AA Chicago Dogs

Crouse Temporarily Leaving Dogs for Chance to Play in Olympic Games

Published on May 24, 2021 under American Association (AA)
Chicago Dogs News Release


Baseball is rarely the first choice in hockey-crazed Canada.

As Dogs leadoff man and center fielder Michael Crouse's journey illustrates, for a Canadian to get drafted to MLB or play at a high-level college, playing for the Canadian national or junior national team is vital. So when he received a call in 2008 from Canada's under-18 head coach, it confirmed his commitment to baseball.

"Being able to slap Canada across your chest and then come back with all of the swag, it definitely makes you realize that baseball was the right sport for me," Crouse said.

Crouse has now been a member of Team Canada for nearly 13 seasons and is ready to embark on his next journey with his home country. Crouse is leaving the Dogs temporarily to compete with Team Canada in the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier starting on May 29 in West Palm Beach and St. Lucie County, Florida.

Whichever team wins this tournament will receive a berth to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, while the second and third place teams will fly to Taiwan to compete for the final bid. Crouse said it is a weird feeling to leave the Dogs midseason, but he knows he is departing with an important goal in mind.

"Every time I get on that flight and reunite with the team, it's an amazing feeling," Crouse said.

A highlight of Crouse's career on the international stage came back in 2011, when he helped Team Canada win a gold medal at the Pan-American Games. Crouse said he marks his calendar and is always eager to play for Team Canada because every game has a playoff baseball atmosphere.

"It's amazing," Crouse said. "Any time you get to stand on top of the podium, especially for your country, is a great feeling."

Playing for Canada in some capacity since he was 17 years old, Crouse has formed a tight bond with his teammates. The majority of the players on Crouse's team have remained constant since 2008, with bits and pieces added as guys retire.

Because of this, the team always feels connected. Crouse said even if he hasn't seen certain teammates for a year or more, when they get together in the clubhouse, it's like they have been playing together all year.

Crouse's journey with Team Canada has taken him all over the world, and he has played in leagues in Australia and Mexico, too. These experiences have allowed Crouse to gain new perspectives on the game. A big difference, Crouse said, is the way fans behave during the game.

"I'm not saying the fans aren't great here, it's just a different style of energy," Crouse said. "The bells, the whistles, the choreographed chants are all different in international baseball."

This intensity from the fans stems from the importance of each and every game. Olympic Qualifying tournaments and Winter Leagues all have condensed schedules, which make every game matter. Unlike a typical marathon baseball season, each international game is make or break for Crouse and his teammates.

But thankfully, Team Canada gets hitting advice from one of the greatest to ever step into the batter's box. Crouse first met Canada's hitting coach and Hall of Famer Larry Walker at the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and said it has been phenomenal to pick his mind in regards to hitting.

Because of the quick nature of international tournaments, Crouse said the biggest thing he has learned from Walker has been to have confidence at the plate. Understanding your approach and being confident that you can compete with anybody is crucial in these tournaments because each at bat is magnified.

While the Dogs will miss Crouse's speed at the top of the lineup and defensive ability roaming in center field, playing on the international stage was something Crouse can never pass up.

"It's always weird with these types of years leaving the team, because you get into the groove of things," Crouse said. "But at the same time, knowing that I'm leaving for a particular goal is amazing."

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