I mean, honestly, nothing too crazy.

CPB – One thing about the Florida State League are the shorter trips anyway. You have Clearwater pretty much next door and Lakeland not that far away and that sort of thing. Did you had a chance to pitch in front of your family even when the team is on the road?

TG – Yeah, I mean, they came to basically every start other than like starts that are four hours away but they were there.

CPB – How key is it for you to have your family support you and the other coaches who have helped you out along the way?

TG – They’ve always been there for me. Just having my family at those games means a lot. And then having like some pitching coaches I had there like Jon Jones. They’re always there for me.

CPB – Your pitch mix. What is it that you’re throwing right now?

TG – I’m throwing a fastball, slider, a curveball and a changeup.

CPB – And how would you rank those pitches? What do you say is your best pitch and what are you still working on?

TG – My best pitch is probably my fastball. But I’m still working on my changeup. Changeup needs some work, but it’s definitely getting there. It’s improved a lot.

CPB – The fastball is a four-seam?

TG – Yes, sir. Four-seam.

CPB – The slider, would you describe it as a gyro slider or a sweeper?

TG – Yeah, gyro slider. Pretty tight, short.

CPB – Anyone teach you the grip for that?

TG – Yeah, (Assistant Pitching Coordinator) Cory Riordan. He basically told me how to throw it and when to throw it. It’s helped a lot, for sure.

CPB – The changeup, is it a split change or a circle?

TG – It’s like a kick change. It’s a little different. Me and Jon Jones actually found that one. It felt comfortable, so I just started playing catch with it and ever since it just felt good.

CPB – I guess it’s kind of a newer pitch. The first time I heard about it was Andre Muñoz from the Mariners throwing it. How do you feel that pitch has worked for you?

TG – Overall, pretty good. I have pretty good control over it. It’s a pretty tough pitch to land, but overall, I think it’s helped me a lot.

CPB – And the curveball, is it 12 to 6 or how would you describe it?

TG – 12 to 6 almost, but more of like a slurve. It’s definitely my bread and butter with my heater.

CPB – How do you feel your pitch mix plays for you? Do you have a certain philosophy when you’re on the mound when it comes to using your pitches?

TG – Just attacking with my best stuff. Just go right after them. When it’s time to put away, I put them away.

CPB – Your pitching delivery, it seems like it’s pretty conventional how you describe it. Has that always been the delivery you use throughout, or has that undergone changes as you’ve developed?

TG – Not really. When I was little, it was kind of almost the same. But, I mean, just keeping it more fluid and not robotic has definitely helped me a lot.

CPB – You were supposed to start the home opener for Dunedin which would have been quite the honour, but in a way you got the next best thing, you had to follow up Trey Yesavage. What do you remember about that experience?

TG – It was awesome. I look up to Trey pretty much, but he’s a great dude, and I was really excited to go here after him, I was even more pumped pretty much.

CPB – What do you take away from watching him go to work?

TG – Paying attention to the small details, like with him, he’s the guy that’s going to go out there and get the job done and grind it out. I mean, just paying attention to his bullpen was pretty cool.

CPB – You had one really good start with Dunedin. Well, you had a number of them anyway, but the one that stands out, six shutout innings not that long ago before your call-up. What was working for you that day?

TG – Honestly, I mean, I don’t remember that game, but I think I was just commanding the ball pretty well and throwing it to spots where they weren’t really looking. But I mean, I felt great. I had a great defense behind me too, which helped as well, but it felt good.

CPB – One thing I did notice, looking at all your game logs, a lot of six-inning performances in there. How much pride do you take in trying to get as many outs as you can?

TG – I mean, I’m just trying to win baseball games, so any way to get that done is what I think is my mentality.

CPB – Who would you say is the funniest teammate on the team?

TG – Funniest teammate. Like, nonchalantly, Holden Wilkerson.

CPB – Did you have a favourite major league team or player growing up?

TG – Probably Jake deGrom.

CPB – Favourite team growing up?

TG – The Red Sox, I guess, but the Rays also.

CPB – Final question, the Canadians have lots of different uniforms-red, black, blue, gray, white, The Nat. Do you have a favourite?

TG – I like to keep it simple. I’m going to say the gray one.

CPB – Okay, nice. Yeah, honestly, I love the way the red pops off.

TG – Yeah, I do too.

Troy Guthrie File

Born – November 3, 2005 in Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Height/Weight – 6’3″, 205 pounds.
Bats/Throws – Right/Right
Uniform Numbers – Wore number 40 with the Florida Complex League Blue Jays in 2025. Wore number 44 with the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2026.
Professional Debut – May 6, 2025, for Florida Complex League Blue Jays vs. FCL Tigers. Pitched two shutout innings of one-hit ball.
First Professional Strikeout – May 13, 2025, for FCL Blue Jays at FCL Phillies. Struck out Francisco Loreto swinging.
First Professional Win – May 13, 2025, for FCL Blue Jays at FCL Phillies. Pitched three perfect innings with two strikeouts.
C’s Debut – July 18, 2026, at the Tri-City Dust Devils. Earned win with five innings of two-run ball and struck out three.
Nat Bailey Stadium Debut – July 29, 2026, vs. Tri-City Dust Devils. Pitched five innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts to earn the win.
Instagram – @troyguthrie2024
Twitter – @guthrie2024
Fun Fact – Guthrie, reliever Franly Ureña and infielder Dariel Ramon were on the championship playoff rosters for the 2025 Florida Complex League Blue Jays and the 2026 Vancouver Canadians.