Texas Rangers<\/a> right-hander Cal Quantrill<\/a><\/strong> wasn\u2019t thrilled with his latest Cactus League outing, but he\u2019s not sounding any alarms with the World Baseball Classic on deck.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, it’s not good enough yet,\u201d Quantrill said after his start. \u201cIt’s February. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ll be ready to go when it’s time to go. But, yeah, we need to improve. I need to execute at a higher rate, throw better pitches in my leverage counts, and make some adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n After he surrendered six runs on eight hits across 2 2\/3 innings against the Athletics<\/a> Thursday, Quantrill said he\u2019s comfortable with the game plan but dissatisfied with how it\u2019s playing out right now.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the plan, the course of action, is good,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the execution and the outcomes are not what they need to be yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Quantrill is scheduled for one more outing before he leaves to join Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic next week. Despite the uneven results so far, he sounded confident about where he\u2019ll be when the games start to matter.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019ve got another outing before we get going there. And it’s early \u2014 I’ll be ready to go,\u201d Quantrill said. \u201cIn those competitive environments is when I think I’m at my best. So, hopefully, I\u2019ll get some of these tougher ones out of the way and be ready to send it.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the main storylines for Quantrill this spring is the opportunity to play for his country and for his father, longtime big leaguer and pitching coach Paul Quantrill<\/a><\/strong>, who is on Canada\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it’s cool. Second time we’ve got to do it,\u201d Quantrill said. \u201cIt’s rare that you get to, on a professional level, compete with family. We’ve definitely got some Canadian family ties, for sure. The Naylors will all be there. And, yeah, it’ll be good. It’ll be exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n Those family ties run deep. Quantrill will share the clubhouse with Seattle Mariners<\/a> first baseman Josh Naylor<\/a><\/strong> and his brother, Cleveland Guardians<\/a> catcher Bo Naylor<\/a><\/strong>. He will also share the clubhouse with their cousin, Athletics center fielder Denzel Clarke<\/strong><\/a>. Clarke wore a pitch in the back from Quantrill in this outing on a breaking ball that never found the zone.<\/p>\n Asked if Clarke might give him a hard time about the errant pitch when they\u2019re teammates for Canada, Quantrill grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was 79,\u201d he said, \u201cand he\u2019s a big, strong boy, so he\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n For Quantrill, the WBC is both a competitive target and a family reunion \u2014 one that he expects will bring out his best once the lights are a little brighter and the stakes a little higher.<\/p>\nLooking Ahead to the World Baseball Classic<\/h3>\n
Family Ties Motivate Cal Quantrill on Team Canada<\/h3>\n
Reuniting with Denzel Clarke and the Naylor Brothers<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n