Canadian teenager Justin Thorsteinson wants to be challenged whenever he steps on a mound.

If that means facing the most feared hitters in the Blue Jays lineup, he鈥檒l take it 鈥� gladly.

Thorsteinson, an 18-year-old left-hander with Canada鈥檚 junior national program, is scheduled to pitch against Toronto on Thursday in the latest addition of an annual exhibition matchup between the teams at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla.

And he knows exactly who he wants to face when he鈥檚 out there.

鈥淰laddy Guerrero and Bo Bichette,鈥� the 91原创, B.C., native said without hesitation.

鈥淏ack home with my buddies we talk about what I would throw them if I ever faced them. Honestly, after watching them on TV it seems like they can hit any pitch out so it鈥檚 going to be a shot in the dark.

鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens but I鈥檓 very excited about it.鈥�

Thorsteinson is slotted in as the second pitcher for Canada on Thursday. The Blue Jays lineup for the game has not yet been announced 鈥� another Toronto split squad also plays the Pittsburgh Pirates that day 鈥� but third baseman Guerrero and shortstop Bichette both started against the junior team in 2018 and Bichette came in as a pinch hitter in last year鈥檚 game.

The matchup with the Blue Jays, now in its ninth year, is the marquee event of the 18-and-under team鈥檚 week-long spring training trip.

Thorsteinson didn鈥檛 get to pitch against Toronto in his first two years with the juniors in 2018 and 2019. Greg Hamilton, Canada鈥檚 head coach and director of national teams, is giving him the assignment now in part because of his MLB draft eligibility as a high school senior this year.

鈥淭he environment, the reinforcing factor of facing major league hitters 鈥� it鈥檚 just a tremendous development experience,鈥� Hamilton said.

Hamilton wasn鈥檛 surprised by Thorsteinson鈥檚 confidence in wanting to face Guerrero and Bichette. But he wants to see how his young pitcher reacts after that kind of challenge.

鈥淗e鈥檚 competitive, and that鈥檚 a very important 鈥� you have to believe in yourself and you have to want a competitive challenge and you have to embrace it,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥滲ut you have to have the resiliency to recalculate when things maybe don鈥檛 go your way. Wanting to face Bo Bichette is one thing but being successful against Bo Bichette is another thing.

鈥淵ou want that confrontation, but how do you handle the after effects of it not going so well? Or if it does go well 鈥� you can鈥檛 get too far ahead of yourself.鈥�

While Thursday will mark Thorsteinson鈥檚 debut on the Dunedin stadium鈥檚 mound, the two-way player has already experienced a big moment at that ballpark.

He came into the 2018 game as a pinch hitter and hit a single off former Toronto minor leaguer Dalton Rodriguez.

鈥淢y parents still talk about that hit,鈥� Thorsteinson said with a laugh. 鈥淭hey were watching at home and they were just in tears seeing their 15-year-old son get a hit off a (professional) pitcher.

鈥淚 remember it was my first year on the team. I was nervous, I was young, but it was an unreal experience and getting that hit just put the cherry on top of the whole trip.鈥�

Thorsteinson later saw a video clip of the hit, complete with commentary from Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez, who offered a complimentary assessment of his swing.

鈥淭hat meant so much to hear that,鈥� Thorsteinson said. 鈥淚t was one of the best experiences of my baseball career so far.鈥�

Hamilton said Thorsteinson, who鈥檚 six-foot-four and 221 pounds, has 鈥渁 real good feel for a change-up鈥� and a 鈥渇astball that has got some life to it.鈥�

He鈥檚 shown impressive velocity 鈥� Prep Baseball Report lists his fastball maximum at 92 miles per hour 鈥� and his developing breaking ball has also shown promise.

鈥淐ertainly being left-handed with that size and an arm that works, it鈥檚 a good starting point,鈥� Hamilton said.

While Thorsteinson focused more on his pitching than his hitting over the off-season, the teenager isn鈥檛 ready to give up the bat just yet.

He intends to continue his two-way player status at Oregon State University, the school he committed to back in 2017. Thorsteinson can decline that commitment, however, depending on what happens at the amateur draft in June.

With MLB scouts watching the junior team in Florida this week, Thorsteinson said he鈥檚 trying not to worry about who might be in the stands Thursday.

鈥淚 just want to do well this year like every year,鈥� Thorsteinson said. 鈥滻t鈥檚 important not to overthink when you鈥檙e out there because that can only put more pressure on you and you don鈥檛 want that.

鈥淚 just want to have fun, make the most of it.鈥�

Melissa Couto, The Canadian Press