LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Kentucky freshman southpaw James Paxton is participating in the World Junior Baseball Championships in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba this month.

Paxton, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound pitcher from Ladner, British Colombia, is one of only about 20 players who earned the privileged of representing Canada. The southpaw started Canada?s game Thursday against the Cuba Junior National team, allowing three hits in 2.1 innings.

Paxton was the ace of the staff on his British Colombia Premier Baseball League team last season, notching a 10-3 record and a 1.51 ERA in 74.1 innings.