It started with hockey, then he picked up a bat. Meet the Toronto catcher headed to the World Series

While the Blue Jays failed to reach the World Series this season, Toronto will still have a representative in this year’s Fall Classic. 

Growing up in Toronto, Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks wasn’t seen as a can’t-miss prospect.

But Hicks, who developed his elite bat-to-ball skills as a teen with the Toronto Mets of the Canadian Premier Baseball League, was armed with a strong work ethic and desire to improve.

In just his second big league season after debuting with the Miami Marlins last year, the Rays catcher will be taking on the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the World Series at 8 p.m. ET Friday. 

For Hicks’ former Toronto Mets coach, Duncan Watt, it’s not surprising to see the success he’s had on the field. Hicks always stood out for his work ethic and ability to perform in challenging situations, he said. 

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he has some kind of big moment here in the World Series,” Watt said. 

Hicks’ parents, Jennifer and Bill Hicks, said it was inspiring to see Canadians rally together for the Blue Jays last year and they hope people will do the same for their son this year. 

“He’s the last Canadian player playing baseball at this point in the season,” Jennifer said. “There’s no reason we can’t all pull together for a player.”

Hicks also made his World Baseball Classic debut for Team Canada in 2026.

Toronto’s Liam Hicks will play in his first World Series, starting Friday, after only his second season in the major leagues. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

Hicks’ rise to big leagues ‘surreal,’ say parents

Jennifer and Bill Hicks spoke to CBC News as they drove down to Milwaukee on Thursday.

It’s a drive they’ve made hundreds of times for tournaments with their children, but this one feels different, they said. 

“Just the whole year, it’s been surreal,” Bill said. 

He said they never expected their son to play past college, even though people told them over the years that his talents would take him far. 

“[We thought] maybe baseball would get his schooling paid for,” Jennifer said. “But when you’re a realistic person … it’s not something you even think is feasible. 

“[We feel] immense pride, because I know how hard he’s worked to get there,” Jennifer said. 

In his teenage years, coach Watt said, Hicks always stood apart from others for his perseverance and work ethic. He also always made sure to appreciate people for their support along the way. 

“He was always grateful for anybody’s time,” he said. “Whether it was feeding him extra balls in the machine or throwing them, there was always a thank you.”

‘He just didn’t have the bat out of his hand’

Hicks started off in hockey, but that quickly got left behind when he picked up a bat, said his grandmother, Mary Carroll.

“He just didn’t have the bat out of his hand, just walking around, swinging the bat, practicing, practicing.” 

Carroll said the love for baseball runs in the family, with her mother even watching games until she died at 93. She said excitement for the game has even spread to her book club this year.

“I go through about four sticks of gum in a game because I’m so tense,” she said. “I’m such a proud grandmother.”

Hicks started off in hockey, but that quickly got left behind when he picked up a bat, his grandmother, Mary Carroll, said. (Chris O’Meara/AP Photo)

One of her biggest highlights of the season, she said, was seeing Hicks catch the final out against the Cleveland Guardians this week to clinch the American League pennant for the Rays.

“He just bolted back and made that catch and like, oh my gosh, I’m screaming! I’m here by myself screaming,” Carroll said.

Hicks is the lone Canadian on Tampa Bay’s roster. He led all major league rookies in 2025 with a 0.77 walks-to-strikeout rate (43 BB/56 K). Among all qualified hitters, he finished with the fifth-lowest out-of-zone swing percentage (17.9), according to stats from baseball site FanGraphs.

Two other Canadians are part of the Brewers’ club Hicks will be facing off against, but aren’t on the active roster for the series: infielder Tyler Black of Toronto and catcher Bo Naylor of Mississauga, Ont. 

Doug Melvin of Chatham, Ont., is a senior adviser with the team.