CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Former Canisius standout Connor Panas ’15 is set to be a part of the Canadian National Baseball Team for the upcoming 2019 Pan American Games, as the outfielder was named to the official 24-man roster that Baseball Canada announced in June.
Team Canada and Panas, the two-time MAAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year, will open up competition on July 29 against Argentina before facing Cuba and Colombia as part of group play. The bronze and gold medal games are set for Aug. 4.
The Etobicoke, Ontario native and his teammates will look repeat as gold medalists after the Canadian squad took home gold at the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto. The 2015 team featured another former Griffs standout, Sean Jamieson, as Canada walked off in extra innings over the United States in the gold medal game.
The 2014 MAAC Player of the Year racked up numerous honors during his four years on Main Street, earning All-American honors in both 2014 and 2015, being named a Capital One Academic All-American both years and being named to the 2015 Golden Spikes Award Watch List. He helped the Blue and Gold to the 2013 and 2015 MAAC Championships, being selected as the 2015 MAAC Tournament MVP.
Panas, who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth round of the 2015 MLB Draft, reached Double-A New Hampshire in 2018 before being traded to the San Diego Padres last offseason. The former Golden Griffin made his Triple-A debut earlier this season with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the first Griff to reach the top minor league level since Jamieson and Garrett Cortright both reached Triple-A during the 2016 season.