Kingston Ponies batboy Eddie Long in a 1950 team photo. Behind him are playing manager Barney Hearn, second from left, and fan fave Gideon (Apples) Applegate, right.

*Patrick Kennedy recently shared the sad news that Kingston sports legend Eddie Long has passed away at the age of 83. A former southpaw pitcher and first baseman in the local ranks, Long also served as the bat boy for the Kingston Ponies for a stretch. But he is most remembered as a standout defenceman for the Senior A Kingston Ponies. In 225 games with the Ponies, he scored 57 goals and accumulated 174 points.

Long had battled health issues in recent years but remained relentlessly upbeat. Kennedy says there will be no funeral service for Long, but as a tribute, we are re-running the article Kennedy wrote about Long in January 2024.*

January 26, 2024

By Patrick Kennedy

Kingston Whig-Standard

Eddie Long’s story is one that’s equal parts joy and jarring sadness, despair and dogged determination, hardship and happiness. And that’s just his childhood.

“Hey, I’m still here,” cackled the 80-year-old, laughing at having bucked the odds against him ever reaching octogenarian status.

Eddie Long’s name doesn’t leap to mind when the topic of great Kingston athletes is broached. Yet maybe it should. Not for sheer athletic ability — which he had — but for what he overcame as a wee lad. We’re talking about obstacles such as a restricting birth defect and the wrenching heartbreak of being an orphan. Factor in those grim truths, and it says here that Eddie’s among Kingston’s all-time best.

In his youth, during the latter half of the 1950s and early ‘60s, Eddie Long was a dandy southpaw pitcher and slick-fielding first baseman on several local all-star ball clubs, including a crackerjack junior club coached by Bob Elliott that more than held its own in a blue-chip Kingston men’s house league.

Yet it was in hockey where Eddie blossomed. He did so first on the blue line in the old Rotary Kiwanis loop, then with a formidable Junior B Frontenacs, and later as both a rear guard and a defence-minded “200-foot” forward with the Kingston Aces of the Ontario Hockey Association Senior A league.

Eddie Long holds a newspaper photo of the Kingston Jr. B Frontenacs forward raising his arms after his goal sealed a 5-3 victory over the Napanee Red Wings in 1963.

Long knew one speed on skates — full throttle. “Fast Eddie” could render the Energizer Bunny breathless. Despite that, prior to his sporting exploits, he had a childhood that was anything but typical or idyllic. Young Eddie had to clear some high hurdles.

He never knew his father, and when Eddie was still a wee gaffer, his mother abandoned him with the Children’s Aid Society (CAS).

“My mom visited a few times, we’d talk while she sat in the back seat of a taxi driven by her boyfriend,” he recalls candidly during an interview in the apartment he now shares with longtime partner Jan Patterson. “After two or three visits, I never saw my mom again.”

The CAS placed young Eddie with the Walker family of 24 Stephen St., a short pop fly from the new Megaffin Stadium that was built in 1946 for Kingston’s professional baseball team, the Ponies. His placement with the Walkers and the house’s proximity to the ball yard were Eddie’s first real breaks in life.

“It wasn’t always easy being in that house,” Long remembers. “The Walkers had nothing, really, but Mrs. Walker was a kind, caring person whose husband was a crippled-up old stone mason with bundled feet. I don’t know how many nights I soaked his feet in Epsom salts.”

Long himself knew the frustration of coping with a disability. He’d been born with a crooked neck that left his head tilted to one side and one shoulder sloped noticeably lower than the other. That caused him to walk with a somewhat laboured gait.

Around the age of five, Long started going to Megaffin Stadium with a neighbour who cleaned the grandstands after Ponies games. Soon young Eddie was working a broom and doing odd jobs at the ballpark. That led the Ponies players to befriend the industrious little lad who seemed to look at the world sideways. They bought him a little Ponies uniform. One player in particular, a kindhearted American named Bill Meara, intervened on young Eddie’s behalf with CAS to push for corrective surgery that would allow the lad to run and play like a normal kid.

“I was in a cast from my head to my waist for about three-quarters of a year, with only my ears and face uncovered,” Eddie recalls, pointing to where stabilizing rods held his head in place. “What made it even worse was that I had chicken pox and the measles while I was in the darn cast.”

The life-altering surgery was successful. Finally able to walk and run normally, Eddie started playing sports. But he still had a big problem: The Walker household was not flush with money for such extracurriculars. Eddie needed another break, which he soon received from local sportsman Wally Elmer, a Kingston sports Hall-of-Famer.

“Mr. Elmer approached me one day at the stadium and asked where I lived and if I wanted to come to his dry-cleaning store on Saturday to earn a little change,” Eddie recalls. “Of course, I said yes. It was money, and I didn’t have any.”

Businessman Elmer, an ardent supporter of local sport, told Mrs. Walker about the job offer, and thereafter Eddie spent most Saturdays working at Elmer’s Patton’s Cleaners, where he was joined by such aspiring young athletes as Donnie Bellringer and others.

“It was Mr. Elmer who got me into hockey,” Eddie says of the former pro player who won a Stanley Cup with the 1925 Victoria Cougars. “He bought me a new pair of skates and gave me Donnie Bellringer’s old equipment, which was much too big, not that I cared.”

He laughs uproariously, slapping together two powerful hands that wouldn’t look out of place on an ironworker.

Long developed quickly as a hockey player. He played in the old Rotary Kiwanis loop and toiled three seasons with the Kingston Jr. B Frontenacs, including the 1961-62 campaign when the club reached the provincial final. His coach was Maj. Danny McLeod, the man who later guided the Kingston Aces.

The Aces. The mere mention of the name twists Eddie’s weathered mug into another wide grin. He played eight seasons for Kingston’s top shinny squad, second most in team history behind Bob Collins (nine). Long, who earned his daily bread as an electrician, played 225 career games and tallied 174 points, including 57 goals, heady totals for a player who primarily played defence during his first half-dozen campaigns.

“Eddie was a great teammate and he’s been an even better friend,” lauds Aces nimble netminder Tom Mercer, 79.

Each man was the best man at the other’s wedding.

“He’s a happy, good-natured guy, which is unusual for someone who hasn’t been given a lot in life to be happy about.”

Jim Sprott, the Aces’ angular sniper, says Eddie was a special teammate.

“Has there ever been a better team player than Ed Long? I don’t think so,” the 79-year-old Sprott says. “In my books, he’s one of Kingston’s most unsung heroes. He never got the credit he deserved, and when he did get some praise, he deflected it on his teammates.

“How he’s endured after what he’s been through the last several years … he’s the ultimate survivor.”

Sprott alludes to the cancer that a few years ago flattened Long and left him facing a 10 count. Thanks to an unwavering will and chemotherapy, Eddie got up off the canvas to continue the fight.

Even today, with the cancer in remission, he still undergoes dialysis thrice weekly.

His most memorable time with the Aces was the team’s stirring 1967 playoff run that resulted in a league title. Eddie, Sprott and seasoned ex-pro Tom Carty were tossed together as a checking line, often pitted against the opposition’s top unit. During the post-season run, the trio flipped the script and instead filled the opponent’s net. The line combined for 42 points in 16 games. In a semifinal contest against the Toronto Grads, Long scored four goals, still a treasured memory more than 60 years later.

“We were a checking line, so come hell or high water you didn’t try to score,” he says. “But we did anyway.”

Eddie’s eyes twinkle merrily.

“Tommy and Jimmy were the playmakers, I was just a grunt who was in the right place at the right time.”

There he goes again, deflecting praise.

Sometimes good things do happen to good guys.

Patrick Kennedy is a retired Whig-Standard reporter whose favourite Kingston Aces player was No. 11, Eddie Long. He can be reached at pjckennedy35@gmail.com.

May 23, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MAN. – The Winnipeg Goldeyes won their first series of the season Saturday after defeating the Milwaukee Milkmen 5-3 at Blue Cross Park.

It was the Goldeyes’ third win in four games.

For the second straight contest, Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after third baseman Michael Hallquist singled on the first pitch of the game and later scored on designated hitter Parker Lester’s base hit through the right side of the infield.

That score held until the home half of the fourth when Winnipeg crossed the plate three times. They went ahead when two runs came home on a throwing error after a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter T.J. Schofield-Sam (Mississauga, Ont.). Right fielder Max Murphy and second baseman Adam Hall (London, Ont.) both scored on the play. Later in the inning, left fielder Keshawn Lynch doubled to right to drive in Schofield-Sam to make it 3-1 Goldeyes.

Winnipeg added two more in the sixth. Centre fielder Noah Marcelo continued to swing a hot bat, driving a single to left that plated shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder and Lynch and extended the lead to 5-1.

The Milkmen got those two runs back quickly, however, as Hallquist hit a two-run home run to left field that also scored catcher Chase Waddell and reduced the deficit to 5-3.

That was as close as Milwaukee would come, as Derrick Cherry retired all six batters he faced to close the door.

James Bradwell (North Vancouver, B.C.) started for the Goldeyes and worked the first inning. It was his first appearance since leaving a game due to injury last August 13 vs. Cleburne. Quinn Waterhouse, Eli Saul (Vancouver, B.C.), Tasker Strobel, and Arij Fransen also appeared out of the bullpen for Winnipeg. Waterhouse pitched three innings, giving up just two hits and striking out three.

Milkmen starter Juan Díaz worked 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits. He struck out five and walked two.

Murphy and Lynch had three hits apiece for the Goldeyes.

Earlier Saturday, Winnipeg signed rookie right-handed relief pitcher Chas Wheatley. The Edmonton, Alta., native attended the University of Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa) where he compiled a 4-1 record with a 4.66 earned run average and one save in 52 games over four seasons.

The 24-year-old becomes the seventh Canadian on the Goldeyes roster, joining Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.), Bradwell (North Vancouver, B.C.), Hall (London, Ontario), Raphaël Pelletier (Repentigny, Qué.), Saul (Vancouver, B.C.), and Schofield-Sam (Mississauga, Ont.).

The series concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m. when Luke Boyd will take the mound for Winnipeg. He’ll match up against fellow right-hander Christian Young (Oakville, Ont.).

May 24, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball news and notes:

Macko picks up first MLB win

On Thursday, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) picked up his first major league win when he tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief against the New York Yankees in the Blue Jays’ 2-0 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Three days earlier, the Vauxhall Academy grad made his MLB debut when he hurled a scoreless inning in the Blue Jays’ 7-6 loss to the Bronx Bombers. Canadian baseball historian Tyler Partridge pointed out on X that when Macko made his debut he became the first Albertan to pitch in a regular season game for the Blue Jays.

In total, Macko has pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and has two holds in four relief appearances to begin his big league career.

Lopez still leading MLB in batting average, hits

We are more than 50 games into the 2026 season and Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) still leads the majors in batting average and hits.

His .338 batting average puts him well ahead of Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, whose .324 average ranks second.

Lopez’s 69 hits are six more than San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez.

It’s still hard to believe the Marlins picked Lopez up off waivers from the Giants on April 4, 2024.

Let’s not forget that the Blue Jays also underestimated Lopez. They sold Lopez to the Giants on February 13, 2024.

Hicks has first two-homer game

Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) had the first two-home run game of his major league career on Saturday to lead the Marlins to a 4-1 win over the New York Mets at loanDepot Park.

Both homers were solo shots off right-hander Freddy Peralta in the third and fifth innings respectively.

Hicks, a Toronto Mets grad, now has 11 home runs this season.

The homers also increased Hicks’s RBI total to 44, which leaves him just one behind Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams for the MLB lead.

Smith’s saves streak continues

Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) has a save in each of his last 12 appearances.

He has 17 saves in total this season, which leads the majors.

This is Smith’s first full season as the Guardians’ closer. He took over as the team’s closer in late July last season and finished 2025 with 16 saves.

Brash earns win in return

On Wednesday, right-hander Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) collected a win after being activated from the 15-day injured list by the Seattle Mariners earlier in the day.

He fanned two batters, while pitching a scoreless seventh inning, in the M’s 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. The win improved Brash’s record to 3-0 this season.

The 28-year-old righty then notched his fifth hold of the season when he held the Kansas City Royals off the scoreboard in the eighth inning of a Mariners’ 2-0 win on Friday.

Brash had been sidelined with right lat inflammation since May 1.

A Kingston Thunder grad, he is in his fourth big league campaign. He has yet to permit a run in 16 relief outings this season.

Tong recalled by Mets

Right-hander Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) was called up by the New York Mets on Friday and proceeded to throw three scoreless innings in relief in the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Marlins on the same day.

Prior to his promotion, the 22-year-old Tong had posted a 1-3 record and a 5.68 ERA in nine starts for the triple-A Syracuse Mets this season. He struck out 55 batters in 38 innings.

This is the 6-foot-1 right-hander’s second major league tenure with the Mets. He went 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA in five big league starts with them last season.

Ranked the Mets’ No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Tong dominated in the minors last season, combining to go 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA in 22 starts in double-A and triple-A. His 179 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks. He also topped all minor league hurlers in ERA and opponents’ batting average (.148).

Chosen in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Mets, Tong is in his fifth pro season.

Moseby made MLB debut 46 years ago

On this date in 1980, Lloyd Moseby made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays.

Batting seventh and DHing, he went 2-for-4 against the Yankees at Exhibition Stadium. His first hit was a double off Luis Tiant in the fourth inning.

The Yankees won the game 6-2.

Peters belts first two MLB homers

White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) clubbed his first two big league home runs this week.

Last Sunday, he socked a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Chicago Cubs reliever Phil Maton in the White Sox 9-8, 10-inning win.

He followed that up with a solo homer in the seventh inning off Mariners’ reliever Eduard Bazardo in the M’s 6-1 victory the next day.

An Okotoks Dawgs grad, Peters is batting .262 with 12 RBIs and four stolen bases in 48 games for the White Sox this season.

The left-handed hitting Canuck made his big league debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025, getting into four games in August before he was sold to the White Sox on December 18.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Peters has played parts of five pro seasons.

Happy Birthday to Rob Ducey!

Happy 61st Birthday to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Rob Ducey!

Born in Toronto but raised in Cambridge, Ont., the left-handed hitting outfielder was signed as an amateur free agent by the Blue Jays in 1984.

He rose through the organization’s ranks to make his big league debut on May 1, 1987. His first major league home run came on September 14, 1987 in a contest in which the Blue Jays clubbed a big league record 10 round-trippers to defeat the Orioles 18-3.

Ducey would suit up for parts of five more seasons with the Blue Jays prior to being dealt to the Angels in 1992. Tenures with the Texas Rangers, Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies would follow, as well as a two-year stretch in the Japanese Pacific League with the Nippon Ham Fighters in 1995 and 1996 that saw him belt 51 home runs.

He returned to the Blue Jays for five games in 2000 and saw his final big league action with the Montreal Expos in 2001. That made him the second Canadian (along with Denis Boucher (Montreal, Que.)) to start his major league career with the Blue Jays and end it with the Expos.

Soroka registers sixth win of season

Last Sunday, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) permitted just two runs in 5 2/3 innings, while striking out eight, to record his sixth win of the season in the D-Backs’ 8-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Soroka also had another strong start against the Rockies on Friday when he held them just one run on four hits in the D-Backs’ 3-2 loss.

The 28-year-old right-hander is tied for third in the National League in wins and he has already doubled his 2025 win total.

Soroka, who is in his seventh major league season, also leads Diamondbacks pitchers in wins and strikeouts (57).

Seventh anniversary of Naylor’s MLB debut

Seven years ago today, Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre with dozens of friends and family members in attendance.

Batting sixth and DHing, he went 0-for-4, but the Padres beat the Blue Jays 6-3.

Naylor would record his first three hits in his second game the following day.

Quantrill strong out of pen for Rangers

Right-hander Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) is quietly enjoying a solid season out of the Rangers’ bullpen. Since being called up on April 15, Quantrill is 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 19 1/3 innings in eight relief appearances.

Quantrill has been a starter for most of his big league career, but he did make 18 relief appearances for the Guardians in 2021.

Quantrill signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on February 1.

A San Diego Padres’ first-round pick in 2016, the Ontario Terriers and the Junior National Team alum is in his eighth major league season.

Happy 53rd Birthday to Bartolo Colon!

Happy 53rd Birthday to former Expos pitcher Bartolo Colon!

Colon went 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 17 starts for the Expos in 2002 after he was acquired from Cleveland on June 27 that year for a package of prospects that included Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Cliff Lee.

In all, Colon recorded 247 wins in parts of 21 big league seasons.

May 22, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, MAN. – Second baseman Adam Hall (London, Ont.) celebrated his 27th birthday in style as the Winnipeg Goldeyes defeated the Milwaukee Milkmen 9-2 at Blue Cross Park Friday evening.

Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when third baseman Michael Hallquist stole third and came home on a throwing error.

Goldeyes centre fielder Noah Marcelo led off the bottom of the first with a home run to left field – his second in as many games, evening the score at 1-1.

Winnipeg went ahead by a run in the second when Hall scampered home on a wild pitch.

The Milkmen tied the contest at 2-2 in the top of the third inning on a line drive base hit to left by second baseman Andy Blake that drove in centre fielder Alec Olund.

From there on, it was all Goldeyes. In the bottom half of the third, Winnipeg crossed the plate four times. First, Hall lined a single to centre to bring home right fielder Max Murphy. Then shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder belted a three-run home run to left field that increased the lead to 6-2.

Hall hit a single to centre in the bottom of the fourth that knocked in first baseman T.J. Schofield-Sam (Mississauga, Ont.) to give the Goldeyes a 7-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hall notched his fourth hit and third run batted in of the evening with a base hit to left that plated third baseman Ramón Bramasco. Later in the frame, designated hitter Jiandido Tromp drew a bases-loaded walk to round out the scoring at 9-2 Goldeyes.

Veteran left-hander Mitchell Lambson went six innings for Winnipeg, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out three. Ryo Kohigashi earned a nine-out save. He gave up three hits and struck out four.

Milwaukee starter Solomon Bates exited the game due to injury with one out in the bottom of the second inning and was relieved by Eric Chalus, who surrendered five runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings.

The series continues Saturday at 6:00 p.m. when the Milkmen will send southpaw Juan Díaz to the mound against a starter whom the Goldeyes have yet to announce.

May 23, 2026

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Neither Josh Anderson nor Mark Jankowski played in the 2009 gold medal Baseball Canada bantam championship in Vaughan.

That does not mean they were not involved.

“To show you how much of ‘team guys’ they were, they came racing in from the left field bullpen to tell me that they had Quebec’s signs,” said assistant coach Scott VandeValk.

Not that Ontario did a lot with the signs -- managing one single by Brad Bedford. But as head coach Bill Byckowski used to say “they decide games not on hits, but on runs scored.” Ontario scored a 4-2 win over Quebec thanks to walks, errors, stolen bases and who knows what else, overcoming a 2-1 deficit in the sixth.

Now Jankowski, of the Carolina Hurricanes, and Anderson, of the Montreal Canadiens, teammates in 2009, are facing off in the 2026 NHL Eastern Conference final. One will be playing for the Stanley Cup. Montreal beat Carolina 6-2 in the opener of the best-of-seven series. Two of the smaller players on the Georgetown team, they “growed up good … real good,” as Jed Clampett used to say.

Jankowski assisted on two Canes’ goals Sarturday night in a 3-2 in overtime victory. Anderson scored both goals for the Habs — making 11th straight goals which have either tied the score or put the Canadiens ahead.

That Sunday night, Jankowski, the regular centre fielder for the Georgetown Eagles and the eventual Ontario champs, was 5-foot-9 and 140 pounds. Now, he is a 6-foot-4, 200 pounder, having a growth spurt in grade 11 at Stanstead College.

Back then, Anderson was 5-foot-7 and 138 pounds. Now, he is a 6-foot-3, 226-pound bruiser. He clanked the post in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres and twice showed bursts of speed to create breakaway chances. Not that we watch all the games, but we’ve read more than once by wiser hockey men than me how Anderson is a “Conn Smythe candidate.”

“Joshua-and I would always throw knuckleballs to each other,” said Jonathan Palumbo, Anderson’s best pal on the Eagles. “We’d throw them till the cows come home. He still has a pretty good one to date. We played in the Leslie Wells softball tourney in Milton a couple years ago.”

On the season, Anderson hit .313 with an .816 OPS, hitting five doubles and knocking in 17 runs. Jankowksi hit .219 with a .588 OPS, a double and 18 RBIs.

“We used to make fun of Janker for his 2-3-4 steps in the outfield,” said Palumbo. “Sometimes he would get turned around on a fly ball -- but you know what? He always ended up making the catch.”

Outfielder Nathan DeSouza was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, while pick-ups who went pro were Daniel Pinero, who reached triple-A with the Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees draft Dayton Dawe.

“I didn’t appreciate this at the time as a self-centred teenager,” said Bedford, “but I think it was incredible that both Josh and Mark played their roles on the team so well, despite them not being ‘the guy’ on the ball field when clearly they were ‘the guy’ on the ice.

“It says something about their character to execute a (smaller) role with a smile on their face. Maybe I’m wrong and Bill was hearing complaints from them, but I doubt it.”

“My mother-in-law was actually the Jankowski family dentist for years, right up until retirement, small world,” said Kyle Hann. “I honestly can’t remember much from those days or games. I know both were definitely late bloomers though.”

Hann was a member of the same Georgetown team that won the 2007 Baseball Canada peewee championship in Quebec City. Jankowski threw out a runner at the plate against British Columbia which allowed Ontario to avoid playing an extra tie-breaker game due to run differential. Hann went to the College World Series in Omaha with Mississippi State and then played at St. Johns River.

Rose Mary and Len Jankowski -- along with brother David, who skated four years at St. Lawrence University and one at Michigan Tech University, plus sisters, Natalie and Nicole -- were not at every game, but some. Michelle and Gary Anderson -- sometimes with their children Jessica, Jordan and Jake - were at a lot of games.

“It felt like between the two of them, their families took up an entire section of the bleachers, and while Janker’s family was quiet, I’m pretty sure I’d still recognize Michelle’s voice cheering,” said Bedford. “There were generations of support.”

Selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round of the 2012 draft from the London Knights, Anderson has scored 160 goals in 688 games, while Jankowski, a first-round pick of the Calgary Flames, has scored 79 goals in 481 games. The Jankowski name is hockey royalty: grandpa Lou, who later worked for the NHL Scouting Bureau, played for 20 years, including 127 NHL games for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, and his great uncle is Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly. His father, Len, was an Ottawa 67s draft who attended Cornell.

Anderson scored 14 goals this season, while Jankowski scored 11.

Byckowski won the bantam eliminations with Brampton without losing a game. Then he won the 2007 peewees without losing. When he started out 3-0 in the bantams (playing as minor bantams) in Windsor, he may have mentioned once, or twice or 100 times “you know I have never lost a game in the eliminations.” To the other coaches -- used to going 2-2 and going home -- it became quite annoying.

So, a plan was hatched: the players would sign a ball and after a loss against the older age group, someone would present it to Byckowski after his first loss. But who?

Anderson was selected. No one could get angry with Josh.

Well, unless you were a Carolina Hurricane.

May 22, 2026

By Claire Smith

If you give it time, there will always be a moment in which the Phillies interim manager goes … well … full-on Don Mattingly. He becomes one of the most down-to-earth, self-deprecating All-Star baseball men most of us have seen in our lifetimes.

Stoic at times, but with twinkles in his eyes and a warm smile when speaking about anyone other than himself, Don Mattingly refuses, as always, to count himself in that class of unapproachable baseball royalty.

When this reporter, who met Mattingly when he walked into the Yankees clubhouse in 1982, called him before a recent game at Citizens Bank Park, he said, “Just getting back on track, getting some laundry done. … Back off the road and getting back at it.”

We both laughed. “That is so Don Mattingly,” I said. “‘Getting some laundry done.’”

Well, he said, laughing, “somebody’s got to do it!”

Somebody’s got to do it, indeed.

Coming off a 5-1 road trip that catapulted the Phillies past the .500 mark, Mattingly probably could have been the hottest special guest every sports talk show host and podcaster in the land is craving to have on. But if he has to start tooting his own horn, that is just not him.

It’s the players, he has said on repeat. It’s Rob Thomson’s game plan, still in place after the popular manager was dismissed after a 9-19 start.

“From the beginning, I wanted it to be about the players and didn’t need to hear about me,” said Mattingly, who has led the Phillies to a 16-6 record since taking over for Thomson on April 28.

Yet Mattingly, 65, knows from experience what will surely follow if he again manages a team back from the precipice and closer to a run at the playoffs.

He’s been here before

Look up the 2013 and 2014 Dodgers. Or the 2020 Marlins. Both of those L.A. teams were in deeper holes than the 2026 Phillies, but ended up easily winning division titles. The 2020 Marlins roster was devastated by a COVID-19 outbreak. Yet that team also made the playoffs, then ousted the Chicago Cubs before falling to the stacked Atlanta Braves.

What occurred in 2013, 2014, 2020 and in 22 games since the end of April certainly doesn’t surprise Derek Jeter, the Hall of Fame shortstop who as recent part owner of the Marlins extended Mattingly’s managerial contract at his first opportunity in 2019.

“I grew up in my younger years as a minor-leaguer going to spring training with the major league team, so I got to spend a lot of time with Donnie,” Jeter said by phone from Florida. “He was a hitting coach by then. And the thing that stood out with Donnie was that he is so calm. He has such an even keel that when you’re going through the grind of 162 games, you need someone that’s gonna be a constant.

“Donnie’s mindset, his demeanor, he just brings a calming influence to the players on the field.”

Jeter especially remembers those attributes contributing to the 2020 Marlins. Scores of COVID-19-ravaged Marlins were quarantined for days at a time as the franchise stood out as Patient X in the majors.

Mattingly spent the summer getting to know minor-leaguers with the next-man-up attitudes, measuring veterans’ leadership while fighting back against claims that his players became ill because they were out clubbing during a trip through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.

It was a test, but one all involved passed as Miami made the playoffs and upset Chicago in the first round of the cloistered playoffs.

“Even when you’re going through circumstances that you have no control over, Donnie always stayed the same,” Jeter said. “And I think that rubs off on players. He was the perfect guy at the helm.”

No one can predict if the Phillies will author another chapter in Mattingly’s history of helping teams dig out of seemingly unscalable holes. All the Phils and their fans can hold on to is that he’s done it with teams that were in a lot worse circumstances.

The same everyman as always.

Through his nearly half-century in uniform, the baseball lifer still possesses the same quiet, almost shy demeanor, yet has a baseball know-how that is beyond question, as he was with the Toronto Blue Jays as a coach.

Mattingly has the same wry sense of humor, often appearing in the most sublime ways, such as the time he entered Yankees spring training camp with beads threaded throughout a mullet only John Kruk could love. Were they remnants of a Caribbean vacation, or perhaps subtle commentary on the Yankees’ strict hair policy? If Mattingly sparred with owner George Steinbrenner over any one thing it was the length of his locks.

Mattingly is still the same everyman from Indiana. He has always eschewed the spotlight, even in New York.

When asked how many paid commercials he made in New York, he said none, before remembering that he did do an “old Coke vs. New Coke” commercial with Phil Niekro, the knuckleballer and the Yankees’ resident father figure at that time.

That was about as close as Mattingly wanted to get to celebrity.

“I was never comfortable around that kind of thing,” he said.

A family man, he yearned for normalcy and the ability to walk down a street without being swarmed. He was the quiet storm, but a storm nonetheless.

Something to behold

Mattingly didn’t start quietly, numbers-wise. He won a batting title in his first full season with the Yankees, edging out teammate Dave Winfield on the final day of the 1984 season, .343 to .340.

The next year he was voted the American League’s Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers Association of America, thanks to a season for the ages (.324, 35 home runs, 145 RBIs). The Gold Glove he won as a first baseman in 1985 was the first of nine in a 14-year career.

In 1984, he was something to behold, a left-handed hitter built for the old Yankee Stadium and its short porch in right field. He had punch, he had power, and he could pile up multi-hit games with the best of them. And it just so happened that so could Winfield, the Yankees’ first $1 million per year man.

What is known now is that while battling for a batting title in an otherwise lost season, Winfield had a handicap: The secret, increasingly harsh war of attrition being waged against him by Steinbrenner. That the war was ugly can be seen in the result of the game’s investigation into Steinbrenner hiring a gambler to dig up dirt on Winfield . When Commissioner Fay Vincent suggested a three-year suspension, Steinbrenner instead opted for a lifetime ban.

That ban, later reduced to two years, came six years after the 1984 batting title chase. It all still seems fresh to Winfield. He did his best to check the fight at the clubhouse door, so much so that Mattingly was not truly aware of what his teammate was enduring.

“I was probably fitting into the lifestyle in New York,” said Mattingly.

“I wasn’t really paying that much attention to the papers. As a young player, first year in the big leagues, all you’re doing is playing. And for me, having fun. I was having a good year, proving to people I can hit and I can play and trying to establish myself. I had nothing to lose.

“It was probably more after the fact that I realized how much Dave went through compared to me.”

* * *

“I never talked about all the stuff I was going through,” Winfield, 74, said by phone from Southern California. “You know, lawsuits with the owner of the team. The way they’re messing with my game, my head.

“Everybody only knew a narrow slice of what was going on.”

Why he hid so much, Winfield said, was to keep the spillover off the field of play. He was the player rep for the players association, so he felt an obligation to shield his teammates, be they rookies or veterans, from as much turmoil as possible.

Perhaps no one benefited from that effort more than the kid at first base.

“Dave was awesome during all this,” Mattingly said. “He never treated me badly, never made me uncomfortable.”

“Donnie, he was coming to work just doing his thing,” said Winfield, who is ready to open up about his battles with Steinbrenner in a book he’s written, Touching All The Bases, due out in September. “People should know that there’s never been any ax to grind with Donnie, for sure. I’m happy for him, definitely.”

Biggest regret

One would think that missing the start of the Yankees’ dynasty under Joe Torre and Joe Girardi by a year when he retired in 1995 would be Mattingly’s biggest regret. Or maybe it would be the bad back, or the circus follies of the 1980s, or the wars of attrition between players and management in the Bronx and beyond.

“No, my biggest regret was that we just didn’t move to New Jersey and not go back to Indiana,” said Mattingly, the father of three sons — Taylor, Preston and Jordon — from his first marriage. “We would have kept the kids in school here all year. We would have been there all together, all season.”

Perhaps the hardest tug was Indiana and family calling him home.

“The older they got, the more they wanted Little League, things like that,” said Mattingly. “If we were in New Jersey, even though I may not have got to every game, they could have been playing Little League right here. We could have all been a family right there. Not them back in Indiana and me in New Jersey or New York. More and more, ‘home’ was the road for me.”

So, after that 14th season, Mattingly went home to his boys, who now number six in a blended family with wife Lori and her boys Andrew and Issac, plus 11-year-old Louie.

Mattingly returned to coach, then manage, first the Dodgers, then the Marlins. He even reached a World Series at last, as a bench coach with the 2025 Blue Jays. When the team whose GM is none other than Preston Mattingly approached him about serving in a similar role with the Phillies, Don Mattingly could not say no. Home schooling Louie at times during the season and October, along with daily FaceTime sessions convinced Mattingly that it was OK to go back at it. The game is more family friendly, making it easier to be a baseball lifer and a dad.

It’s a different kind of blend, with one son above in the front office, and another playing ball in Indiana. As always, Don Mattingly is as unique as his many challenges and contributions to the game.

As he said, somebody’s got to do it. Thus far, Donnie Baseball is doing just that, for the Phillies and himself.

Claire Smith is the founding executive director of the Claire Smith Center for Sports Media at Temple University. She is in the writers wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame and a Red Smith Award honoree.

*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on May 21, 2026. You can read it here.

May 22, 2026

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

The extra buzz around Carter Beck doesn’t seem to be affecting him at all.

The Carnduff native has rocketed up this summer’s Major League Baseball Draft rankings over his two seasons at Indiana State University.

Recognized as the No. 81 outfielder across NCAA Division I schools, according to D1Baseball, he’s also moved up to No. 8 on the Canadian Baseball Network’s list of draft-eligible Canadians.

Scouts who made their way to Sycamores games this spring were treated to an historic season from the junior outfielder, culminating in him being named the Joe Carter Baseball Player of the Year, which goes to the top player in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Despite the noise surrounding him, Beck has remained laser-focused on one thing: winning baseball games.

“The most important thing was just staying consistent no matter what happens,” he told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories.

“Just going out and giving the same effort every day, and finding ways to compete at the highest level possible.”

⚾️ Joe Carter Player of the Year ⚾️

🏆 Carter Beck @IndStBaseball #TheValleyRunsDeep pic.twitter.com/5rlJvBiXZx

— Missouri Valley Conference (@MVCsports) May 19, 2026

The award was among several accolades Beck has received so far this year as he looks forward to potentially hearing his name get called during the draft in July.

SETTING THE TONE

Ever since Beck has leapt onto the U.S. college scene, he’s made his goals known and then followed through with them.

Heading into his freshman season with the University of Mary in 2024, he wanted to be named the conference freshman of the year.

The Southeast Twins alum did exactly that when he hit .355 with 12 home runs, 53 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases in 48 games.

“There’s been a lot of times in my life where I’ve been the guy showing up who is a nobody and has to go up, show out and do the best I can to even get a look sometimes,” he said in an interview with SDS during that season.

That performance, along with a 2024 season to remember with the Saskatoon Berries where he was named the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Most Outstanding Canadian and Rookie of the Year, gave him the opportunity at Indiana State.

NEW SCHOOL, SAME RESULTS

Heading into his sophomore campaign at a new school, Beck again wanted to make sure everyone took notice of his game.

The 5-foot-11, 206-pound slugger hit an impressive .335 with 11 roundtrippers, 56 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 55 games – almost a mirror image of his previous season at UMary.

For his efforts, he was named MVC First Team All-Conference and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team.

Beck then returned to the Berries, where he continued to put on a show by hitting .385 with nine homers, 43 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 43 games, was named a league all-star, and also hit a dramatic walk-off home run in the playoffs against the Moose Jaw Miller Express.

“The most important thing is being consistent,” the Baseball Sask product said in an interview with the Canadian Baseball Network in 2026.

“I vividly remember playing a home game and looking up at the scoreboard (last season) and seeing my batting average at .268. I thought ‘wow that needs to change,’ and from that day forward, I was able to get going again and hit pretty well the rest of the season.”

KEEP ON ROLLIN’

When you look at his season statistical reports over the last few years, consistency and bold predictions certainly became a theme for Beck.

Going into the spring, he set his sights on being named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and to be in consideration for All-American.

The 20-year-old then went to work and put together a season that looked like another carbon copy with a .348 batting average, 14 homers, 56 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 55 games, sitting among the conference leaders in those categories as well as hits, runs scored, doubles, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

He became just the third Sycamore in school history with back-to-back seasons of 10 homers and 10 stolen bases, joining Paul Frye (1985-1986) and Tyler Thompson (1997-1998).

And the big one: the Joe Carter Baseball Player of the Year selection.

“I knew that I had a chance to win it and that it was between me and one other guy,” Beck said. “I knew it was close so I was super-excited to hear that they honoured me with that award.”

He was also named one of five Sycamores to the MVC Baseball Scholar-Athlete Team, as the finance major picked up a GPA of 3.96.

BIG LEAGUE ASPIRATIONS

As much as the personal accolades have been nice, Beck says the job isn’t done yet.

The Sycamores are getting set to play in the conference tournament starting Thursday in Murray, Kentucky.

While he admits that having the extra attention was overwhelming at first, he’s settled into a rhythm and hopes to show what he can do when the stakes are higher for the team.

“I realized that nothing changes (with the scouts and draft buzz) and everything is still the same, it was easy to not worry about it,” Beck said. “It also helped when I remembered that all of this is cool right now, but the real goal is to get to the big leagues and this is another step along the way.”

As a result, he says he hasn’t thought too much about when he might get a call or what teams might be interested.

Beck does acknowledge that it would mean a lot for his hometown and home province to show kids that there is a path in baseball if they want to pursue it.

“I have a pretty unique path and showing kids that it is still possible to come from a small town and be a multi-sport athlete is something I really strive for,” he said. “The draft will be pretty cool, but hopefully in the next few years, something even cooler can happen and I can make my major league debut.”

The way Beck has been manifesting his goals and dreams into reality in recent years, it seems the baseball world is being put on notice of what’s to come.

May 22, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The New York Mets have recalled right-hander Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont).

The Mets announced the transaction just before 3 p.m. E.T. today.

Tong, 22, has posted a 1-3 record and a 5.68 ERA in nine starts for the triple-A Syracuse Mets this season, but he has struck out 55 batters in 38 innings.

This will be the 6-foot-1 right-hander’s second major league tenure with the Mets. He went 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA in five big league starts with them last season.

Ranked the Mets’ No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Tong dominated in the minors last season. Prior to his big league call-up in late August, Tong combined to go 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA in 22 starts in double-A and triple-A. His 179 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks last season. He also topped all minor league hurlers in ERA and opponents’ batting average (.148).

For his efforts, the Toronto Mets grad was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Wayne Norton Award winner, as the top Canuck pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks.

He was also named New York Mets’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and Baseball America’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Chosen in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft by the Mets, Tong is now in his fifth pro season.

To make room for Tong on their roster, the Mets have designated veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel for assignment.

May 22, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Outfielder Denzel Clarke will be sidelined until after the MLB All-Star break after he suffered a significant hamstring strain during his rehab assignment with the triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

The A’s made the announcement on Thursday.

Clarke, who has been on the 10-day injured list since April 22 with a bone bruise on his right foot, will be reassessed after the All-Star break.

Prior to his injury woes, Clarke was 9-for-53 (.170 batting average) with six RBIs in 22 games in his second MLB season with the Athletics.

In March, the 25-year-old Toronto Mets grad was a key member of Canada’s WBC squad. He started in centre field in all five games and scored three runs, while also knocking in two.

Clarke made his MLB debut with the A’s in 2025. In 47 big league contests last season, he batted .230 with three home runs, eight doubles and two triples.

After his promotion last season, he made several highlight reel catches in centre field for the A’s, which made him the first player to win the MLB Electric Play of the Week award in three consecutive weeks and earned him the Capital One Premier Play of the year at the MLB Awards.

Selected by the A’s in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB draft, Clarke is in his sixth pro season.

May 21, 2026

Official Seattle Mariners News Release

SEATTLE – Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced today the following roster moves:

-Matt Brash, RHP, reinstated from 15-day Injured List (right lat inflammation).

-Robinson Ortiz, LHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma (post-game May 19).

Brash, 28, has been on the Injured List since May 1 with right lat inflammation. He made two rehab appearances with triple-A Tacoma. In his 14 MLB appearances this season, Brash (Kingston, Ont.) is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA with eight strikeouts and two walks, allowing just one unearned run. The Mariners are 12-2 when Brash appears in a game.

The right-hander has appeared in four Major League seasons with Seattle, going 16-11 with eight saves and a 3.10 ERA with 235 strikeouts and 82 walks in 184 games (five starts). He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Brash was acquired by Seattle as the “player to be named later” from the San Diego Padres in a deal that sent right-hander Taylor Williams to the Padres on Aug. 31, 2020. Brash has been one of the most effective relief pitchers in the game since joining the Mariners, leading the Majors in appearances (78) in 2023 and going 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 11 postseason appearances between 2022 and ’25.

Ortiz, 26, was recalled on May 18 but did not make an appearance. The left-hander has also made 15 appearances for triple-A Tacoma, posting a 1.69 ERA (3 ER, 16.0 IP), 12 walks and 18 strikeouts with a 1.25 WHIP. He is currently ranked as the Mariners No. 26 prospect (MLB Pipeline).

Ortiz was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 16, 2025 in exchange for minor league RHP Tyler Gough. Ortiz was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on June 2, 2017. The Peravia, Dominican Republic native has appeared in 7 minor league season in the Dodgers (2017-25) and Mariners (2026) organizations, going 17-13 with a 3.37 ERA, 121 walks and 256 strikeouts in 114 games (41 starts). He missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injury.

May 21, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

WINNIPEG, AN – The Kane County Cougars used a late surge to defeat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 12-5 Thursday afternoon at Blue Cross Park.

Boxscore

Winnipeg opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when designated hitter Max Murphy lined a single to right field that brought home centre fielder Noah Marcelo.

They would double that lead an inning later on a two-out solo home run to left by shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder.

Kane County tied the contest at 2-2 in the third inning when second baseman Josh Allen doubled to centre field to score left fielder Dave Matthews and catcher Charles Mack.

The Cougars went in front 4-2 in the top of the fifth with more timely hitting from third baseman Claudio Finol, who lined a ground-rule double into the right-field corner that drove in Allen and centre fielder Matt Bottcher.

The visitors added a fifth run in the sixth inning on Allen’s single to centre that scored Mack. Allen finished with four hits, three runs batted in, and two runs scored.

Kane County went up 6-2 in the seventh when right fielder Armond Upshaw doubled to left to bring designated hitter Todd Lott around.

The Goldeyes closed to within one in the bottom half of the inning. Didder drove left fielder Jiandido Tromp home with a single to left field to make it 6-3 before Marcelo bounced a two-run homer off Waterfront Drive to cut the deficit to 6-5.

A five-run eighth inning for the Cougars put a quick end to any thoughts of a Goldeyes’ comeback. Lott hit a two-run single to centre that scored Allen and shortstop Zane Spinn. Upshaw then lined a base hit to right field to plate Bottcher, Finol singled to left to score Lott, and first baseman Alex McGarry lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Upshaw to trot home, making the score 11-5.

The final run of the game came in the top of the ninth when Mack led off with a home run to right field.

Along with Allen’s four-hit performance, Upshaw and Mack each had three hits for the Cougars.

Four Goldeyes had multiple hits: Marcelo, third baseman Ramón Bramasco, Murphy, and Didder.

Westin Muir, making his first appearance of the season for Kane County, started and went five innings. He allowed two earned runs on four hits while striking out two.

Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.) made his second start of the season for Winnipeg, working six innings and surrendering five runs, all earned, on eight hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked four. Weston Lombard, James Colyer, and Quinn Waterhouse all saw action out of the bullpen for the Goldeyes.

A three-game weekend series with the Milwaukee Milkmen is next, starting Friday at 7:00 p.m. Veteran left-hander Mitchell Lambson will match up against right-hander Solomon Bates.

May 22, 2026

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The Abbotsford Cardinals believe they can compete with the best programs in the country.

And what better opportunity to prove it than the Road to Okotoks national championship?

“Over the last few years, our program has grown significantly in numbers, as well as overall talent and performance,” Cardinals Director of Baseball Operations Max Ishikawa said.

“We believe we’re a program that may be overlooked on the national stage, but because of our culture, commitment to excellence, elite staff and overall talent, we’re excited for the opportunity to see where we stack amongst the best of Canada.”

The Cardinals will be led on the mound by right-hander and North Dakota State University commit Dylan De Meyer, Alex Manuel (University of British Columbia) and two-way left-hander Austin Meinen (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College).

Catcher Ryder Silverton (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College), infielder Elias Robinson (Indian Hills Community College), infielder Dylan Bird (uncommitted) and outfielder Jake Carriere (uncommitted) will be relied upon to drive the offence.

“Our players play with a unique balance of selflessness, grit, pride and excitement,” Ishikawa said.

“Our players have played in high pressure situations against top competition before, and though the national championship is unlike anything our players have experienced, we believe our players won’t let the moment get the best of them.”

Abbotsford is coming of an organizational-best 42-16 record in 2025 and has played to a 15-7 record in the Premier Division of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League this season.

It became a member of the BCPBL in 1997 and has produced 12 Major League Baseball draft picks and helped send over 150 players to college.

“Our program finds a perfect balance of on-field product, online presence, holistic development, intense competition and having fun in our community,” Ishikawa said.

“A unique aspect of our organization is that we don’t recruit, rather we take a lot of pride in developing the young ball players in our area.”

The BC qualifier, which is being hosted in Langley and White Rock, features six teams. The Langley Blaze, Mid-Island Pirates, UBC Thunder, Victoria Eagles and White Rock Tritons join the Cardinals.

Abbotsford opens against UBC on Thursday, May 28 before facing White Rock, Langley, Victoria and Mid-Island in the round robin.

Four teams will advance to the national championship tournament to compete for the Morneau Cup at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks from July 14 to 19.

“The Road to Okotoks is an opportunity for our players to face elite competition at every stage of the tournament,” Ishikawa said.

“Through the qualifier to the national tournament, our guys will be facing the best, and along the way we’ll learn a lot about our program and our players. We take a lot of pride in never being a finished product, rather continuing to get better every day, week, month and year.”

Other Road to Okotoks Articles

AHP Renegades Baseball Academy

Home Run Sports Training Centre (Winnipeg)

Terriers

Etobicoke Rangers

Mississauga North Tigers

North Toronto Athletics

Elliott: The best will compete on the Road to Okotoks and in the Morneau Cup — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: WCBL to showcase teams to young talent during Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: Morneau appreciates team-first focus of Road to Okotoks national championship — Canadian Baseball Network

Sweeney: Atlantic provinces prep for Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

May 21, 2026

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The time has almost arrived for the AHP Renegades Baseball Academy.

The team will hit the field for its Road to Okotoks qualifier beginning on May 28 in Lethbridge, but the tournament has been on the minds of players and coaches since it was announced back in September.

It may be a relatively new program, one that was founded in 2021 by former Central Missouri Mule right-hander Taylor Burns (St. Albert, Alta.), but the sights are set high.

“We believe in a principle of 'sinking to the level of our training.' We’ve been training and practicing six days per week together since Sept. 1,” Burns said.

“Our expectations are to compete to the best of our ability and give ourselves the best chance to be the last team standing.”

Thirteen teams make up the Prairie Qualifier, with AHP slotted into Pool C alongside the Calgary Cubs, Parkland Twins and Webber Wildcats Prep.

Pool A consists of the Calgary Bucks, HR Sports Academy, Okotoks Dawgs White, Sylvan Lake Gulls Prep and Vauxhall Academy.

Pool B features ATHX, the Calgary Premier Blues, Okotoks Dawgs Red and Team Saskatchewan.

AHP goes up against Webber in its opener on Day 1 before taking on the Parkland Twins, Calgary Cubs and Okotoks Dawgs Red to close out round robin play.

Three teams will advance, along with 11 combined from the Ontario and British Columbia qualifiers, to the national championship tournament for a chance to compete for the Morneau Cup at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks from July 14 to 19.

“It's an awesome opportunity to compete for a national championship against the best programs in the country,” Burns said.

“We believe in our depth and all 25 players are key cogs in this team's success.”

Burns points to the chemistry his program has created, thanks to a tight-knit roster built by coaches who focus on relationships, as what sets it apart.

While the goal is to win, the chance to play on a pressure packed stage will certainly be beneficial for player development, he believes.

“Ultimately, training and practice are to prepare you to try to perform in the moments that matter most,” he said.

“It's a great opportunity for our group and players to get a taste of that and it will serve them in their respective baseball careers in the years to follow.”

Terriers

Etobicoke Rangers

Mississauga North Tigers

Home Run Sports

North Toronto Athletics

Elliott: The best will compete on the Road to Okotoks and in the Morneau Cup — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: WCBL to showcase teams to young talent during Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: Morneau appreciates team-first focus of Road to Okotoks national championship — Canadian Baseball Network

Sweeney: Atlantic provinces prep for Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Sweeney: Atlantic provinces unite as one for Road to Okotoks and Morneau Cup

*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on May 19. You can read it here.

May 21, 2026

By Ian Wilson

Alberta Dugout Stories

Adam Macko is a major leaguer.

From first discovering baseball in the first grade at school in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia; to winning a Little League championship in Ireland; to teaching himself how to pitch by watching YouTube videos of David Price and Justin Verlander; to training in Vauxhall in southern Alberta, Macko has now realized his dream of playing Major League Baseball (MLB).

The left-handed pitcher has taken an unlikely path to the bigs and ended up on the sport’s biggest stage at Yankee Stadium in New York for his MLB debut.

Macko’s introduction to American League action was staggered. Sportsnet reporter Hazel Mae noted that he had a locker in the visitor’s clubhouse at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 16, prompting speculation of a callup for the 25-year-old prospect with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Jays had a number of pitchers who were banged up and looking like gametime decisions. Macko lingered on the team’s taxi squad while the coaches and medical staff assessed their mound options.

On Sunday, the southpaw was officially called up and added to the roster when Tommy Nance was placed on the injured list.

Reporters flocked to Macko ahead of the Jays game against the Tigers to hear about his journey.

“I learned about MLB when I was in Ireland, and I learned about Verlander, and he won the Triple Crown that year… that’s what I want to do,” he said.

“It’s funny how things all work out together to be the most perfect scenario I could ever imagine.”

Macko shared a story about how he discovered he was joining the big club. Casey Candaele, the manager of the triple-A Buffalo Bisons, messed with Macko before breaking the news. Candaele questioned the hill topper about eating two burgers, instead of just one, a move that allegedly left the coaches with not enough food to eat. The skipper then let Macko off the hook and sent him on his way to Michigan.

When he arrived in Detroit, Macko made a startling wardrobe discovery.

“Everybody was wearing collared shirts on the bus. I was the only one in a hoodie. I was like, ‘This cannot happen,’” he told MLB.com reporter Keegan Matheson.

As Macko was “panic shopping for collared shirts,” pitching coach Pete Walker called him to confirm his callup to the Jays.

While he was trying on different clothes so he could look the part of a big leaguer, Macko’s supporters were scrambling to get to Detroit so they could see his debut.

When the Blue Jays squared off against the Tigers, starting pitcher Kevin Gausman went six innings before Walker called upon relievers Yariel Rodriguez, Joe Mantiply and Tyler Rogers to help deliver a 4-1 victory for Toronto.

“We didn’t see Adam pitch live that day, but we enjoyed the game at Comerica Park,” said Macko’s father, Vladimir, who attended the game along with Adam’s fiancée Victoria, his sister Tana, and Vladimir’s wife, Milena.

“After the game we were allowed to go on the field to see Adam. That was a very nice gesture from the Blue Jays and we really appreciate that. We spent the day in the park on Adam’s first official day as a Blue Jay.”

A BRONX TALE

The anticipation and excitement continued to build as the Blue Jays left Detroit for a date with the Yankees in the Bronx.

Patrick Corbin got the start for Toronto in this one against Ryan Weathers. Corbin allowed three runs through four innings before Braydon Fisher got the ball and worked into the sixth inning.

Macko took over with two outs in the bottom of the sixth with the Jays up 5-3 and a runner on first base. He got catcher J.C. Escarra to ground out to first base to end the inning.

The 6-foot moundsman returned for the seventh inning to face the top of the Yankees lineup, and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt also grounded out to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Designated hitter Ben Rice then lined out to Yohendrick Pinango in right field and that was the end of Macko’s night, which was a one, two, three outing that earned him his first official MLB hold. Of his 15 pitches thrown, 10 went for strikes.

“My knees were weak when I stepped on the field. The lights went out and I was like, ‘This is a cool entrance. Is this for me? Why are they doing this? I’m on the road.’ It was amazing. I honestly blacked out for a lot of it,” said Macko after the game, which the Yankees ended up winning 7-6.

“Once I got on the mound, I felt like I’d done this before and I’d be okay … the feeling when I got out there was like no feeling I’ve ever had.”

At Yankee Stadium, Macko’s fan club grew exponentially, with high school friends and coaches added to the mix. Les McTavish, the head coach at the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball, and former Jets teammates Carlin Dick and Ben Adams were in the crowd, cheering him on.

“Vauxhall is a family thing and once you are a Jet, you are always a Jet. You understand that motto way better once you experience that. And we are one of those families that have that privilege,” noted the elder Macko.

For Vladimir, a lifetime of memories flooded back during his son’s introduction to big-league play.

“It was surreal to watch him walk on the field in a regular season MLB game. He has been through ups and downs, but you see those little things, little moments in your life, like when we built a batting net or when we went to see him play in his elementary school and a ball went by him and he just stared at it and didn’t move, little things like that,” he said.

“This game is about feelings, passion, excitement … this game isn’t about the size, speed or muscles. It all starts inside, in your heart, and that connection between other players through your heart.”

Memories of Vauxhall and Adam’s time pitching under Spruce Grove Bantam AAA White Sox coach Kevin Inch came to mind. Vladimir recalled a tournament in Kamloops where opponents were frustrated because Macko was only throwing fastballs but the batters couldn’t hit them.

“Kevin was his very first coach in Canada and he has had a huge influence on Adam. Kevin was a coach, mentor, friend,” said Vladimir.

And the more recent recollection of a group chat with Adam announcing his callup is also fresh in Vladimir’s mind.

“We erupted with joy. We were shouting like crazy. It was a happy group of people who couldn’t even fully express how happy we were,” he said.

THE ORIGIN STORY

In the truest sense of the words, it’s a dream come true for a young man who has traveled the world while chasing a career in baseball.

Macko’s story has become well-known over the years as baseball watchers have tracked his origin story.

With his MLB debut now in the record books, Macko becomes the first Slovakian-born player in the major leagues since Elmer Valo of the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies.

He found baseball on his first day of grade one in Bratislava when he noticed team tryouts happening at school. Macko hit some plastic balls off a tee into some netting and played catch. After the tryout, he signed up.

His parents were stunned and knew very little about the sport.

Macko continued to play baseball at school, but his competition was limited.

“We only ever played one other team that was 30 minutes away,” he said.

“Every time we played, we played in the finals and were guaranteed silver. The competition was scarce, so I tried to make the best of it and challenge myself as much as I could.”

In 2012, the Macko family – 11-year-old Adam, Vladimir, mom Milena and Adam’s sister Tereza – packed up and moved to Ireland. They were also accompanied by Adam’s sister Tana, her husband Rasto, and their son Jakub. The long-term goal was a move to Canada, but Ireland worked in the short term.

The family settled in Bray, south of Dublin, which was home to the Greystones Mariners baseball club. It was the oldest and best baseball club the country had to offer and Adam excelled there, winning a Little League title.

“I remember the first couple of practices when I had to translate a bit for him. He did not know English at that time,” said Vladimir, adding there was more competition and more games in Ireland than in his home country.

That’s when Adam started to take the game more seriously. Studying video online became a big part of his development. He sought out any Justin Verlander and David Price videos he could find.

“I never paid attention to how much time I’ve spent by the laptop studying baseball and watching videos on YouTube because it’s something I loved to do,” said Adam.

Vladimir ultimately took a job in the Edmonton area in 2013, which placed Adam in the Spruce Grove baseball system. From there, he enrolled at the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball and honed his craft.

“You never hear of players from Slovakia and you never hear of players from Ireland,” said McTavish.

“But as he continued to mature and grow, he came down for a visit and as soon as you meet Adam, he’s infectious. He has this great confidence about him. Then as soon as he got on the mound it was clear this kid knew what he was doing.”

Fellow Vauxhall coach Jim Kotkas also saw something special in Macko.

“Adam is the only player I’ve ever been around where I said, ‘I can see him in the big leagues.’ Just the way he handled himself around us for three years and how the bigger the moment, the bigger he got, which is kind of unlike a lot of Canadian kids,” noted Kotkas.

Former Vauxhall teammate, Maddux Mateychuk, recalled watching an incredibly driven athlete in Macko.

“His work ethic was insane. Just how he came to work every day was really fun to watch,” Mateychuk said.

“The difference in his mindset compared to most others is crazy. He wants to be the best all the time and he will outwork anyone who challenges him.”

GOING PRO

Macko was impressive enough that the Seattle Mariners chose him with their seventh-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft.

After a couple of seasons in the Mariners’ farm system, Macko was traded alongside Erik Swanson to the Blue Jays for slugger Teoscar Hernandez following the 2022 season.

“If Adam can stay healthy we are really going to see him take off with the Jays,” said McTavish after the deal was made.

“The Mariners had him as their top left-handed pitching prospect and everyone involved with the Vauxhall program are really excited to see what he can do for the Jays. We couldn’t ask for a better spot than with Canada’s team.”

Justin Hollander, the general manager of the Mariners, discussed sending Swanson and Macko to the Blue Jays on the Brock & Salk show on Seattle Sports 710 AM.

“When they asked for Macko and we ultimately settled on that, it was probably the 10th time that they’ve asked us for Adam Macko over the years since we drafted him,” said Hollander.

“That they had asked about Macko so many times didn’t surprise me that they circled back to him. One, he’s good and, two, I think they always have a soft spot for the Canadian kids.”

He kept plugging away in the minors, making it up to triple-A for the first time near the end of the 2024 campaign.

Ranked as a top-10 prospect in the Jays’ organization, there were some high hopes for him heading into 2025, but injuries early in the season kept him from really getting into a groove.

Macko finished the year with a 3-8 record, 5.06 earned run average, and 91 strikeouts in a little more than 81 innings of work.

“There are some things to be really happy about and some things that definitely need some ironing out as well,” he said.

“I kind of feel like I found myself a little bit towards the end of that stretch of my year coming back from the injury.”

It was a tough pill to swallow for Macko, who hadn’t really endured a lot of adversity over his career.

The Blue Jays gave him a major vote of confidence during their memorable run to the World Series last year.

To keep the big league team ready in between playoff series, Macko was among the players named to the “stay hot group” who helped with practices, simulations and intrasquad games.

The lefthander says it was another eye-opening opportunity to see the Blue Jays come so close to winning a championship.

“I was lucky enough to get a chance to do that, getting to compete against the cream of the crop, and just be there,” Macko said.

“I was so proud of all those guys and how far they had come. It was just unbelievable.”

It also served as inspiration to join the team in 2026.

“I got a little bit of a taste of just being able to throw lives and compete against the big league guys,” Macko continued.

“I got more of an itch to do that than I had at any other point, so that was a great motivator to end my year like that and go into the season, hopefully making the team.”

Macko got a head-to-head look at top MLB talent earlier this year, as well.

In one of the biggest baseball games in Canada’s history at the World Baseball Classic, Macko took the mound in the quarterfinal game against the United States.

In the sixth inning with two runners on, he was summoned to shut things down. A pair of singles from Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong plated two runs and inflated the American lead to 5-0. But Macko induced a double play to limit the damage after that.

He returned to the mound in the seventh inning after a Tyler Black single scored Owen Caissie and a monster home run from Bo Naylor cut the lead to 5-3. Macko locked in ahead of the seventh inning stretch against the heart of the U.S. order. He struck out Bryce Harper, got reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge to fly out and then prompted Kyle Schwarber to strike out swinging to end a four-pitch at bat.

The final line for the 25-year-old showed two hits, a pair of Ks and no earned runs.

At triple-A in Buffalo this year, Macko made 13 relief appearances and went 2-2 with 19 strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings in the International League.

But his most important stats came on May 18 in New York: one relief appearance, one inning pitched, no hits, no walks, no runs … and a major league dream realized.

May 20, 2026

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team took command early and earned a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres DSL squad in their last game of the Dominican Pro Academy Camp on Wednesday.

After falling behind on a solo home run in the bottom of the first, the Juniors answered quickly in the second. Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) was hit by a pitch before Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) delivered the big swing, launching a two-run home run to left field to give Canada a 2–1 lead.

Canada added to their lead in the fifth when Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) reached on an error, moved around the bases, and scored on a RBI ground out from Miller. The Juniors kept applying pressure in the sixth, loading the bases before Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, Ont.) worked a walk to bring home Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) and make it 4–1.

The Padres got one back in the seventh, but Canada responded again late adding a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to reach the 7-3 final.

On the mound, Calum Andersen (Calgary, Alta.) opened the game for Canada and recorded three strikeouts through the early innings. Gabe Fink (Edmonton, Alta.) followed in relief before Ethan Reason (Stouffville, Ont.) and Will Zielinski (Victoria, B.C.) helped close things out, with Zielinski striking out two over the final two innings.

May 14, 2026

Official KJCCC Athletics News Release

COLBY, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference has announced the 2026 All-KJCCC West Division Baseball teams and winners of the major postseason honours.

The awards, which were voted on by each of the league head coaches, include four individuals from two different conference institutions bringing home major accolades.

Major award winners from the 2026 regular season are Most Valuable Player Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.) of Cloud County, Pitcher of the Year Cohen Nelson of Cloud County, Freshman of the Year Turner Rhett Winchester of Barton, and Coach of the Year Eric Gilliland of Cloud County.

Most Valuable Player: Simon Baker (Cloud County)

Ranking in the top five of the KJCCC West Division in triples (12), home runs (20), total bases (169), and walks (44), Baker was one of the most electrifying and dangerous batters at the plate in the division after posting a batting average of .412 and leading the division in both on-base percentage (.549) and slugging percentage (.955). The 12 triples were the most of any KJCCC Baseball West Division player, while his 20 home runs ranked fifth, also drawing 11 hit-by-pitches and stealing 14 total bases.

Freshman of the Year: Rhett Winchester (Barton)

The league leader in stolen bases across both divisions, Winchester swiped 41 bags this season and posted a .412 batting average with 14 home runs and 59 RBI for the Cougars. Ranking third in the conference in triples with eight, Winchester also tallied 159 total bases and recorded 84 total hits, which ranked seventh among KJCCC players. Nationally, Winchester’s stolen base total ranks fifth among NJCAA Division 1 players.

Pitcher of the Year: Cohen Nelson (Cloud County)

The second-straight player from Cloud County to earn KJCCC West Division Pitcher of the Year honors, Nelson went unbeaten on the mound this season by posting a 6-0 record across 37 2/3 innings with a 1.19 earned run average and 70 strikeouts. Six of Nelson's nine starts came in conference play, recording 17.47 strikeouts per nine innings against conference foes and allowing just four earned runs in 28.1 innings of work. Posting four outings with double-digit strikeouts, Nelson had 11 strikeouts on three different occasions and accounted for 41 strikeouts across his final four outings of the regular season.

Coach of the Year: Eric Gilliland (Cloud County)

Following back-to-back second-place finishes in the KJCCC West Division, Gilliland led the T-Birds to their first division crown in program history by going 28-4 in league play to finish two games ahead of second-place Hutchinson Community College. In the regular season, Cloud County posted a 49-5 overall record and their highest national ranking in program history, ascending to number two in the final NJCAA Division 1 Baseball Top 25 poll of the regular season. As a team, Cloud County ranked in the top three in the league in runs, hits, home runs, extra-base hits, total bases, and walks while posting the second-best team ERA in the KJCCC.

May 19, 2026

By Seth Montgomery

Indiana State Athletics

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Joe Carter Baseball Player of the Year resides in Terre Haute as Indiana State outfielder Carter Beck was recognized as the Missouri Valley Baseball Player of the Year as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning.

Beck (Carnduff, Sask.) received five first-place votes and 12 total points as voted on by the league's head coaches in becoming just the second player in Indiana State baseball history to receive the conference's award that goes to the top overall player in the conference. Beck joins Jeremy Lucas (2012) as the lone Sycamores to receive the award since its inception in 1980.

The junior outfielder put together a historic campaign for the Sycamores sitting among the Missouri Valley leaders in batting average (.348), hits (80), RBIs (56), runs scored (60), doubles (17), home runs (14), on-base percentage (.448), slugging percentage (.622), and stolen bases (12).

The Carnduff, Sask., native recorded a team-high 27 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBI contests over the 2026 season and has reached base safely in 54 of the team's 55 games played. Beck enters the postseason having reached base in 39 consecutive contests.

Beck highlighted his season with an 11-game stretch where he recorded a .510 batting average with three doubles, a triple, five home runs, and 16 RBIs, while posting 11 consecutive multi-hit games from March 15-April 2. He added a trio of grand slams to his name going deep with the bases loaded against Miami (Ohio) (Feb. 20), Bradley (Mar. 20), and UIC (Apr. 3).

Beck saved his best for conference play increasing his numbers to a .379 batting average with a team-high 39 hits and six doubles, while tying with teammate Mason Roell for the Valley lead with eight home runs. He added seven stolen bases in conference competition.

In addition to his prowess at the plate, Beck also shined in the outfield with multiple plays in centre field. This was never more evident than in the series-clinching win at Murray State where he tracked down the final two outs against the Racers with a running catch in right center, while tracking down the final out at the warning track in the 10-8 win.

Beck and the Sycamores head to Murray, Kentucky to take on the winner of No. 3 Murray State and No. 6 Illinois State on Thursday, May 21, in the second day of the 2026 Missouri Valley Baseball Tournament Championships.

May 19, 2026

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team mounted a late comeback but fell 7–5 to the New York Mets DSL squad during Dominican Professional Academy Camp action on Tuesday.

After falling behind early, the Juniors chipped away throughout the second half of the game, highlighted by a two-run seventh inning.

Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, B.C.) worked a walk and later scored on a ground out from Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.), while Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) came home moments later on a triple from Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) to cut the deficit to 7–3.

Canada continued to pressure the Mets in the ninth inning. Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, Ont.) and Armitage opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Jacob delivered an RBI single to centre field to score Chung. Maxime Blain (Repentigny, Que.) later brought home Armitage on a fielder’s choice as the Juniors closed within two runs before the comeback fell short.

Miller led the offence with a triple and a single, while Armitage reached base twice with a single and a walk. Jacob added a hit and two RBIs while Aiden Kilshaw (Saskatoon, Sask.) added a hit, a walk, and a run scored.

On the mound, Cole Dorland (Langley, B.C.) started for the Canadians, allowing only two hits and punching out one in the opening three frames. Oscar Leah (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and Noah Powell (Toronto, Ont.) each struck out two over 2 2/3 innings of relief to close out the ballgame.

Defensively, Canada turned in several strong moments, including Kilshaw throwing out a runner attempting to steal in the third inning and Ellis firing a strike to Miller at third base to erase a runner in the ninth.

The Juniors will play their final Dominican Professional Academy Camp game on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres DSL squad in San Cristobal.

May 20, 2026

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Indigo, the mega bookseller, has evolved over the years in other areas but one move that has eluded much fanfare is book publishing.

The company has been publishing several books over the last several years, including a number of baseball tomes produced by Andrew Podnieks, the famous photographer known more for coffee-table books in the hockey genre.

Podnieks has published some books under his Moydart Press umbrella but Indigo has taken over some of his instant sellers on the Blue Jays.

Podnieks is often seen in the photo well at Jays' games to accumulate a portfolio of pictures for his 8x11 books full of gloss all the way through.

Indigo occasionally publishes proprietary titles, especially instant books in time for Christmas, produced in a month's time when Canadian teams win championships

Indigo jumped in to produce Podnieks's What A Ride book when the Jays came this-close to capturing the 2025 World Series.

Indigo knows it will see a high volume of sales in a short time span where the company is trying to catch in-the-moment events that traditional publishers aren't producing.

In the case of Podnieks's baseball books, he and Indigo share some costs of printing and he gets the traditional cut from the profits in the form of royalties as is the case with all authors, resulting in a win-win scenario for both sides.

Indigo has also been known to jump in mid-stream after a very high profile self-published fiction of works blows up online, resulting in exclusive Indigo editions.

Danny Gallagher's latest book the Tragedy of Willie Davis: And Other Expos Vignettes is available at most Indigo stores across Canada.

May 18, 2026

Baseball Canada

Game 1

The Junior National Team battled through a back-and-forth contest against the San Francisco Giants DSL squad on Monday, ultimately falling 9–8 during Dominican Professional Academy Camp action.

Box Score

Maxime Blain (Repentigny, Que.) delivered one of Canada’s biggest swings of the game in the second inning, driving a two-run triple to left field to score Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, B.C.) and Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) and give the Juniors an early 2–1 lead. Sam Ellis (La Peche, Que.) helped extend the advantage in the third, reaching with a single before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly from Austin Blair (Victoria, B.C.).

After the Giants tied the game in the bottom of the third, Canada answered again in the fourth when Jacob came through with a two-out RBI single that gave the Juniors a 4-3 lead. Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) delivered the big blow in the game for the Canucks, launching a two-run home run after Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to pull Canada even again at 6–6.

The Juniors continued to battle late, responding to another Giants’ rally with two runs in the seventh. Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) and Aidan Kilshaw (Saskatoon, Sask.) delivered back-to-back doubles that tied the game at 8–8.

On the mound, Josh Mills (Leduc, Alta.) started for Canada and struck out five over three innings, while Damarcus Rideout-Carter (Brampton, Ont.) and Joseph Pereira (Etobicoke, Ont.) followed in relief.

The Giants pushed across the deciding run in the bottom of the seventh.

Game 2

In their second game on Monday, the Junior National Team battled late but fell 6–3 to the Houston Astros DSL squad.

Box Score

Jacob sparked the rally with a single before Blain and Kilshaw worked walks to load the bases. Wild pitches brought home Jacob and Blain before Noah McIntosh (Dartmouth, N.S.) lifted a sacrifice fly to score Kilshaw to cut the deficit to 6–3.

On the mound, Desmond Tregaskis (Delta, B.C.) started for the Juniors and struck out three over three innings. Sam Davis (Beaumont, Alta.) followed with a strong relief outing, recording five strikeouts across three innings of work. Austin Blair (Victoria, B.C.) tossed a scoreless frame, striking out one to close out the game.

The Canadians will now gear up for a game against the New York Mets DSL squad on Tuesday morning.

May 19, 2026

By Aidan Sinclair

Canadian Baseball Network

Born in 1967 in Oakville, Ont., Jamie Campbell entered the world not knowing he would not only pursue a career in baseball but also touch the lives of so many others throughout his journey.

Fans today may recognize him for his eminent delivery on Blue Jays Central, and fans from previous generations may remember him for his time in the booth providing play-by-play. What they do not see is the continuous work he puts in behind the scenes to improve the community and the country at large.

Early Beginnings in Baseball

As a young child, Campbell did not have access to baseball at large, with the only Canadian team in Major League Baseball (MLB) being the Montreal Expos, who played their first ever game in 1969.

It was not until 1977, when the Toronto Blue Jays became the new face of baseball in Canada, that Campbell would be able to experience an MLB game in person. The Jays played their inaugural game at Exhibition Stadium on April 7, 1977, against the Chicago White Sox — a game Campbell’s father attended. He would bring home a team program for his son to read, and the sight of an empty Stadium in downtown Toronto was all it took for Campbell to be hooked.

“I just distinctly remember being so excited to finally figure out what this Major League Baseball game was all about,” said Campbell.

As years passed and he attended more and more games, Campbell quickly began to realize there may be a path to turning this passion for baseball into a career. He became so attached to the Blue Jays as a teenager that he would do everything in his power to attend as many games as possible.

“I was jumping on a commuter train and going to games by myself at the age of 14,” said Campbell. “I had this scheme where I would go to games four or five hours early, find the hotel of the visiting team, and wait in the lobby to introduce myself to the players. It was a tried and true habit, all because I had this incredible passion”.

World Series Champions

By the early 90s, the Blue Jays had solidified themselves as true contenders, finally breaking through to the World Series in 1992 against the Atlanta Braves.

At the time, Campbell had immersed himself in the sports world, working with CBC Sports, though he had no direct affiliation with the team. Games one and two were played in Atlanta, making game three the first World Series game to be played outside of the United States — a game Campbell could not miss.

With no credentials, he found a way to purchase a ticket in the front row overlooking the Braves’ bullpen at SkyDome. Later that game, seven-time Gold Glove winner Devon White made one of the most spectacular catches in Blue Jays history, starting what should have been a triple play.

“I can still hear and see the thud of Devo smacking the wall because I was so physically close to it,” said Campbell.

Campbell was within approximately 50 feet of White at the point of contact when he famously went face-first into the centre field wall, a moment he will never forget.

October 24, 1992. A day, baseball fans across Canada have ingrained in their memory banks, including Campbell, who was in Halifax, N.S., when a team from Toronto finally became World Champions in game six of the series.

“I was working an equestrian event that we were broadcasting nationally for CBC,” recalled Campbell.

The event happened to be taking place during the day, which allowed Campbell and colleagues to convene at a pub in downtown Halifax to soak in the moment the Blue Jays won it all for the first time.

“I thought it was fascinating that a place so far away from Toronto would react the way that it did,” said Campbell. “Thousands of locals flooded the streets; people were annihilated and inebriated. Everyone was celebratory. It garnered attention across the country”.

1993: Back-to-Back Champs

The Blue Jays became a fixture of Canadian sports over the offseason heading into the 1993 campaign as reigning champions. For Campbell, a new chapter was beginning. It was a fresh start in a new province. In September of that year, he joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Edmonton, Alta., working as a sportscaster. A young 26-year-old diehard Blue Jays fan was leaving his hometown for the first time in his life, not knowing how it would affect his love of the team and the game.

While in Alberta, Campbell sought out any baseball he could get his hands on. He looked no further than the Edmonton Trappers, the then triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins, hailing from John Ducey Park.

“I spent an abnormal amount of time in that ballpark,” said Campbell.

With media accreditation, he had access to the Trappers whenever he wanted, spending hours around the park talking to players and soaking in the game he loved.

“They were so important in giving me my fix,” he said.

With no Blue Jays games to attend, the Trappers became Campbell’s new home away from home, rebirthing his love for the game of baseball. Less than two months later, just like so many other fans across the country, he became a witness to the greatest swing in Blue Jays’ franchise history, having to watch from afar for the first time. Game six of the 1993 World Series, at SkyDome, Joe Carter against Mitch Williams, and the famous ‘touch ‘em all Joe’ that was heard around the world.

2025: Return to the World Series

Thirty-two years later, a magical season culminated in a battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers, as the Blue Jays returned to the World Series for just the third time in their franchise’s history. Campbell reflected on his time covering the team through Sportsnet, highlighting what tied for the longest game in World Series history in game three.

“I remember checking my phone close to the 18th inning and seeing it was midnight in Los Angeles and trying to process what time it would be on the East Coast,” said Campbell. “I then realized that it was 4:30 in the morning in Newfoundland and Labrador, and fans were still watching.”

Midway through extra innings, the Sportsnet crew had exhausted its commercial inventory, relying on Campbell, Madison Shipman, and Joe Siddall to fill the gaps in between innings. At one point on air, Campbell mentioned the dedication of fans remaining awake to watch the game, and was subsequently bombarded with direct responses from said fans on X.

“There were about 50 notifications on my X feed, all from Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Campbell.

Fans were informing him of their hometowns across the East Coast. By the 18th inning, it approached five o’clock in the morning in some areas.

“For example, one fan told me their fishing vessel was leaving in 45 minutes; it blew my mind how many people were still tuned in in Newfoundland and Labrador,” stated Campbell.

He later explained that the live count of viewers across the country ends at two in the morning Eastern time, and at that point, viewership registered at 4.5 million, once again demonstrating the dedication of a country-wide fanbase.

#WorldSeries Game 5 on @Sportsnet #BlueJaysCentral at 7:00et/4:00pt pic.twitter.com/aMdGHD18Tf

— Jamie Campbell (@SNETCampbell) October 29, 2025

The 2025 campaign sparked a new love of baseball for both diehard and brand-new fans, increasing the popularity of the team dramatically. When reflecting on both the two championship seasons and the near victory a season ago, Campbell offered an anecdote he shared with former National League MVP and Canadian Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.).

“He told me that watching the 1992 and 1993 Blue Jays teams made me think I could play in the MLB. There will be kids in 20 years from now who make the big leagues that will say their love of baseball emerged from the 2025 playoff run,” said Campbell.

This demonstrated how instrumental the return of Canada’s only MLB team to the World Series was in reinvigorating a love of the game across the country.

Sportsnet and community initiatives

In 1998, Campbell was offered a position at a new network called CTV Sportsnet and was able to return to Toronto after spending the prior few years in Ottawa working for CJOH-TV. This new network ended up becoming Rogers Sportsnet.

From 2002 to 2009, Campbell had stints working as the play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, before the legendary Buck Martinez returned to the booth to call games in 2010. From that point forward, Campbell was assigned to Blue Jays Central, acting as the pre-game host for all Blue Jays games. Sixteen years later, he continues to deliver consistent and reliable information for fans across the country, but it is his behind-the-scenes work that sets him apart from the rest.

Wes Johnson

As of January 2026, Campbell, like many others, had no idea who Wes Johnson was or what he was going through. Then, through the power of the internet, someone reached out directly informing Campbell of his situation and his love for the Blue Jays. At just 17 years old, Johnson was battling heart disease and, earlier this year, had his eligibility for a heart transplant revoked due to health complications.

By mid-February, his family had realized he would be nearing the end of his life within weeks, prompting Campbell to reach out to the family and visit Johnson in person.

“I spent a day with Wes at his family home and later learned that his last wish was to see a Blue Jays game in Dunedin, and meet Davis Schneider and Trey Yesavage,” said Campbell.

As he walked out the front door, he recalled turning back to Wes’s mother, Jenna, who mentioned that a GoFundMe was set up to raise money in an attempt to get their son to Dunedin.

“I asked Jenna if I could post a picture of Wes to my X feed with a link to their GoFundMe to raise awareness of his situation. 48 hours later, their total money raised went from approximately $16,000 to $43,000. The generosity of Blue Jays fans really took me aback,” said Campbell.

Before the family’s trip to Dunedin, Campbell spoke to the chairman of the Jays, Edward Rogers, and, though he would not be present in Florida, relayed that “we need to get Wes an introduction to Schneider and Yesavage”. The rest was history.

By early March, Wes and his family made it to Dunedin, getting to not only see a Blue Jays game, but also get a tour of the entire training complex through the guides of Schneider and Yesavage. Campbell recalls Jenna reaching out to him after the eventful day, saying Wes had told her “it was the greatest day he had ever had”.

On May 9, 2026, it was announced that Wes Johnson had passed away after a hard-fought battle with heart disease, making the last few months of his life so incredibly special. Campbell’s lone in-person interaction with the young Blue Jays fan is a moment he says he will never forget.”

Many of you contributed financially to get Wes Johnson to Florida in March. I’m forever grateful to all who helped. Wes passed away this morning in St. Thomas, Ontario. 💔 pic.twitter.com/axVARE1tmD

— Jamie Campbell (@SNETCampbell) May 8, 2026

Pandemic phone calls

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the baseball world, like everywhere else, was shaken. By mid-March, like many other major sports leagues, it was announced that the MLB season was being suspended, leaving Campbell with no Blue Jays games to cover. He realized during this time that elderly people were at a greater risk of health problems and less inclined to visit family members to protect themselves from the virus. This prompted Campbell to purchase a flip phone, with the intent to offer a friendly voice to those who were isolated and needed some support. He made a post on Twitter offering his time to speak with fans across the country, and within days had received thousands of messages from those in need.

“I realized in hindsight that there were nearly 1200 phone calls,” said Campbell.

One of those calls happened to come from a 105-year-old woman who joked about the fact that she had lived through two pandemics in her life, being two years old at the commencement of the Spanish Flu.

“The calls were magnificent, some eclipsed 30 minutes, and I got into really deep conversations with lots of fans,” said Campbell.

At one point, the number of phone call requests became too much for one man to handle, prompting the now-retired Buck Martinez to chip in, so he and Campbell could offer more time to each fan. It turned out that the first phone call Martinez made, the recipient was “pissed off” in the words of Campbell, being absolutely convinced that it was not Buck Martinez on the phone. Eventually hanging up on the longtime Blue Jays play-by-play voice, the older gentleman had not realized what he had done until after his children let him in on the nature of the call. Nonetheless, Martinez called the man back hours later, and the two enjoyed a lengthy conversation talking about all things baseball and the Jays.

Timmins, Ontario

When Campbell was just 17 years old, he was sent to a summer camp in Timmins, Ont., learning how to live independently for the first time. After spending the entire summer in a town seven hours outside of Toronto, Campbell would not return until 35 years later, during COVID-19.

With no work, Campbell got busy quickly, signing up with a volunteer organization to help distribute PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to those in need. A paramedic from Timmins had reached out to Campbell, relaying the town’s desperate need for PPE’s, prompting the Blue Jays host to make the solo journey to the place he once called home for a summer.

“We were focusing on distributing within the GTA, but I went to the head of Conquer Covid-19, Sulemaan Ahmed, and told him how important Timmins was to me, offering to be the northern driver. If we had any further requests up north, I wanted to be the person to fulfill them,” said Campbell.

Within a handful of days, he was on the road heading north, passing through North Bay, Temiskaming Shores and Sudbury before reaching Timmins, delivering PPE to locals along the way. He eventually made a separate trip to Thunder Bay, Ont., a 15-hour car ride from Toronto. Though he made the trip solo once again, Campbell looks back fondly on those journeys.

“When I am feet up in a retirement facility one day, I will look back on those solo rides across Northern Ontario as some of the greatest moments of my life,” said Campbell.

Fast forward to the 2025 playoff run, fans from Timmins had created t-shirts with the message ‘He hit it all the way to Timmins,’ after hearing Campbell reference the town on numerous occasions during live broadcasts. At one point, Campbell caught sight of an initiative to raise $1,000 for the oncology unit at the Timmins District Hospital, later mentioning it during a separate Blue Jays game, prompting fans from across the country to chip in once again. Just a few days later, $31,000 was raised.

I’m grateful to the staff at Timmins and District Hospital for the kind reception today. The T-shirt initiative raised over $30,000 for the oncology unit. pic.twitter.com/7otWXQDaZQ

— Jamie Campbell (@SNETCampbell) May 11, 2026

Personal battles

In early 2021, Campbell received a phone call from his doctor, who diagnosed him with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), ultimately forcing the Blue Jays' central host to miss time from the broadcast. He would later post an image of his face revealing the damage that had been done as a result of this cancer.

“I was unaware at first of how long I would be away from the broadcast,” said Campbell.

When asked if he made a point of revealing these health struggles to the public, he suggested there was full intent behind the decision.

“I realized that if I could go on a Blue Jays broadcast every night while carrying this disease, at some point other people in this country are going to get the same diagnosis, and in their moments of fear, will see a healthy me on their television,” said Campbell.

He went on to say, “if I can live and thrive with this thing, other people who get a similar phone call will get the comfort they need knowing I am doing just fine. If I made the promise that I was going to live vibrantly with leukemia, I had to come through on that.”

Though his symptoms have been suppressed to a point that he has been able to work since 2022, CLL is still incurable, and Campbell is aware that there is a great possibility that the cancer will return in the future in a larger capacity. His commitment to Sportsnet and the Blue Jays epitomizes his continuous perseverance and dedication to his craft, something that has remained a constant throughout his entire career.

Imprint on Canada

In nearly three decades working alongside the Blue Jays, the name Jamie Campbell has evolved into an extended part of the families of fans at home. From all across Canada, those who turn on the television every night to watch a game know that his face will be on their screen, and his uplifting messages continue to empower others to be empathetic and caring for one another.

“I want people who watch the Blue Jays to know that I care deeply about this sport. I’m as passionate about the game and the team as anybody out there. I have been living and breathing this thing since I was nine years old,” said Campbell.

Though he has become a recognizable face for so many in his years with Sportsnet, he does not want to be remembered just as a broadcaster who happened to find himself working in television.

“What I try to tell my children is you can not save the world, but what you can do is shine your light on the people around you. My purpose here is to, as best as I can, every single day, make a positive impact on the people around me, whether through a TV screen or in my life directly,” said Campbell.

Beyond his work with the Blue Jays, fans across Canada will remember Jamie Campbell for his dedication to doing whatever he can to better as many communities as he possibly can. A kind, compassionate, and caring man, he is a true Canadian hero and the beacon of hope that so many people rely on for support.

May 18, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Greenville Drive, the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, had a difficult time keeping Émilien Pitre off the bases last week.

In six games for the Tampa Bay Rays’ High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, Pitre (Repentigny, Que.) had 10 hits, eight walks, six stolen bases and nine runs. All of those numbers topped Canadians in the minor league ranks last week.

For his efforts, Pitre has been named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Minor League Player of the Week (May 12 to May 17).

The 23-year-old second baseman also topped Canadian minor leagues in batting average (.526) and on-base percentage (.633).

Batting cleanup for the Hot Rods, Pitre started the week by going 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk and three RBIs to lead his club to a 5-1 win over the Drive. He followed that up with three walks, a run and a stolen base in the Hot Rods’ 10-4 victory the next day.

On Thursday, he added another hit, two walks and two runs, while stealing three bases, to help the Hot Rods to their third straight win over the Drive.

He then had back-to-back three-hit games on Friday and Saturday to propel the Hot Rods to two more victories. One of his hits on Saturday was a solo home run.

To finish off the week, he collected a single and an RBI in the Hot Rods’ 12-10 loss to the Drive.

Thanks to his current hot stretch, Pitre boosted his batting average this season from .222 to 258.

The ABC grad was selected in the second round (58th overall) by the Rays in the 2024 MLB draft and is in his third pro season.

2026 CBN Minor League Player of the Week winners

Opening Day to April 5 - Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Rangers

April 7 to April 12 - Dante Nori (Toronto, Ont.), Phillies

April 14 to April 19- Matt Wilkinson (Surrey, B.C.), Guardians

April 21 to April 26 - Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.), Braves

April 28 to May 3 - Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), Mets

May 5 to May 10 - Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.), Royals

May 12 to May 17 - Emilien Pitre (Repentigny, Que.), Rays

Top Canadian Minor League Batters (May 12 to May 17)

Top Canadian Minor League Pitchers (May 12 to May 17)

May 17, 2026

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Brockton, Mass. - The Ottawa Titans took down the Brockton Rox by an 11-8 final on Sunday afternoon, securing their first series sweep of the 2026 season.

Box Score

Making his first start of the season, left-hander Max Martzolf gave the Titans 5 2/3 innings in the series finale. The Rox got to the southpaw in the second, stringing together three consecutive two-out hits to take an early 2-0 lead. In his first appearance of the series, Nick Marola smoked a two-run double off the centre field fence to get the scoring started.

Going quietly in the early stages of the game with the bats, Cristian Inoa got the Titans on the board with a one-out solo homer to right in the fourth inning, taking Eli Majick deep.

In the sixth, the Titans once again erupted for a six-run inning, taking their first lead of the afternoon. A fielder's choice scored the tying run while a wild pitch added another. The frame was headlined by a two-run single off the bat of Chris Davis, as the Titans took a 7-2 lead. The visitors sent 11 to the plate in the big inning.

A solo homer from Derek Bender and a two-run shot from Tommy Kretzler in the bottom of the sixth got the Rox back in the game, seeing the end of the line for Martzolf. The lefty went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, walking one, hitting one, and striking out two for the victory.

Taylor Wright (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Davis connected for a pair of two-out RBI singles in the seventh before AJ Wright homered for the third time this season in the eighth as part of a multi-run inning to get the Titans over double digits.

The Rox made it a three-run game against left-hander Colt Anderson in the eighth inning and brought up the potential tying run with two out. Brett Garcia recorded his second multi-out save of the year, striking out two over 1 2/3 innings to lock down the win.

Brandon Marklund (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Yohanse Morel also tossed in relief, holding the Rox off the board.

Chris Davis went 3-for-6 with three RBIs and two stolen bases in the win, extending his hit streak to four games. Justin Fogel, Cristian Inoa, Aaron Casillas, and Taylor Wright also posted multi-hit efforts.

The record of 6-3 for the Titans is the best through the opening nine games of a season in franchise history. The Titans also swept the Rox for the second time on the road all-time.

The Ottawa Titans will now head home, playing the first of a three-game series on Monday afternoon against the New York Boulders at 1:00 p.m. at Ottawa Stadium on Victoria Day.

May 17, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

FRANKLIN, WISC. – The Winnipeg Goldeyes were swept by the Milwaukee Milkmen in their season-opening series, falling 12-2 at Franklin Field Sunday afternoon.

Box Score

Milwaukee’s offensive onslaught began early, when their third batter, first baseman Griffin Doersching, hit a two-run home run to left field – his second of the new season.

Doersching struck again an inning later, lining a two-out, two-run double to left field that brought in catcher Andrew Sundean and third baseman Michael Hallquist, making the score Milwaukee 4 Goldeyes 0 after two.

Milkmen left fielder Andy Blake led off the third inning with a home run to left that increased the lead to five runs, before they erupted for five more in the fourth. First, Doersching notched his fifth and sixth runs batted in of the afternoon with a double to right field. Shortstop Delvin Pérez and Hallquist came in to make it 7-0. Doersching would score on a throwing error before second baseman Yordys Valdés singled to right field to drive in right fielder Justin Janas and Blake to give Milwaukee a 10-0 lead.

The Goldeyes finally broke through in the top of the fifth when right fielder Roby Enríquez and left fielder Adam Hall (London, Ont.) hit back-to-back, two-out doubles to make it 10-1.

Milwaukee added two more in the bottom of the inning on Janas’ two-run single to centre field that plated Hallquist and Doersching to give the Milkmen and 11-run lead at 12-1.

Winnipeg scored once in the top of the eighth on a bloop single to right field by second baseman Keyshawn Lynch. First baseman Raphaël Pelletier (Repentigny, Que.) came home round out the scoring at 12-2.

Oakville, Ontario native Christian Young started for Milwaukee and worked five innings during which he allowed one earned run on five hits. He struck out five and walked one. Kenny Pierson and Eric Chalus each threw two innings in relief for the Milkmen.

Goldeyes starter Mitchell Lambson surrendered seven runs – all earned – on seven hits in just 3 1/3 innings, fanning one and issuing one free pass. He also hit two batters. Arij Fransen, Weston Lombard, James Colyer, and Tasker Strobel pitched out of the bullpen for Winnipeg.

Winnipeg now returns to Blue Cross Park for their Home Opener Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against the two-time defending Miles Wolff Cup Champion Kane County Cougars. Luke Boyd will start for the Goldeyes while fellow right-hander Vin Timpanelli is scheduled to take the mound for Kane County.

Wildcats win Nova Scotia Sr. League opener against Metro, Brett McGinnis had a two-run single in Kentville win

By Dan Estey

CABC

The Kentville Wildcats picked up where they left off from last season as they opened defence of their Nova Scotia League title with a convincing 4-0 victory over the Metro Brewers at Mainland Commons in Halifax.

After a pair of scoreless frames, the Wildcats opened the scoring as they plated a pair of runs on an error and an Adam Crocker RBI double to grab a 2-0 lead. They would tack onto their lead in the top half of the sixth as they scored another two runs on a two-run single off of the bat of Brett McGinnis, extending the lead to 4-0, which was the final score.

Offensively for Kentville, McGinnis led the way going 1-for-3 with a single and a pair of RBIs. Adam Crocker was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a run and an RBI while Kyle Armsworthy was 1-for-2 with a single, a walk and a pair of runs. Matty Johnson reached on an error and scored a run to wrap up the Wildcats offence.

For the Brewers, they only managed two hits, both singles, from Ryan Abraham and Dylan Smith.

On the hill, Tyson Slaunwhite was in mid-season form for the Wildcats as he went the distance, tossing seven innings allowing zero runs on two hits while striking out 11 in picking up the win.

Mason Taylor started and took the loss for Metro. He went three innings, allowing two runs on one hit while walking one and striking out five.

Kyle Sampson followed up with two scoreless innings, walking two and striking out one. Glenn Harvie tossed the next inning, allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out one. Andrew Miller had a scoreless seventh for the Brewers with a walk and a strikeout.

The league will now take a few days off and will pick up again on Thursday with the Halifax Mets traveling to Beazley Field to take on the Dartmouth Dry in the season opener for both of those clubs. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m.

May 17, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball news and notes:

Sabrowski, Smith dominate for Guardians

You can’t pitch much better than Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.) and Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) did for the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.

Sabrowski entered the game in the eighth inning with his club leading the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 and proceeded to strike out the side to register his major league-leading 16th hold.

Smith then took over in the ninth and also struck out the side to record his 13th save, which tied him for most in the majors.

The Canadian duo has been overpowering out of the pen for the Guardians, especially recently.

Sabrowski has not allowed a hit or a run, while striking out 14, in six innings in his last seven outings.

Meanwhile, Smith has notched a save in each of his last nine appearances. During that stretch, he has surrendered just one run in 9 2/3 innings and fanned 16.

Smith registered his American League-leading 14th save of the season yesterday in the Guardians’ 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds. He is also tied for the most saves in MLB this season with San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller.

Hicks, Lopez powering Marlins’ offence

I woke up this morning and looked at the 2026 MLB stats leaders and Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) is leading the majors with 61 hits and a .341 batting average, while Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) leads the big leagues with 40 RBIs.

This is remarkable when you consider that the Marlins picked Lopez up off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on February 13, 2024 and selected Hicks from the Detroit Tigers in the Rule 5 draft on December 11, 2024.

Let’s have a round of applause for the Marlins’ scouting department.

Lopez and Hicks also played on Canada’s World Baseball Classic team together in March.

Macko with Jays in Detroit

Left-hander Adam Macko, who was raised in Stony Plain, Alta., is on the Toronto Blue Jays’ taxi squad in Detroit this weekend.

The 25-year-old southpaw has not been activated, but if he is, he’ll be making his major league debut.

Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Macko is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 relief appearances for triple-A Buffalo this season. He has 19 strikeouts in 18 innings.

In March, he didn’t allow a run in three relief appearances for Canada at the World Baseball Classic.

Macko was acquired from the Seattle Mariners, along with reliever Erik Swanson, for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez on November 16, 2022.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Mariners, the Vauxhall Academy grad owns a 17-28 record and a 4.53 ERA in 102 games (73 starts) in parts of seven minor league seasons.

Soroka collects fifth win of the season

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) started and tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers on Monday to record his team-leading fifth win of the season.

He also struck out five batters, giving him 47 Ks – which also tops the D-Backs.

Overall, Soroka, 28, is 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA in eight starts this season, his seventh in the majors.

He is scheduled to start today against the Colorado Rockies.

Wilkinson shines in first start in Giants’ organization

Left-hander Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.) permitted just two hits, while striking out six batters, in five scoreless innings in his first start with the Giants’ double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels on Wednesday. That performance lowered his ERA to 1.35 ERA in seven starts this season.

On May 9, the Guardians dealt the Okotoks Dawgs grad, along with the 29th overall pick in this year’s MLB draft, to the Giants for catcher Patrick Bailey.

Prior to the trade, Wilkinson, 23, had posted a 1.59 ERA and struck out 36 batters in 28 1/3 innings in six starts for the double-A Akron RubberDucks this season. This followed his outstanding performance for Canada at the World Baseball Classic in which he didn’t allow a hit, while fanning four, in 2 2/3 innings in two outings.

Nicknamed Tugboat, the 6-foot-1 southpaw was selected in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Guardians.

Canadian baseball historian Tyler Partridge recently shared on X that if Wilkinson were to receive a big league call-up from the Giants this season he’d become the first Canadian to play for the Giants since left-hander Ken MacKenzie (Gore Bay, Ont.) in 1964.

Gagné made first start at Olympic Stadium 25 years ago today

It was 25 years ago today that Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Éric Gagné, who grew up in Mascouche, Que., started a game at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium for the first time.

He allowed just two runs on four hits in six innings, while striking out seven, but was saddled with a tough-luck loss in the Montreal Expos’ 3-1 win.

Sean Gordon, of the Montreal Gazette, described the atmosphere at the Big O that day in this excellent May 18, 2001 article:

Anniversary of Carter’s 2,000th game as a catcher

In 1992, Gary Carter returned to the Expos for his final season.

And it was on this day, 34 years ago, that he caught his 2,000th career game, which at the time made him just the third major league catcher to reach that milestone, joining Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone.

Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Kendall and Yadier Molina have since added their names to the exclusive 2,000 games caught club.

Black sent down by the Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers sent Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) down to the triple-A Nashville Sounds on Tuesday.

The transaction was made to create a roster spot for outfielder Christian Yelich, who had been on the 10-day injured list with a groin injury.

It was the second tough-luck demotion for Black this season. In nine games with the Brewers, Black went 9-for-27 (.333 batting average) with four doubles and seven RBIs. He had four multi-hit games.

The 25-year-old Toronto Mets alum was also sent down near the end of spring training despite going 11-for-20 (.550 batting average) with 14 RBIs in six Cactus League games.

The left-handed hitting Canuck also spent the bulk of 2025 with the triple-A Sounds, where he had a .369 on-base percentage with four home runs and 22 stolen bases in 61 games. He also hit .250 with an RBI in five games with the big-league Brewers.

Black made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2024. In 18 big league games that season, he went 10-for-49 with two doubles, three stolen bases and seven walks.

Jordan Zimmerman made MLB debut 27 years ago

On this date 27 years ago, left-hander Jordan Zimmerman (Kelowna, B.C.) made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners.

He came into the game with one out in the eighth inning and retired both Minnesota Twins batters he faced in the Mariners’ 15-5 win at the Kingdome.

It was the first of 12 relief appearances Zimmerman made with the Mariners in 1999.

Happy Birthday to Orv Franchuk!

Happy 82nd Birthday to legendary Canadian coach Orv Franchuk!

The Amesbury, Alta., native has spent more than 50 years in the amateur and professional baseball ranks as a coach and a scout.

After playing college ball at Pepperdine University, Franchuk served as a scout for the Cincinnati Reds from 1977 to 1984. During that period, he doubled as a coach for the Canadian national team.

By 1988, Franchuk had transitioned to the California Angels organization where he served as a scout and as a minor league hitting coach before returning to his home province in 1995 to work as the hitting coach for the Oakland A’s triple-A Edmonton Trappers.

After a stretch as a roving hitting coach in the A’s organization, he came back to Canada again in 2002 when he was hired to manage the A’s class-A Short-Season Vancouver Canadians. Following that campaign, he moved to the Boston Red Sox organization, where he’d work as a minor league hitting instructor and earn a World Series ring with the club in 2004.

He’d later have tenures as a hitting coach in the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres organizations prior to returning home again to manage the independent Northern League’s Edmonton Capitals to a North American League championship in 2011.

For his efforts, he was inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.

Remembering Harmon Killebrew

Please take a moment to remember Hall of Famer and legendary Minnesota Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew who passed away 15 years ago today at the age of 74.

As a Canadian baseball history buff, when I think of Killebrew, I think of the influence he had on 2020 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and fellow Twins legend Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.). Morneau used to talk hitting with Killebrew, but Killebrew is also responsible for Morneau’s very legible signature. You can hear the story in the following video:

Barfield set RBI high 40 years ago

It was 40 years ago today that Jesse Barfield recorded a career-high six RBIs for the Blue Jays in their 11-5 win over Cleveland at Exhibition Stadium.

Barfield had a single, a double and a three-run home run in the contest.

For the record, Barfield also had four, five-RBI games during his MLB career

Also, McGriff’s MLB debut

In the same game Barfield registered six RBIs, a 22-year-old slugger named Fred McGriff made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays.

He came in as a defensive replacement for Willie Upshaw at first base in the top of the eighth inning.

Remembering Pascual Perez

Former Montreal Expos pitcher Pascual Perez would’ve turned 69 today.

He died in 2012.

What we tend to forget about him is that beyond his enthusiasm, energy and antics on the field, he was an excellent pitcher for the Expos. In 10 starts for the club in 1987, he went 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA. He followed that up with 12 wins and a 2.44 ERA in 27 starts in 1988 and a 3.31 ERA in 33 appearances in 1989. You can watch some fun highlights of him in the following video:

May 16, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

FRANKLIN, WISC – The Winnipeg Goldeyes dropped their second straight game Saturday evening, falling to the Milwaukee Milkmen by a score of 3-2 at Franklin Field.

Box Score

The Goldeyes opened the scoring just three batters into the game when centre fielder Adam Hall (London, Ont.) lined a single into right field to bring home third baseman Ramón Bramasco.

Neither team would cross the plate again until Milwaukee catcher Chase Waddell hit a two-run home run to right field with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 2-1 Milkmen.

Milwaukee added a run in the eighth on right fielder Baron Radcliff’s single to centre that drove in centre fielder Alec Olund.

Winnipeg threatened in the final frame and pulled within one when left fielder Jiandido Tromp lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Hall to score. However, one batter later, shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder popped out to end the game.

Starter Noah Millikan was spectacular for the Goldeyes, allowing just three hits and striking out six over five innings of work. He walked just one batter. Ryo Kohigashi, Derrick Cherry and Kevin Vaupel each pitched an inning of relief.

Juan Díaz was equally effective for the Milkmen. He went six innings and gave up one earned run on three hits while striking out three and issuing two free passes. Brendan Hardy pitched a scoreless seventh and was the pitcher of record when Milwaukee took the lead. Brady Puckett got the job done in the ninth, despite Winnipeg having made things interesting.

The series concludes from Franklin Field Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with veteran southpaw Mitchell Lambson starting for the Goldeyes. The Milkmen will counter with right-hander Christian Young.

May 16, 2026

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team lost 6-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers DSL squad in Dominican Professional Academy Camp action on Saturday.

Box Score

Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, B.C.) led the Canadian offence with a 1-for-3 performance, including a sixth-inning single that helped spark a two-run frame. Maxime Blain (Repentigny, Que.) added the only other hit for the Canadians.

On the mound, Max Nantais-Vlahovich (Mississauga, Ont.) turned in a strong start, striking out seven over three scoreless innings.

Logan Cummins (Mississauga, Ont.) followed with a solid relief appearance that included a pair of strikeouts, while Ethan Reason (Stouffville, Ont.) had another strong outing out of the bullpen, registering a strikeout and picking off a runner in the eighth inning.

Defensively, catcher Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) threw out three runners attempting to steal.

The Junior National Team will practice on Sunday before facing off against the San Francisco Giants DSL squad to close out the two-game mini-series of the camp.

Glenn Reeves went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, two runs and three RBIs for the Ajax Spartans.

May 17, 2026

By Dan Estey

CABC

The East York Bulldogs and Ajax Spartans both picked up victories on the opening day of the 2026 Greater Toronto Baseball League regular season.

East York defeated the expansion Northumberland Jacks by a score of 14-5 while Ajax defeated the defending GTBL playoff champions, the Newmarket Hawks by a score of 9-3.

The Bulldogs struck first as they would get three runs in the first at Stan Wadlow Park in East York. The Jacks answered back in the third with three runs of their own to tie the game. The tie would be short-lived though as East York countered with three runs in the home half to take a 6-3 lead.

Northumberland got one back in the top of the fourth inning but the Bulldogs kept pouring on the offence, plating three more runs for a 9-4 lead after four. East York added another run in the fifth while the Jacks addded a run in the sixth. The Bulldogs tacked on four runs in the eighth inning leading to the victory.

OF Evan Tondera led the offensive charge for East York going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, two walks, two runs and three RBIs. Veteran Steve Andreopoulos was 1-for-2 with a triple, a pair of walks, a run scored and two RBIs while Shoya Hase was 2-for-3 with a double, a pair of runs and an RBI.

For the Northumberland Jacks, Joe Godfrey led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Hunter Wright was 1-for-5 belting a home run, scoring a run and collecting three RBIs while Chase Lalande was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs.

On the mound, the Bulldogs used a half a dozen arms with Jacob Schuurman collecting the win. He worked two innings, allowing one run -- unearned -- on three hits, walking one and striking out six. Cameron Martin would also threw two innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking two and striking out two while lefty Niall Windeler tossed two scoreless innings, striking out four batters. Junya Oshima pitched one inning, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout while Duncan McLellan and Dustin Lawson would each throw a scoreless frame.

For Northumberlnd, Thomas Aronowicz started and took the loss going two innings allowing three runs -- one earned -- on two hits walking four and striking out two. Emmett Shannon was next tossing five innings allowing seven runs (three earned) on five hits walking six and striking out six. Dylan Brown would throw the last inning, allowing four runs (all unearned) on two hits walking a batter and striking out one. The Kelly brothers failed to make an appearance.

Just down the road at the Ajax Sportsplex, the Spartans would get out of the gates quick in this one, plating a run in the first, two more in the third and a run in the fourth. The Hawks got their first run of the game fifth, cutting the lead to 4 -1. Ajax would get that back and then some with two in the bottom half.

The eager Newmarket crew kept plugging away in the sixth as they got another run back, cutting the lead to 6-2. The Spartans kept the pressure on, scoring three more runs in the seventh stretching the lead to 9-2. The Hawks clawed out one more run in the final frame but that would be all they could muster on this night with Ajax taking this game by a socre of 9-3.

Veteran Glenn Reeves was the big bat for Ajax going 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, a pair of walks, two runs and three RBIs. Nico Angelakos was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI while Sean Molony was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Jesse “Father” Dynes was also 2-for-5 with a run scored while Jack Bowman was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Damon Gregoris also had an RBI to wrap up the Spartans offence.

For Newmarket, Paul Wilson was the only player with more than one hit, going 2-for-5 with a pair of singles.

On the mound, Josh Essery drew the start for Ajax and collected the win, going five innings allowing just one run on four hits while walking four and striking out eight. Connor Broughton collected the save going the final four frames allowing two runs on two hits walking six and striking out nine batters.

Lefty Lucas Earle drew the starting assignment for Newmarket and took the loss, tossing five innings allowing six runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits while striking out three. Christian Mullen threw the next two innings allowing three runs -- two earned -- on one hit walking six and striking out four. Paul Wilson threw a clean eighth.

May 15, 2026

By Jason Young

Winnipeg Goldeyes

FRANKLIN, WISC. – The Milwaukee Milkmen defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes 6-2 at Franklin Field Friday evening in the 2026 season debut for both clubs.

Boxscore

Milwaukee opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when third baseman Michael Hallquist came in to score on designated hitter Griffin Doersching’s single to centre field.

The Milkmen extended their lead the following frame on a two-run home run to centre by Hallquist that made the score 3-0.

The next three innings were scoreless before the Goldeyes scored their first run of the season in the sixth when left fielder Roby Enríquez doubled off the wall in right-centre field to bring home Adam Hall (London, Ont.) and trim Milwaukee’s lead to 3-1.

The home side would add two runs in the bottom of the inning however, as catcher Andrew Sundean singled to left field, driving in right fielder Justin Janas scores and second baseman Yordys Valdés to make the score 5-1 Milwaukee.

The Milkmen tacked on another in the seventh on a one-out, solo home run to Doersching that made it 6-1.

Winnipeg got one run back in the top of the ninth inning when right fielder Max Murphy crossed the plate on designated hitter Jiandido Tromp’s fielder’s choice, accounting for the 6-2 final.

Murphy’s ninth inning double gave him 1,002 total bases in a Goldeyes uniform, breaking the tie he held for the club’s all-time lead in that category with the legendary Reggie Abercrombie.

Enríquez was 4-for-4 on the evening, with a double, a run batted in, and a stolen base. He was responsible for half of Winnipeg’s eight hits.

Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.) started for the Goldeyes and worked five innings. He allowed three runs – all earned – on five hits and struck out five. Tasker Strobel, James Colyer, Quinn Waterhouse, and Eli Saul (Vancouver, B.C.) pitched out of the bullpen for Winnipeg.

Solomon Bates pitched five scoreless innings for Milwaukee, giving up just three hits, striking out five, and walking one. He was followed by Jhordany Mezquita, Hunter Bryan, Justin Kelly, and Ryan Boyer.

The series continues from the Milwaukee suburbs Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with righthander Noah Millikan scheduled to start for the Goldeyes. The Milkmen will counter with lefty Juan Díaz.

May 15, 2026

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team put together one of its strongest all-around performances of their Dominican Professional Academy Camp on Friday, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays DSL squad 7–3.

Box Score

Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, B.C.) led the offensive charge with a pair of doubles, including a bases-clearing three-run double during a five-run third inning that gave Canada control of the game.

Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.) continued his productive camp collecting a hit and scoring two runs, while Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) finished with a perfect 1-for-1 performance, adding a pair of walks and a run.

Noah McIntosh (Dartmouth, N.S.) was a spark at the bottom of the lineup with a hit and a run. Aiden Kilshaw (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) were hitless but chipped in with productive at bats, combining for three RBIs in the victory.

On the mound, Calum Andersen (Calgary, Alta.) delivered an impressive start, striking out five over four innings, while allowing just two runs, only one of them earned.

Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) followed with a strong relief appearance before Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, Ont.) closed out the game, striking out three in 1/1/3 scoreless innings.

With the victory, the Junior squad improves to 2-4 in the Dominican Pro Academy Camp. They will continue their tour and face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Game 1

The Junior National Team lost to the Milwaukee Brewers DSL squad in 20-2 in their first game on Friday.

Box Score

Despite the final score, the Canadians continued to gain valuable experience against professional competition while showing flashes offensively throughout the contest.

Omidi belted a solo home run for the Juniors in the sixth inning and later added a walk.

Rivard collected a pair of hits, including a bunt single while also reaching base via hit-by-pitch.

Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) added a hit and a stolen base, while Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) reached base and scored during an eighth inning rally that also featured an RBI ground out by Sam Ellis (La Pêche, Que.).

On the mound, Cole Dorland (Langley, B.C.) started and struck out two in 2 2/3 innings, while Oscar Leah (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and Noah Powell (Toronto, Ont.) finished the game with relief appearances.

May 9, 2025

Official Toronto Maple Leafs News Release

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed catcher Matt Brandt for the 2026 season.

After appearing in three games with the Maple Leafs in 2025 as a junior call-up, Brandt returns to Toronto in 2026 as a member of the active roster. A native of Queensville, Ont., he arrives from Chatham University, where he appeared in 42 games as the Cougars’ starting catcher.

Brandt finished his 2026 college season, hitting .250, with one home run and 32 RBIs, while walking 16 times and notching nine multi-hit performances. Defensively, the Ontario Titans alum threw out 10 base-stealers, good for a 34.5% caught stealing rate while posting a .983 fielding percentage.

He also spent time at both Spalding University (2022-2023) and Point Park University (2024-2025). Brandt slots in as Toronto’s primary catcher to begin the year.

May 14, 2026

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team battled back late but ultimately fell 9–4 to the Pittsburgh Pirates DSL squad during Dominican Professional Academy Camp action on Thursday.

Box Score

Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.) continues to deliver at the top of the Canadian lineup, picking up a hit and scoring a run. Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, Ont.) collected a double and later scored as part of his 1-for-3 performance.

Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, B.C.) delivered a clutch RBI single in the seventh, while Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) added a run-scoring ground out, and Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) chipped in with an RBI single as the Juniors cut into the deficit late.

On the mound, Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) struck out two over two innings in his start. Will Zielinski (Victoria, B.C.) followed with a strong relief outing, striking out three while also picking off a runner in the fifth inning. Gabe Fink (Edmonton, Alta.) added five punch outs over the final two innings of work.

The Juniors will continue Dominican Professional Academy Camp play on Friday with a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays DSL squads.

May 14, 2026

By Jeff Sargeant

UBC Communications

LAKELAND, Fla. – An incredible post-season run by the No. 24 UBC Thunderbirds has come to an end, falling 7-2 to the No. 14 Southeastern (Fla.) Fire in the final game of the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round in Lakeland, Fla.

Having pushed the bracket to the distance with a 12-3 victory over the T-Birds Wednesday, the host Fire managed back-to-back must-win performances to earn the final berth at the upcoming NAIA World Series.

Trailing 7-0 in the fifth, the T-Birds got one back thanks to a Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) solo home run, but the tournament hosts limited UBC to just three total base runners in the ensuing three and a third innings.

Still down six runs with just three outs remaining, UBC did their level best to mount a late comeback, loading the bases with two down in the bottom of the ninth. A wild pitch allowed Braeden Scott (Vancouver, B.C.) to score from third but with the bases still juiced, reliever Hayden Givens-Craig struck out Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.) to end the threat as Southeastern has advanced to the World Series for an eighth straight season.

It was a dream start for the Heat, leading off the top of the first with back-to-back solo home runs from Armani Cozza and Jace Essig. Loading the bases with one down, a T-Birds fielding error allowed another two to cross the plate for a 4-0 lead.

With the bases loaded in the top of the third, Southeastern tacked on another run off a Brock McMullen RBI single.

The Fire extended their lead to 7-0 on a fifth inning Cort Pryor double. Owen McConnell (Vancouver, B.C.) then retired his next three batters to end the threat, adding a pair of strikeouts in the sixth.

Mason Chien (Langley, B.C.) pitched two scoreless innings to keep the Fire off the board, as did Lucas Huynh (Vancouver, B.C.) in the ninth, but the T-Bird bats just weren't able to overcome the sizeable deficit against one of the NAIA's most lethal pitching staffs.

There's no doubt UBC's loss will sting for some time, but there's also plenty of room for optimism about this group moving forward, the vast majority of which is eligible to return for another run at the program's first NAIA World Series title in 2027.

May 13, 2026

Baseball Canada

Game 2

The Junior National Team held on despite a late push by the Boston Red Sox DSL squad, collecting their first win of the Dominican Professional Academy Camp 6–5 to close out the doubleheader action on Wednesday.

Box Score

The first inning magic continued for the Canadians as Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) paced the offence with a two-run triple to help his club to an early lead. Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.) continued his productive camp, reaching base multiple times, scoring twice, and adding a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base.

Taye Thierman (Calgary, Alta.) delivered the decisive blows in the game with a clutch double and RBI single over his 2-for-3 performance. Aiden Kilshaw (Saskatoon, Sask.) chipped in with a 1-for-2 performance with a walk and a run scored.

On the mound, Desmond Tregaskis (Delta, B.C.) turned in a strong start, striking out three over three perfect innings to open up the game.

Sam Davis (Beaumont, Alta.) followed with several key outs in relief, highlighted by a pair of strikeouts and two pickoffs in his Junior National Team debut. Austin Blair (Victoria, B.C.) closed out the game and struck out two over the final two innings to secure the first victory for the Canadians in the camp.

The Juniors will continue Dominican Professional Academy Camp play on Thursday when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates DSL.

Game 1

The Junior National Team showed plenty of offensive firepower despite dropping a 10–5 decision to the Miami Marlins DSL squad during the first game of a doubleheader in their Dominican Professional Academy Camp on Wednesday.

Box Score

Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) continued his strong start to camp, launching another two-run home run in the opening inning before adding a pair of walks and a run scored.

Rivard turned in another productive performance at the top of the lineup, collecting a double, single, and an RBI while scoring once. MacDonald delivered the biggest hit of the late comeback push with a two-run single in the seventh inning to make it 7-5.

On the mound, Josh Mills (Leduc, Alta.) started and struck out five in three innings, highlighted by a scoreless second where the left hander struck out the side. Damarcus Rideout-Carter (Brampton, ON) registered six Ks of his own in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

May 13, 2026

By Jeff Sargeant

UBC Communications

LAKELAND, Fla. – The UBC Thunderbirds were limited to just six hits as the No. 14 Southeastern (Fla.) Fire scored nine times in the final four innings en route to a 12-3 victory, forcing the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round bracket the distance with a final elimination game Thursday afternoon.

After another strong start, the No. 24 T-Birds surrendered three runs in the third, five in the sixth and another four in the eighth as the Lakeland bracket hosts bounced back strong from Tuesday night's loss to UBC. Now with both teams down to their last life in the double elimination tournament, the winner of Thursday's matchup will continue their season with a berth in the NAIA World Series while the loser will have their campaign come to an abrupt halt.

As they've done the entire tournament, the T-Birds had a positive opening inning Wednesday, scoring the game's first run thanks to some sloppy play by the hosts. Earning a leadoff walk, Matt Vanslyke (Whitby, Ont.) made his way to second on a wild pitch and later crossed the plate on a fielding error before Fire starting pitcher Blake Albritton got Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) to hit into an inning ending double play.

Another throwing error in the top of the second plated UBC's second run with Calvin Warrillow (Toronto, Ont.) reaching home, both runs coming before the 'Birds managed their first hit of the game.

James Brock (Burnaby, B.C.), meanwhile, struck out three batters in the first two innings in the senior's first start of the tournament.

The Fire took the lead in the third with a Cade Parry RBI single which plated Armani Cozza who had driven in Southeastern's first run of the contest with a double to left.

It remained a one-run game into the sixth when the Fire burst out for five runs and an 8-2 lead. Cort Pryor launched a three-run home run, chasing Brock off the mound with Daniel Orfaly (White Rock, B.C.) coming out of the bullpen. Unfortunately for the 'Birds, Southeastern managed to load the bases with only one away. Orfaly got Cozza to strikeout, but a Jace Essig base hit scored two more before Parry flied out to end the frame.

Albritton exited after seven complete innings having allowed just four UBC hits and two runs, neither of them earned.

Hayden Givens-Craig pitched the eighth for Southeastern and didn't allow a hit, walking Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.) but striking out three to keep the hosts comfortably in front.

The Fire took a double-digit lead in the eighth thanks to a two-RBI Nathanial Hopkins double and an Essig base hit, the right fielder later scoring himself on a wild pitch.

UBC refused to go quietly despite the 10-run deficit, loading the bases in the top of the ninth. With two down, David Krahn (Langley, B.C.) singled to left scoring Warrillow but no more as Dayne Wimberly quickly got the ball back to the infield. UBC's rally ended with just the single run as Aron Harrington forced Kenny Scott (Delta, B.C.) into a ground out to end the game and force Thursday's do-or-die rubber match.

UBC's first loss of the Opening Round tournament may not have been their prettiest, but the T-Birds allowed themselves the opportunity to still advance to the World Series thanks to their tremendous work over the first two days.

First pitch for Thursday's win or go home battle with the Fire is set for 9:00 a.m. P.T.

May 13, 2026

A total of 92 young women -- including six Canadians -- took part in the annual Trailblazer Series at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla.

Reagan Jane Allard (Beamsville, Ont.), Kaylee Chan (Aurora, Ont.), Presleigh Lawson (Calgary, Alta.), Marisa Shah (Mississauga, Ont.), Mingqian Chloe Yang (White Rock, BC) and Nicole Wooten (Richmond, BC) were the six Canucks participating.

In 2017, USA Baseball and Major League Baseball launched a new event for girls built around Jackie Robinson Day in celebration of baseball’s quintessential “trailblazer.” The objective of the event is to provide playing, development and educational opportunities to girls who play baseball.

How they fared:

-Shah pitched two scoreless innings, throwing 29 pitches, striking out two. Shah also played shortstop and centre field and narrowly missed a homer, hitting a ball off the centre field fence.

-Allard batted leadoff for her team, helping them to a 2-0 record. In her two games, Allard pitched, played outfield, and went 4-for-7 at the plate, stealing multiple bases.

Chan worked two innings, allowing two runs, and striking out five. She also scored multiple runs in her teams’ two games.

Lawson caught the first game and pitched two innings in the second. At the plate, she had three hits.

Yang pitched two innings and also played second base, shortstop and outfield.

All were happy to meet the other talented girls and amazing coaches.

Coaticook defeats Sherbrooke in LBMQ 2026 season opener ... Kirk Fryer collected three hits for Sherbrooke

By Dan Estey

CABC Admin

The Big Bill de Coaticook and Expos de Sherbrooke had the honour of kicking off the 2026 Ligue de Baseball majeur du Quebec regular season.

They kicked off a very busy opening weekend which saw all 11 LBMQ teams in action to open the season.

The visiting Sherbrooke Expos would get on the board first as they would plate a pair of runs to open the game at Stade Julien Morin in Coaticook. The Big Bill would come back with two of their own in the home half of the inning to tie the score. Each team scored in the third.

Coaticook took its first lead of the game in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs and for a 5-3 lead. A pesky Sherbrooke team answered in fifth with three runs to re-claim the lead. The Big Bill took the lead for good in the fifth as it would score four runs in that frame to tale a 9-6 lead. They would add an insurance run in the sixth to win this contest 10-6.

Simon Pierre-Soumis led the way offensively for the Big Bill, going 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Jacob Carroll was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI while Xavier Langlois was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Julien Castagnier-Charlebois was also 2-for-4 with a pair of runs while Kyle Hazel doubled.

For the Expos, they were led by Kirk Fryer who was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Ismael Ballard was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Samuel Rajotte was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Benjamin De Grandpre was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles while Philippe Dion was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI.

On the mound, Coaticook used four different arms with Oscar Rodriguez drawing the start. He tossed four innings, allowing three runs — two earned — on 10 hits while striking out three. Yun Sinkeun started the fifth inning and permitted three runs — two earned — on no hits and a pair of walks without recording an out. Raul Rodriguez followed him, tossing an inning allowing no runs on two hits and striking out two in collecting the win.

Sora Sakashita would throw the last two innings, allowing no runs and one hit with two strikeouts.

For Sherbrooke, Keisuke Takikawa started and allowed five runs — two earned — on five hits. He walked one and struck out five in collecting a no decision. Cedric Caron followed and tossed one inning, allowing four runs on four hits while walking one and striking out one in taking the loss. Jose Lalancette tossed the final inning allowing one run (earned) on one hit while walking one and striking out two.

*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on May 12. You can read it here.

May 13, 2026

By Joe McFarland

Alberta Dugout Stories

“Remember why.”

You will find those two words scrawled in the inside of Carson Friesen’s hat as he takes to the field for the Edmonton Collegiate Hawks.

More noticeably, the outfielder will take a moment before an at-bat to etch an “E” into the dirt beside the batter’s box.

They are a couple of ways that Friesen honours one of his boyhood friends, Ethan Symtaniuk, after losing him to suicide in 2019.

The pair were in grade nine in Saskatoon when it happened. Seven years later, his old pal is always on his mind.

“He was probably one of the most friendly guys I’ve ever known in my lifetime,” Friesen told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.

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Listen to Alberta Dugout Stories interview Carson Friesen here.

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“At the end of the day, he’s one of the main reasons why I will continue to play for as long as I can.”

The college senior is doing everything in his power to make a lasting impression for his old friend, including what might have been a record-setting game and a fantastic start towards claiming the Hawks’ first-ever Canadian College Baseball Conference World Series.

DREAMING FOR TWO

Baseball has never really been a sport for Friesen: it’s been a way of life.

Introduced the game at a young age by his father, he says he was lucky enough to play a bunch of other sports in Saskatoon but always gravitated back to the diamond.

When Symtaniuk passed away, Friesen says he was trying to figure out where to focus his attention, and that’s when he made his move.

“Honestly, baseball hits different at the end of the day,” he said. “The relationships you make on the field and off the field, it’s helped make me into who I am in a way, and it’s definitely helped me grow as a person.”

After another year at home, Friesen decided to try taking his game to the next level and moved to Alberta where he played with the Parkland Twins and trained with Taylor Burns at AHP Academy in St. Albert.

At one point, Burns took to Twitter to say the left-handed hitter was a “cheat code” at the plate, winning AHP’s Hitter of the Year Award in 2022.

Carson Friesen is a cheat code https://t.co/yCsh4BPpCR

— Taylor Burns (@tburns34) July 15, 2021

“That was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Friesen said. “It was a family there – I loved going there every day and just being part of the team.”

His performance earned him a commitment to Saddleback Community College, before Friesen ultimately chose to go to Ventura College in California.

FREQUENT FLYER MILES

No route in college baseball is a straight line and Friesen has been living proof of that.

His freshman season at Ventura didn’t go according to plan, as he hit .107 with a run scored and four runs batted in over 17 games in 2022-2023.

He came back home to suit up with the Hawks during the spring of 2024, where he swatted a .192 average and 17 RBIs in 23 games before becoming more of a force in the playoffs with a .316 average, his first collegiate homer and five RBIs in five games.

Friesen then went back south to suit up with Pearce College, where it was still a struggle with a .186 batting average accompanying another roundtripper and six RBIs in 18 games.

Grateful for all of the travel he’s been able to do in his young career, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Friesen was ready to come home for his senior season.

“The greatest adversity for me has probably been the mental side of baseball,” he said. “I have the talent, I have the hard work, but it’s a lot of mental work and I feel like it’s something that I can continue to get better at every day.”

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

Everything seemingly clicked for Friesen as soon as the 2026 CCBC season got underway.

Up against the University of Fraser Valley in the first game of the spring, he hit three singles, scored twice and drove in one in an 11-5 victory.

Confidence seemed to breed more confidence, as Friesen hit his first home run of the season two days later to finish out opening weekend.

Then he had a weekend for the ages against the Victoria Golden Tide, going 9-for-18 with a double, two dingers and 15 RBIs in a four-game set.

The double, those two homers and 11 of those RBIs came in one game as Friesen went 6-for-6 to set some single-game records for the Hawks.

“I’ve had some pretty crazy games before, but nothing even close to that,” he laughed.

Admittedly, Friesen wishes he could explain what happened, but baseball has a funny way of working sometimes.

“Call me crazy, but I don’t really have an approach as I just see ball and hit ball,” he continued. “When coaches are like, ‘You have a two-strike approach?’ and I just go into the box and just know that I’m going to hit the ball.”

The roll continues as he’s hitting .321 on the season with six doubles, a triple, four homers and 29 RBI in 20 games.

HAWKS TAKING FLIGHT

More important than the personal statistics has been the performance of the Hawks.

They sit in third place in the standings with a 15-9 record and were particularly impressive in a weekend set against the reigning champion Okanagan College Coyotes, winning three of four and scoring 59 runs.

“We have, in my opinion, the best hitters I’ve played with in a long time,” Friesen said. “I think we have the players and the coaching staff to win it all this year.”

With three weekends to go in the regular season, it’s looking like the Hawks have done enough to earn one of the top six spots in the conference and a ticket to the CCBC championship weekend in Lethbridge.

Since their first appearance in the World Series in 2022, they have yet to make it to the championship game, which is something Friesen is hoping to change this time around.

And then, of course, win it all.

“My gosh, it would mean the absolute world to me,” he said. “Even thinking about it now, it’s just like … I’m just so excited to see what the possibilities are for this team.”

It would be one more way for Friesen to tip his cap to a long-time friend he misses dearly.

May 12, 2026

Official London Majors News Release

The London Majors are thrilled to announce that franchise legend Cleveland Brownlee will return for his 16th season with the club in 2026.

Brownlee, 41, has been one of the most dominant hitters in Majors' history and will once again provide leadership and experience as the club transitions into its inaugural professional season in the new Canadian Baseball League (CBL). The 6-foot-4, 270-pound designated hitter remains one of the most recognizable and respected players in London’s long baseball history.

Across 600 career games with the Majors, Brownlee has compiled a .288 batting average while launching 138 home runs and driving in 530 runs. He has also recorded 662 hits and 100 doubles during his decorated career, cementing his place among the greatest players to ever wear a Majors' uniform.

Brownlee holds several franchise records, including the all-time marks for home runs (138) and RBIs (530). One of his most memorable seasons came in 2022 when he helped lead the Majors to their second consecutive championship. That year, Brownlee posted a .335 batting average while blasting a career-high 15 home runs and driving in a franchise-record 52 RBIs. His 15 home runs that season still stand as the most in a single season in team history.

Beyond the numbers, Brownlee’s impact has been felt throughout the organization and the London community for more than a decade.

“It’s hard to believe that Cleve and I will be going into year 16 together,” said Majors field manager Roop Chanderdat. “It feels like yesterday when he moved from Atlanta to join our club. Not only has he been important on the field, but he’s been a tremendous leader in our community. Cleve is a perfect role model for our younger players and another important veteran presence in our clubhouse as we compete for a championship this season. He brings a lot of experience and is an important part of our culture here in London.”

May 12, 2026

Baseball Canada

The Canadian Junior National Team opened its Dominican Professional Academy Camp with an 8–3 setback against the San Francisco Giants DSL squad.

Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) provided the early spark for the Canadians, launching a two-run home run in the opening inning to give the Juniors an early lead. Omidi later added a double to finish with a pair of extra-base hits, while Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) collected two hits and scored a run. Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) drove in the last run of the game for the Canadians with a single in the seventh inning.

On the mound, Max Nantais-Vlahovich (Mississauga, Ont.) got the start and struck out three over three innings. Logan Cummins (Mississauga, Ont.) followed in relief before Ethan Reason (Stouffville, Ont.) turned in an impressive outing to close the game. The left-hander retired all six batters he faced while striking out five in two scoreless innings.

The Juniors will continue Dominican Professional Academy Camp action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins and the Boston Red Sox DSL squads.

‘Birds douse Fire to pull within one win of NAIA World Series

Jeff Sargeant

UBC Communications

LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 24 ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (40-15) are one win away from advancing to a second straight NAIA World Series after a decisive 11-1 victory in eight innings over the Lakeland, Florida bracket host No. 14 Southeastern University Fire (40-16) Tuesday evening.

A pair of David Krahn (Langley, B.C.) home runs set the early tone as the sophomore infielder drove in four runs on the day, one of four T-Birds to manage multiple hits while Myles Chamberlain (Victoria, B.C.) orchestrated a tremendous six-inning start, allowing just the one run for his 11th victory of the season.

Starting the Lakeland bracket of the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round 3-0, the ‘Birds will now battle the winner of Wednesday’s early game between the Fire and Milligan (Tenn.) for the championship game set for 3:00 p.m. P.T.

The T-Birds had themselves a 3-0 lead before the Fire had a chance to record their first out. A lead-off single by Matt Vanslyke (Whitby, Ont.) was followed by Braeden Scott (Vancouver, B.C.) getting plunked by Southeastern starter Austin Peddycoart. The second pitch to Krahn was sent out of the park to left for the early multi-run advantage.

Krahn nailed a solo homer in the third to extend UBC’s lead to 4-0 while Chamberlain continued to deal on the mound. With runners on the corners and one away in the top of the fourth, the junior righty got Victor Esquivel Perez to fly out followed by a Nathaniel Hopkins ground out to keep the hosts off the board.

Fire second baseman Paul Wittman hammered the ball off the left field wall for a leadoff double in the top of the sixth and Southeastern finally got a run across with a Hopkins two-out RBI double. Chamberlain got Armani Cozza to strike out looking, ending the frame with UBC up by four.

Kansai Sugimoto scored on a Scott sac fly in the sixth making it 6-1 ‘Birds and spelling the end of Peddycoart’s night. Reliever Grant Trentmann promptly forced an inning-ending double play to keep the Fire within reasonable striking distance.

Mason Chien (Langley, B.C.) came out of the bullpen to pitch the seventh for UBC and went three-up, three-down, as did Linden Happell in the eighth, striking out each of his three batters.

After having the game start delayed multiple times due to weather, the ‘Birds wasted no time calling lights out in the bottom of the eighth. UBC quickly got two runners in scoring position for Scott who drove in a pair. After Krahn reached base with his third hit of the night, Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) launched a three-run shot over the left field wall to invoke the mercy rule and send the T-Birds into Wednesday’s championship game.

The Fire will battle Milligan in an elimination contest at 11:30 a.m. P.T. in Lakeland, the winner facing the ‘Birds with a trip to the NAIA World Series on the line.

Thanks to their perfect start to the tournament, the ‘Birds will have two cracks to win the double-elimination bracket and earn a second straight World Series appearance.

First pitch Wednesday for UBC is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. P.T. at Ted A. Broer Stadium. The game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.

*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on May 11. You can read it here.

May 12, 2026

By Joe McFarland

Alberta Dugout Stories

Greg Hamilton is racking up the Air Miles in a memorable way.

The head coach and director of Baseball Canada’s men’s teams started the year off with an exciting run in the World Baseball Classic, taking the country to the knockout round for the first time in the event’s history.

He followed that by heading up the Junior National Team’s eight-day Extended Spring Training Camp trip to Dunedin, facing several teams’ top young prospects.

The squad is now taking part in another spring staple, the Dominican Republic Professional Academy Camp, for games against another 11 rosters worth of MLB prospects.

Each year, it’s an eye-opening few weeks for the high school athletes, who get to learn from some of the best in the country, travel the world and see how they stack up against pro players.

“I’ve always believed that if you do development right and you’re patient and persistent, you’re going to end up with the best possible outcome in terms of performance,” he told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.

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Listen to Alberta Dugout Stories interview Greg Hamilton here.

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“It’s about making sure that players understand what their strengths are going to be within the game and understanding that what they bring to the table is going to be good enough if they really bear down and focus on it and commit to the process of development.”

Once the Dominican trip is over, the players and coaches will head back to their respective home teams and get ready for a busy summer, as will Hamilton, who has an extra stop on his busy itinerary.

SETTLING SOME SCORES

The Road to Okotoks isn’t your typical national championship.

While most tournaments have the best from each province battling it out for Canadian bragging rights, the latest edition to Baseball Canada’s summer agenda will see the top programs from across the country face off for national supremacy and the Morneau Cup.

The event will also settle a few bets as many have claimed to be the best but haven’t been able to prove it on the field.

Baseball Canada added it as something to investigate in its 2023-2028 strategic plan and worked with the Okotoks Dawgs to bring the idea to life for the 2026 season, something Hamilton couldn’t be more excited to see.

“It’s an opportunity for all the programs in the country that aspire to be the best in terms of their program versus others to tee it up and give them a chance to knock heads in an ultra-competitive environment,” said the Baseball Canada architect.

“It’s all about representing your program, representing your teammates, and trying to be successful and trying to win a best-on-best across the country.”

Each team will have to go through a regional tournament at the end of May, with 13 teams set to take part in the Prairie Qualifier in Lethbridge and Vauxhall.

Pool A will feature the Calgary Bucks, HR Sports Academy (Manitoba), Okotoks Dawgs White, Gulls Prep and Vauxhall Academy. Pool B sees ATHX Academy, Calgary Premier Blues, Okotoks Dawgs Red and Team Saskatchewan. And Pool C has AHP Academy, Calgary Cubs, Parkland Twins and Webber Wildcats.

The top three teams from the Prairies will advance to Okotoks for the Morneau Cup from July 14-19, where the best 16 academy programs from across the country will be represented.

WEARING A SCOUT’S HAT

It was also important for Hamilton to see another side of all the players who might be in the running for future Junior National Team (JNT) spots.

Unlike a bullpen, session in the batting cage or showcase, he loves the idea of seeing how players interact with their teammates and play within the roles they have on their respective clubs.

Hamilton sees it in a similar light to the WBC where program pride will likely add an extra spark to the competition.

“You’ve got to be able to make plays or pitches or get hits when it’s timely and when it matters,” said the head honcho. “You’ve got to handle adversity and pressure, and you’ve got to be a good teammate, which ultimately leads to the best memories, too.”

Putting on his scouting hat, Hamilton is hoping to see players who love to compete, that understand who they are as players and that they’re comfortable in being part of the team and care about their teammates as much as they do about winning.

They’ll be the same things college and pro scouts in attendance will also be keeping a close eye on over the course of the tournament.

“These programs are proud of their name, their namesake, and they’re proud of what’s across the front of their jerseys.”

SETTING THE TONE

Hamilton says the fever pitch for baseball is on.

People can’t get enough of the game thanks to the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series last season and are starting to realize just how good the Canadian talent pool is after the WBC.

Add in the facilities and quality of coaching, the game here has come leaps and bounds since he started with Baseball Canada in 1992.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer says getting the monkey off their back and getting into the knock-out round of the WBC and playing the United States as well as they did is a sign they are on the right path.

He says Canada’s roster also has a solid nucleus of players who will be back whenever the next tournament is held, and some young talent knocking on the door in the minor leagues already.

Hamilton says the bar has been set high by the 2026 squad.

“I thought we had a very competitive group that really enjoyed playing for each other,” he said. “They really, really got what it meant to put Canada across their jerseys and play for their country. They really embraced that and ultimately delivered and performed.”

It’s an energy he hopes to see as he travels around Canada again this summer, especially when the Road to Okotoks culminates with the Morneau Cup in July.

Other Road to Okotoks Articles

Terriers

Etobicoke Rangers

Mississauga North Tigers

North Toronto Athletics

Elliott: The best will compete on the Road to Okotoks and in the Morneau Cup — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: WCBL to showcase teams to young talent during Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: Morneau appreciates team-first focus of Road to Okotoks national championship — Canadian Baseball Network

Sweeney: Atlantic provinces prep for Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Rangers, Cardinals register Opening Day wins in COBA Major League action … Doyle hit three HRs in a losing cause for Oakville

Adam Doyle hit three homers for the Oakville A’s in a loss to the Erindale Cardinals.

By Dan Estey

Canadian Baseball Network

The COBA Major Baseball League kicked off its 2026 season on chilly Friday night with a pair of contests. The Ontario Elimination Tournament finalist Etobicoke Rangers opened with a walk-off 8-7 win over the Brampton Royals while the Erindale Cardinals took a slug fest 18-16 over the Oakville A’s at Oakville Park.

At Connorvale Park, Tanner Young-Schultz played hero on this evening as it was his two-run double in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Rangers the slight margin of victory. Brampton had grabbed the lead early scoring in the first on an RBI single from Aidan Murphy. They would hold that lead until the third inning when Etobicoke would scored three runs on a pair of Brampton errors to claim a 3-1 lead.

Brampton would knotted the game 3-3 in the fourth with a pair of runs on RBI singles from Caleb Chramow and Jayden Jeminson. The Rangers would reclaim the lead in the fifth on a single run on an RBI ground out from David Boatto. That lead would disappeared in the top of the seventh inning as Brampton scored two on a fielders choice and an error to reclaim a 5-4 lead.

The Rangers tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning as scored a run on another Brampton fielding error. Brampton would score two runs in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Logan Janes. The Rangers used a pair of walks and a single to plate one run, setting up Young-Schultz for his heroics and game winning double.

At Oakville Park, the Erindale Cardinals used a late two-point conversation in collecting the win over the Oakville A’s in a long back and forth affair. The A’s would struck first scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on a solo homer from Adam Doyle and an RBI single from Nick Jaeggin. They extended that lead to 5-0 on Doyle’s second solo HR in the second and a two-run single from veteran Marc Walton in the third.

Erindale would ate into that lead in the fourth on a single, an RBI ground out and an error cutting the lead to 5-3. They took the lead 6-5 in the fifth with three more runs on an error, a single and a bases loaded walk. Oakville reclaimed the lead scoring nine runs with two outs highlighted by Doyle’s third HR of the evening to right centre..

Not phased, Erindale would go to work in the sixth plating six runs, and cutting the lead to 14-12. Oakville would get RBI singles from Nick Jaeggin and Vic Christensen in the bottom of the sixth extending the lead to 16=12. The Cardinals took the lead for good in the seventh plating another six runs for an 18-16 lead. Oakville got a couple of runners on in the bottom of the seventh but Easton Kirkpatrick kept the A’s off the board earning the win.

May 12, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Canisius University revealed its 60th Sports Hall of Fame Class yesterday morning, and one of the new inductees has Canadian connections.

Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) is the lone baseball player being inducted this year, with the Toronto Mets alum boasting a solid resume from his time with the Golden Griffins and post-university. He is the 28th baseball player from Canisius to be inducted.

Panas spent four seasons in the Buffalo-based program, posting a collective .330/.447/.522 slash line with 50 doubles, 13 triples, and 18 home runs in 217 games. Splitting time between the corner infield spots, Panas amassed a .968 fielding percentage.

Through his time with the Golden Griffins, Panas earned numerous accolades. He is the only male in Canisius’s history to earn the MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year award twice (2014, 2015) and also earned the 2015 MAAC Championship tournament MVP Award after recording 13 hits and 12 RBIs on the way to the program’s second MAAC championship title. Panas also earned ABCA All-Northeast Region honours (2014, 2015), Canadian Baseball Network First Team honours (2014, 2015), First Team All-American (2015), MAAC Player of the Year (2014), and All-MAAC First Team honours (2014, 2015).

Across the program's history, Panas ranks first in triples, second in games played and total bases (377), fourth in runs (162) and doubles, fifth in RBIs (155) and hits (247), sixth in walks (106), seventh in at-bats (722), and ninth in stolen bases (42). Panas also holds the single-season record for hits with 92 in the 2015 season.

With his impressive work, Panas became the 10th Canisius player drafted to the major leagues, with the Toronto Blue Jays selecting him in the ninth round in 2015.

Panas spent parts of four seasons climbing up the Jays' farm system before Toronto dealt him to the San Diego Padres in exchange for left-hander Clayton Richard on December 30, 2018. The Padres would release Panas during the 2019 season.

The infielder would take his talents to independent ball from 2021 through 2023 before heading down south to play in the Mexican League. Panas split the 2024 season between Veracruz and Campeche and spent the entire 2025 season with the Pirates. This season, Panas joined Bravos de Leon and owns an impressive .333/.434/.667 slash line through 19 games, collecting three doubles and six home runs with 16 RBIs.

Internationally, Panas has represented Canada at the 2019 Pan Am Games and also donned the Maple Leaf at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament and the 2021 WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier. Panas has also played overseas, suiting up in Australia for Canberra in 2017 and Brisbane in 2023. In addition, he was drafted by the Arabia Wolves for the inaugural season of Baseball United, a league aimed at expanding the game throughout the Middle East and Asia.

The formal induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame class is scheduled for September 25 at Canisius. The Canisius Sports Hall of Fame now has 223 individual members.

May 11, 2026

Official London Majors News Release

The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of outfielder Ryder Hancock for the 2026 season.

Hancock (Calgary, Alta.) joins the Majors following a strong collegiate career at the University of Mount Olive.

Hancock recently completed his senior season at Mount Olive, where he batted .309 with a .427 on-base percentage and an .846 OPS over 43 games. The left-handed hitter recorded 13 doubles, 21 RBIs, and struck out just nine times all season, showcasing the elite bat-to-ball skills that have defined his career.

Prior to joining Mount Olive, Hancock spent two seasons at Chandler-Gilbert Community College from 2023-24. Across 180 collegiate games, the Calgary native posted a lifetime .312 batting average with a .404 on-base percentage while striking out only 59 times.

Known for his speed and versatility, Hancock brings the ability to play all three outfield positions while impacting the game offensively and defensively.

“We’re excited to add a speedy outfielder to our lineup for the 2026 season with great bat-to-ball skills,” said Roop Chanderdat, the Majors field manager. “Hancock has made a career of not striking out and playing good defence. He can play all three outfield positions and really plays the game with heart and grit. He’s a perfect fit for our team, and we’re excited to see him in our professional environment.”

May 11, 2026

Official Guelph Royals News Release

The Guelph Royals are excited to announce the re-signing of IBL/CBL legend Damon Topolie.

The 50-year-old Topolie returns to Guelph in pursuit of 500 career RBIs, a feat accomplishment by only Sean Reilly and Kevin Hinton, both of whom played in Guelph.

The North Bay, Ont., native joked that he’s happy to finally be a professional baseball player.

“This is a story of never giving up. After 26 years, to finally sign a professional baseball contract is a dream come true. To sign with such a storied and first-class organization is beyond amazing,” said Topolie. “The game of baseball has been very, very good to me. I’m truly blessed to a part of the Guelph Royals family.”

Royals assistant general manager Ryan Eakin said bringing Topolie back was a no brainer.

“We are a better clubhouse and team with Damon Topolie. What I love most about having him around is his willingness to do whatever is asked of him, despite being a manager in this league for so many years. He conducts himself as if he is a rookie trying to impress a coaching staff who is not familiar with him. It sets a standard of professionalism in our clubhouse. We greatly look forward to him reaching such a historic milestone in a Guelph jersey.”

May 11, 2026

By Toby Kerr

UBC Communications

LAKELAND, Fla. – The NAIA No.24-ranked UBC Thunderbirds built a big lead early and hung on late, surviving a ninth inning surge to defeat the No.11-ranked Milligan University (TN) Buffaloes 6-4 in the first game of the 2026 NAIA Baseball Opening Round.

UBC scored all six of its runs in the first three innings, and conceded two of the four against them in a tense bottom of the ninth that ended with the tying run on first.

Overall, the T-Birds were outhit 12-8 by the Buffaloes, but conceded only one extra-base knock, and drew eight walks to the Buffaloes' one. A big difference was also defence, where the blue and gold were rock solid, while their opponents made four errors.

The meat of UBC's order came through when it counted, with two-three hitters Braeden Scott (Vancouver, B.C.) and David Krahn (Langley, B.C.) both picking up multiple hits and driving in a run, Scott also scoring.

The 'Birds were patient and opportunistic in building a big early lead.

UBC took advantage of a pair of Milligan errors to scratch across a run in the first before stacking three walks and two singles, along with another key error, to score four more in the second. The last run of the inning came on a heady play by third baseman Krahn, who intentionally got hung up between first and second base on a delayed steal to allow Scott to score from third.

The T-Birds added another tally in the third on a bases loaded walk by Lou Fujiwara, going up 6-0 on the strength of two singles and a stunning eight walks through three innings.

Staked to a big lead, 'Birds' ace Will Anderson (Delta, B.C.) cruised through the minimum over three innings, immediately erasing the only baserunner he allowed with a double play. He would go on to scatter four hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings, racking up six strikeouts while not walking a batter.

Immediately after Anderson left the game, the Buffaloes did find a bit of offence, stringing together three singles and a sac fly to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the T-Birds' lead to 6-2.

The score held from there until the bottom of the ninth, when Milligan made things interesting, to say the least.

A walk, single, and walk loaded the bases with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate. That prompted the blue and gold to turn to closer Lucas Huynh (Vancouver, B.C.). With the count full to Buffaloes' catcher and three-hitter Cade Kalehuawehe, Huynh got the ground ball he was looking for, but it snuck through the infield on the right side to score two runs, putting the tying run on first and bringing the winning run to the plate.

Huynh then went to battle with cleanup hitter Brody Melton and, despite falling behind 2-0, battled back to draw a lazy fly ball to right to end the ball game.

The victory puts the 'Birds on the winners' side of the bracket, set to square off against the winner of No.1 seed Southeastern and No.4 seed Faulkner at 11:00 a.m. (PT) on Tuesday.

May 9, 2026

Official Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles defeated the Wichita Wind Surge, 9-7 in 10 innings, on Saturday night at Hodgetown.

After trailing 6-0 in the second inning, Gavin Logan’s career night propelled the Soddies to their largest comeback win of the season.

Avery Short retired two of the first three Wind Surge batters and looked to have induced an inning-ending ground out to third baseman Manuel Pena off the bat of Billy Amick, but it was not fielded cleanly at the hot corner and wound up bringing in a run. Two singles followed Pena’s error, who then threw wide of the first base bag when given another chance to assist on the final out of the frame.

Two more base hits chased Short from the game as his pitch count grew to 35 in just 2/3 of an inning. Roman Angelo entered in relief as Wichita batted around in the first and scored five unearned runs.

The Wind Surge extended their lead to six runs on Jake Rucker’s sacrifice fly in the second, but the Sod Poodles won the inning after two walks to open the home half of the frame turned into a pair of runs on an Angel Ortiz two-RBI single.

Amarillo cut its deficit to three in the bottom of the third when Pena made up for his first-inning blemishes in the form of a 438-foot homer to right field to open the frame. Logan (Oyen, Alta.) followed suit with a leadoff bomb of his own in the fourth to make it a 6-4 ballgame.

The Soddies found themselves down by three again after another Wichita sac fly when Ortiz singled to start the sixth to bring up Logan, who came up huge with his second long ball of the night to bring Amarillo within a run. The Soddies weren’t yet satisfied, as they loaded the bases with two outs and Ben McLaughlin was able to race home as the tying run on a passed ball by Wichita catcher Andrew Cossetti.

Both bullpens held firm over the next three innings, which sent the game to the 10th. Carlos Rey and Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, B.C.) combined for a scoreless top of the tenth, setting the stage for Logan.

Needing just one run, Amarillo’s backstop brought in two for good measure, tucking a 2-1 fastball from Kyle Bischoff inside the left field foul pole to send the Sod Poodles home as walk-off winners.

POSTGAME NOTES

GAV-IN THE ZONE: Gavin Logan had a monster night at the plate on Saturday, hitting three home runs as he reached base five times...it was the first multi-homer game of his minor league career along with his first homer and multi-hit game against right-handed pitching in 2026.

*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on May 8, 2026. You can read it here.

May 11, 2026

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

There is no quit in Kaden Prosofsky.

It would have been really easy for the Saskatoon native to mope around not being a starter as he began his freshman season at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif.

Instead, he kept working hard and waiting patiently for his opportunity to shine.

When the opportunity presented itself, Prosofsky jumped all over it like a meaty fastball over the heart of the plate.

He finished the spring with a .393 batting average, four home runs, 38 runs batted in and eight stolen bases in 34 games, earning himself an Inland Empire Athletic Conference First-Team All-Conference nod.

“I came in here obviously wanting to make an impact and that’s what I told the coaches,” Prosofsky told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “I just waited for my chance and, when I got it, I just never looked back.”

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Listen to Saskatchewan Dugout Stories interview Kaden Prosofsky here.

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While he’s proud of his accomplishments, the outfielder knows it’s just the beginning of what he hopes will be an even bigger year and career in the game.

CHOICE TO BE MADE

The son of former Western Hockey League and professional hockey player Garrett Prosofsky, Kaden says he never felt any pressure to follow in the footsteps.

While he did lace up skates in the winter, he found he liked being out in the sun more and soaked in those moments on the diamond.

By the time he was 15, Prosofsky started dedicating all his time to baseball, earning his first invite to a Baseball Sask team for the 15U Ray Carter Cup in 2022, helping the team capture the bronze with a 7-2 win over Manitoba.

“That was super meaningful (to represent Saskatchewan) because it was something I wanted to do growing up,” he said. “Winning bronze with all my super-close buddies just meant so much.”

Prosofsky donned the green and gold of his home province again at the 2024 Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, where the team finished in fourth place.

PECKING AWAY

Fine-tuning his talents with the Saskatoon Diamondbacks of the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League and with Berries Academy, Prosofsky set his sights on earning a college call.

He received it in early 2025, when College of the Desert made an offer he couldn’t refuse.

What made the move even easier was that the Roadrunners had become a familiar spot for Saskatchewan players, with five (Jackson Martin, Garrett Houston, Evan Deringer, Ty Thomson and Colin Plain) on the roster for the 2024-2025 school year.

While he was the only one to step foot on campus in the fall with the others moving on and up the collegiate baseball world, Prosofsky quickly went to work trying to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

Facing a strong contingent of sophomores, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect says he wanted to be aggressive at the plate whenever his name was called.

And Prosofsky delivered by going 2-for-3 with three RBIs in his Roadrunners debut, a 23-3 win over Compton on January 31.

Three days later, he drove in another run, and quickly became a trusted pinch-hitting bat with hits in almost every game he appeared in.

DOING SOME DAMAGE

For the better part of February, Prosofsky kept grinding out hits and giving head coach Sam DiMatteo reasons to insert him into the lineup.

In a February 24 romp over Cerra Coso College, the left-hitting freshman once again came in and hit his first collegiate home run on the first pitch he saw in a ninth inning at-bat.

“I always just try to be aggressive,” he said. “I’m a guy that swings in early counts and tries to damage early.”

That seemed to change the game for Prosofsky, as he was a starter two nights later and went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

In his words, he never looked back as he stayed in the lineup for the rest of the year, which included a 20-game hitting streak between February 17 and April 9.

The Roadrunners, meantime, entered the history books with the most wins in program history with a 32-8 record, including 21-3 in conference play.

Unfortunately, their hopes for a long playoff run came to an abrupt end with a 7-2 loss to Saddleback Community College in the Southern California Regionals.

BEING A SPONGE

It was a college season that Prosofsky won’t soon forget, not just for the memories made but for the lessons learned along the way.

The business administration student is looking forward to his sophomore season and hopes to garner the attention of a few NCAA Division I schools.

He also plans to further his game by spending the summer north of the border again with the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League under head coach and former MLB catcher Gregg Zaun.

“Kelowna’s going to be super-fun with lots of great D1 guys on our team,” Prosofsky said. “It’ll be cool to pick everyone’s brain.”

He’s hopeful his journey in the game, especially his college season, show players back home that success isn’t a straight line, and that you have to work for every minute of playing time.

“Don’t get too down on yourself because it is a game of failure,” Prosofsky stated. “It’s also a kid’s game and it’s meant to be fun playing it.”

The Falcons open up the 2026 WCL season at home on May 29 against the Bellingham Bells.

Terriers and Junior National Team alum Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.) has been named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Minor League Player of the Week after he fanned 14 batters and tossed six perfect innings in his start for the Kansas City Royals’ class-A Columbia Fireflies on Sunday.

May 11, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Left-hander Jordan Woods started and tossed six perfect innings for the Kansas City Royals’ class-A Columbia Fireflies against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Chicago White Sox class-A squad) on Sunday.

The Oakville, Ont., native also struck out 14 batters, which is the most by a pitcher in the minor league ranks this season.

For his efforts, he has been named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Minor League Player of the Week (May 5 to May 10).

Woods was absolutely dominant in his start, striking out the side in the first, fifth and sixth innings. He threw 56 of his 76 pitches for strikes.

His 14 strikeouts also matched a Fireflies’ single-game franchise record set by Luc Rennie on July 22, 2018.

You would not believe your eyes 🫙🎶

Jordan Woods (@Royals) lights up the box score with 14 (!!) strikeouts across 6 (!!) PERFECT innings for @ColaFireflies: pic.twitter.com/5eKL0IJFeV

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 10, 2026

His dominant performance lowered his season ERA to 1.73 and he now has 43 strikeouts in 26 innings in seven appearances (three starts).

A Terriers and Junior National Team grad, the 6-foot-3 left-hander was signed as an amateur free agent by the Royals in 2022. He is in his third season in the Royals’ organization.

2026 CBN Minor League Player of the Week winners

Opening Day to April 5 - Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Rangers

April 7 to April 12 - Dante Nori (Toronto, Ont.), Phillies

April 14 to April 19- Matt Wilkinson (Surrey, B.C.), Guardians

April 21 to April 26 - Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.), Braves

April 28 to May 3 - Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), Mets

May 5 to May 10 - Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.), Royals

Top Canadian Minor League Batters (May 5 to May 10)

Top Canadian Minor League Pitchers (May 5 to May 10)

May 11, 2026

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

One night in Atlanta I was stuck for an idea -- which happened often.

Someone at the office suggested writing a piece about Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox. I wrinkled my nose and my toes.

But an idea is an idea.

Passing though the lunch room, the late great Hall of Fame broadcaster Skip Caray, before heading downstairs at Turner Field, asked, “What you writing tonight?”

“The manager.”

“Good luck. Come and see me with your empty notebook when you are done.”

I tried about 20 ways asking that night. Cox talked about his pet shelter but not much about baseball. He was fine to sit and talk with in the dugout three or four hours before first pitch. I managed to pry a few words out of John Smoltz and Chipper Jones.

Skip’s words when I returned upstairs, “Bobby Cox wants all of the blame and none of the credit. Quite unlike Tommy Lasorda and my father (Harry Caray).”

As Los Angeles Dodgers scribe Gordie Verrell used to say, “I buried that line about the second graph” in the next day’s bugle.

* * *

Years ago, someone asked me to give them an illustration of baseball passion.

I told them about watching the Braves one night. Chipper Jones was hitting.

The Braves were being edged 11-1 with two out in the bottom of the ninth.

“C’om Chip,” viewers at home could hear from the dugout mike.

A called strike one.

“C’om Chipper,” the voice implored.

Fouled back, now it’s 0-2.

“Good one to come, c’om Chip,” the voice cheered.

Jones popped up.

Ball game.

Of course, the voice belonged to Braves manager Cox, who was inducted into Cooperstown along with his fellow managers Tony La Russa, Joe Torre and his starters Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, plus slugger Frank Thomas, in 2014.

It didn’t matter that his Braves were down by a touchdown and a field goal.

It didn’t matter that two were out.

Until the Braves made the 27th and final out, Cox still had hope.

Even down 10 in the bottom of the ninth.

* * *

Or the Jays. Best Toronto Blue Jays team ever? Well, you can pick your 1992 team that defeated Cox’s Braves in six games in the World Series. Or you can pick the 1993 team Cito Gaston managed to victory in six games against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Or you could pick the 1985 Blue Jays, which won a franchise-best 99 games over the regular season, despite carrying two Rule V players: Lou Thornton (72 at-bats, 16 starts) and SS Manny Lee (43 at-bats, six starts). So, basically he won 99 games with a 23-man roster.

“No one managed personalities better than Bobby Cox,” said his former Blue Jays catcher Ernie Whitt. “He ran the clubhouse, we had 25 personalities and he managed them. He put people in positions to succeed. If we went into a four-game series, we were trying to win three. A three-game series, we were going for two of three. Bobby loved to compete.”

It wasn’t to last though. After losing in seven games to the Kansas City Royals despite being up 3-1, Blue Jays executives were making the long ride from the Kansas City airport to their downtown hotel on a shuttle bus when an executive from another team said, “Sorry to hear about your manager.”

Ted Turner had hired Cox to be general manager of the Braves, where he had managed from 1978 to 1981, before heading to Toronto. Surprise. After the strike-shortened 1981 season, he fired Cox and replaced him with Joe Torre, a former Brave who struggled in Atlanta but was a genius at Yankee Stadium.

What if Turner, who fired Torre after the 1984 season, had hired a veteran manager rather than bringing in organizational man Eddie Haas, who lasted 121 games. Bobby Wine managed the rest of the season.

What if closer Bruce Sutter, coming off 45 saves, had not been injured and not gone 23-for-35 (66%) saving games?

Well, the Braves would not have had a need for a new GM and Cox would still have been in Toronto ... for a while.

“Bobby Cox would have managed this team for a long time,” said Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth. “He had respect from the players, he had support of Paul Beeston and Pat Gillick. Moving into the SkyDome he could have been like Earl Weaver’s stay in Baltimore.”

Instead Cox was a GM for only 4 1/2 seasons, firing Chuck Tanner one Sunday night in Chicago in 1988 and then taking over for Russ Nixon for the final 97 games of 1990.

* * *

One day in the weather room, at the end of the dugout, Cox talked about the game with one eye on the Dobbler weather. Former Braves INF Mark Lemke was there. Finally, Lemke left.

Someone asked, “Bobby, what does Lemke do now?”

Cox replied, “Ah, I don’t know -- same as when he played for us ... a little of that, a little of this.”

Turned out Lemke worked some games on radio and some on TV. With the Braves, he was an infielder who played here. He played there.

* * *

EXOS scribe Pete Williams came up with Cox’s six managerial lessons in 2010, his final year: 1. Never Speak Poorly of Anyone, 2. Pay Attention to Detail, 3. It’s Not About Me, 4. I’ve Got Your Back, 5. Know How to Pick Up a Colleague and 6. Be Consistent.

Whitt moved on to his own managing chair, guiding Team Canada to a gold in the Pan Am Games in 2011 and 2015 and a bronze in the World Cup in 2011.

“Everything I ever did with Team Canada I’d usually think ‘what would Bobby do here?’” said Whitt. “I treated my players the way he treated his players to be successful.”

* * *

Cox managed future Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. He won the National League Manager of the Year Award four times and won more games than anyone except Tony La Russa, Connie Mack and John McGraw.

Cox reached post-season play 14 consecutive years, although everyone seems to forget about 1994 when the Montreal Expos were in first as the strike hit.

One night his No. 3 hitter was a late scratch after the lineup was posted. The Blue Jays were in town with Roy Halladay on the mound. I asked Cox how bad his player was hurt?

“Not bad, he’ll be in there tomorrow, he has Halladay-itis ... a lot of guys get it,” joked Cox.

He suffered a major stroke in April 2019, shortly after the Braves’ home opener that season. That left him with significant health challenges, including impaired speech and issues that required the use of a wheelchair. A couple of years later, the Braves were at Rogers Centre and we asked a broadcaster about his health.

“We found out the secret,” he said, “we were going to visit Coxie in groups of three and four. Too much conversation. Too confusing. Now, it’s 1-on-1 and the visits are better.”

Cox passed Saturday at age 84.

* * *

My favourite Cox memory isn’t of him hobbling into short right field to argue with an umpire in Kissimmee, Fla. at Wide World of Sports, or of him managing the Jays or sitting in the weather room.

Rather it’s of him sitting outside the third base dugout in Dunedin one morning in 2009 and he was asking questions about his Blue Jays friends.

All of a sudden, the sun was blocked out as two giants came up the dugout stairs.

“Robert, who the heck are those guys?” I asked.

“Well, you better learn their names, because they’re going to be around for quite a while,” Cox said.

Right again. Both were 19. It was 6-foot-5 Jason Heyward, who played 16 years and won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs and 6-foot-4 Freddie Freeman, who has won three World Series and is in his 17th season.

Baseball spans cultures for long-time coach

By Scott Langdon

Canadian Baseball Network

Wellington Francisco left behind a lifetime of coaching in his native Dominican Republic (DR) when he moved to Toronto with his Canadian wife in 2017. It didn’t take long for him to resume his passion in his new country.

He coached at various levels for Leaside in east end Toronto for a few years before opening the Dominican Canada Baseball Corporation (DCBC) with partner Anthony Cohen in 2022. The DCBC occupies a 6,000-square foot facility in North York, Ont. to provide training, cage rentals, a summer camp, teams that compete in the Ferguson Jenkins Showcase League across southern Ontario, international opportunities and other special events for kids of various ages. One of its purposes is to create a cultural connection between his new and old countries through the game,

* * *

“I think it runs through our blood, the love of baseball, the passion, the discipline, the education. It’s something that you have to grow with in your heart. When you’re born, and you turn one, the first thing they give you is a glove, a bat and a ball. And that’s something that runs through our culture,”

_ Albert Pujols, Dominican slugger. hero and manager, Dominican Republic, World Baseball Classic, 2026.

* * *

Supporting Dominican children: In 2018, one year after moving to Toronto, Francisco started a tournament in his name in his hometown of Puerta Plata, the capital city of the Puerta Plata province on the DR’s Atlantic north coast.

The Wellington Francisco Baseball Tournament ran every year until 2025 to give Canadian and Dominican children from 10-to-15 years of age the opportunity to meet and play baseball.

“For Canadian kids it was an opportunity to see a different culture, to understand that Dominican kids don’t have the same equipment or playing facilities, but their passion for baseball is still very high,” Francisco said.

“In the Dominican, hundreds of kids might show up at the same field to play all at the same time only to find out everyone can’t play. So they play in the streets or their neighborhood,” he added.

Francisco collected donations of equipment, school supplies and other items from people in Toronto and distributed them to local kids during his tournaments.

“The donations, which include uniforms, catcher’s gear, helmets, bats, sport books, gloves, cups, and more were made possible thanks to the invaluable support of individuals in Toronto, Canada, who contributed to bringing joy to these children and giving them the tools to continue pursuing their sports dreams,” organizers posted on Instagram following a recent tournament.

“This generous action aims to support the development of young talent in the region, providing them with the necessary resources for their training and growth in the sport,” they added.

According to the Trade Facilitation Office Canada, a non-profit trade organization, the DR is the largest economy of Central America and the Caribbean, but the country continues to face challenges of high unemployment, underemployment and income inequality. The poorest half of the population receives less than 20 per cent of the country’s total gross domestic product.

Toronto’s Paul Collings is well-aware of the economic situation in the DR and knows the value and importance of Francisco’s efforts. Collings has been collecting, donating and distributing equipment and related items in the DR since the early 1980s.

“For many Dominican families, baseball is seen as a possible ticket off the island, if you will. They love the game, they have a great climate and skills and many good role models. It is such a big thing down there,” he said. “You give Dominican youngsters a baseball and they are almost in disbelief to see a real ball. They will run to show it to their family. I’ve seen it a 100 times.”

Collings started his donation efforts years ago while on vacation in the DR. He collects used equipment from local community leagues such as the Martingrove Association where he was a volunteer executive at one time or in collaboration with Rotary clubs.

When he was a Martingrove volunteer in 1990, the organization hosted two teams from the Dominican Republic thanks to the sponsorship of Tony Fernandez, the former Blue Jays shortstop who passed in 2020. Collings’ involvement in the DR has been so extensive that he became friends with Fernandez and George Bell, another Blue Jays star player.

It was Bell’s father, also named George, who Collings turned to for advice on how to distribute the donated equipment.

“There’s no such thing as a language barrier when it comes to balls and strikes,” Collings said. “Dominican kids just enjoy the game.”

* * *

Connecting cultures: The Wellington Francisco tournament isn’t planned for this year. But stacked cardboard boxes in his office suggest Francisco is still collecting used equipment and other donations for Dominican children.

Now, he has extensive international travel commitments for DCBC Panthers teams to play tournaments as part of the World Organization of Events (WORGBEV). Francisco is a director of WORGBEV in Canada.

WORGBEV describes itself as a global, non-profit organization promoting and organizing events around the world to encourage the practice of and for creating opportunities for players, coaches and organizations in various countries.

Francisco says the tournaments are competitive but offer opportunities for life and cultural experiences for Panthers players. The tournament teams are selected from players who train and practice at the North York facility as well as from open tryouts advertised before each tournament.

Francisco recently returned from a tournament in Mexico where a Panthers U-12 team made it to the semi-finals. Other tournament destinations for Panthers teams this year include the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the United States.

“We are planning to host a tournament in Brampton this August,” Francisco said. “We are expecting teams from 15 countries.”

* * *

The Dominican Way: Francisco says the youngsters who come to his facility are taught to play in what he describes as “the Dominican way.”

“We mean when you walk through the door you are prepared to work hard to learn the mechanics of skills. Learning the proper mechanics will allow a player to improve and play the sport longer as they grow.”

The DCBC has five instructors in addition to Francisco:

_ Julian Valdez was a right-handed pitcher who pitched three years in the Blue Jays minor league system, including one game at double A.

_ Wilgenis Alvarado, of Venezuela, is another former Blue Jays farmhand who played three seasons reaching class-A Dunedin, now pitches for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League (CBL).

_ Saul Vasquez, from Mexico, also plays in the CBL for the Barrie Baycats and was in the Chicago Cubs’ minor league system for three years.

_ Sammy Jimenez, an American of Puerto Rican descent, played competitive ball in New York City.

_ And Vanessa Flores, from Venezuela, played for the national women’s softball teams in Venezuela and Chile.

Flores echoes Francisco about the importance for children to learn mechanics.

“Baseball is hard,” she says. “Learning takes concentration. A hunger to learn will keep kids playing.”

Flores, who came to Canada in 2024 to live with family members who had immigrated to Toronto, plans to keep playing, herself. She will try out for the Canadian national women’s softball team this summer. There is little doubt her hard work and fundamentals will be on display.

May 10, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there!

And especially to my mom, Glenyce Glew, who my dad and I have dragged to enough Toronto Blue Jays games over the years that she has become a spirited fan.

I’m very fortunate in that not only does my mom enjoy baseball, she’s also loving, supportive, compassionate and generous. She also sometimes reads this blog.

I love you, mom.

Fergie Jenkins’ mom

This is one of my favourite photos of Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) (above). Here he is pictured with his mother Delores at Wrigley Field.

Jenkins’ mom lost her vision after giving birth to him, but that didn’t stop her from coming to many of his games. She would sit in the stands and listen to the game on a portable radio.

Jenkins pitched a shutout 55 years ago today

It was also 55 years ago today that Jenkins tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout for the Chicago Cubs against the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was the first shutout ever thrown at Veterans Stadium which had opened one month earlier.

Jenkins struck out 12 batters in the game. It was his sixth of 24 wins in his 1971 National League Cy Young Award winning campaign.

Hicks continues to excel for Marlins

Catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) has exceeded all expectations for the Miami Marlins this season.

Here are a few of Hicks’ latest accomplishments:

-Since last Sunday, he has added five more RBIs and is third in the National League with 34.

-He belted two more home runs this week to give him nine on the season. That ties him with Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin for the second-most by a National League catcher. Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman has 10.

-He leads the Marlins in slugging percentage (.564) and OPS (.930).

-He has struck out just 12 times in 37 games

-I missed this last week, but he had 28 RBIs in March and April. This made him the first catcher in MLB history to have 28 RBIs in a season before May 1.

Lopez leading MLB in hits

Otto Lopez, Hicks’ Marlins and WBC teammate, is leading Major League Baseball with 55 hits and a .353 batting average.

Lopez, who spent part of his youth in Montreal, also leads the Marlins in doubles (11) and runs (27) and has five stolen bases, four home runs and 16 RBIs.

Lopez is in his second season as the Marlins’ everyday shortstop.

Blue Jays hired Paul Beeston 50 years ago today

Fifty years ago today, the Blue Jays made one of their best moves.

They hired Welland, Ont., native Paul Beeston as their first executive.

After graduating from Welland High & Vocational School, Beeston obtained a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in economics and political science, from the University of Western Ontario in 1968. He was hired by Coopers & Lybrand in London and received his chartered accountant designation in 1971.

He remained with the London firm until he was hired by the Blue Jays as vice-president of administration on this date five decades ago. After a short tenure in that role, Beeston was promoted to vice-president of business operations.

His rise through the Blue Jays’ ranks continued when he was named executive vice-president of business in 1984 and president and chief operating officer (COO) in 1989.

On December 13, 1991, he was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the franchise, overseeing the Blue Jays’ two World Series-winning teams. He later became the president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball.

He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Lea tossed a no-hitter on Mother’s Day in 1981

It was 45 years ago today that right-hander Charlie Lea became the first Montreal Expos pitcher to throw a no-hitter at Olympic Stadium.

He accomplished the feat in the second game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants. Lea scattered four walks and struck out eight in the Mother’s Day contest.

Sadly, Lea passed away in 2011 when he was just 54.

I had the privilege of interviewing him in 2010 and I asked him about the no-hitter. He told me the only time during the game he feared he’d lose the no-hitter was when Giants catcher Milt May hit a line drive in the fifth inning.

“Milt May, a left-handed hitter for the Giants, hit a very hard, one-hop line drive, maybe a step to the side of Rodney Scott at second base. That ball was hit on the nose, but Rodney picked it very easily,” recalled Lea.

Former Blue Jays manager Bobby Cox dies

Former Blue Jays manager Bobby Cox passed away on Saturday at the age of 84.

He managed the Blue Jays to a 355-292 record in four seasons, from 1982 to 1985, and helped transform them from a last-place club into perennial contenders.

“Playing for Bobby Cox was a real pleasure,” Rance Mulliniks told me in a 2023 phone interview. “He was great to play for. All that Bobby ever asked was that you be prepared and that you give your best effort . . . He taught me how to really play to win at the major league level and how to be not just a major league baseball player, but how to be a professional in your approach.”

But Cox is best known as the Hall of Fame manager of the Atlanta Braves. He led them to 15 division titles (including 14 consecutive), five National League pennants and a 1995 World Series title.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper. Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform,” said the Braves in a statement on Saturday. “He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched.”

Cox suffered a stroke in 2019 and from congestive heart failure in recent years.

I would like to extend my condolences to his family.

Blue Jays acquired Buck Martinez 45 years ago

Forty-five years ago today, the Blue Jays acquired catcher Buck Martinez from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Gil Kubski.

The then 32-year-old, right-handed hitting catcher fit nicely into a platoon with Ernie Whitt behind the plate with the Blue Jays. Martinez proceeded to enjoy his best offensive seasons with Toronto, belting 10 home runs in both 1982 and 1983.

In total, he’d play parts of six seasons with the Blue Jays before transitioning into broadcasting.

Happy Birthday to George Kottaras!

Who is the only Canadian to hit for a cycle in the major leagues since 1900?

The answer is Scarborough, Ont., native George Kottaras who did it with the Brewers against the Houston Astros on September 3, 2011. The jersey he wore in that game is in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s collection.

Kottaras, who played parts of seven big league seasons from 2008 to 2014, turns 43 today.

Happy Birthday to him!

Remembering Allan Roth

Please take a moment to remember Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Allan Roth who was born in Montreal on this date in 1917.

In 1944, Roth made a pitch to Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey about the importance of advanced statistics such as on-base percentage. Rickey grew intrigued with the young Canadian and hired him in 1947, making him the first statistician ever on a major league club’s payroll.

Roth would collect and analyze stats for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers until 1964. The mathematically minded Canuck recorded every pitch and wrote his stats out by hand.

Roth later wrote a column for The Sporting News and worked the NBC and ABC games of the week until 1990, feeding data to broadcasters such as Al Michaels and Vin Scully.

“Long before there was Mary Poppins, there was Allan Roth,” Scully once said.

Roth was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 2010. He was also named one of SABR’s 2019 Henry Chadwick Award winners. This award was established by SABR to honour the game’s great researchers.

Roth passed away in 1992 at the age of 74.

Naylor heating up for Mariners

Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) has found his batting stroke.

He currently has a eight-game hitting streak in which he is 12-for-33 (.364 batting average). He has had multi-hit games in three of his last five contests.

Since the beginning of the month, he has boosted batting average from .214 to .247.

In 37 games, he has five home runs and 20 RBIs this season, his eighth in the big leagues.

Carlin made MLB debut 18 years ago

Eighteen years ago today, Luke Carlin (Hull, Que.) made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres.

He started at catcher and batted eighth against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.

So, what starting pitcher did he catch in his first MLB game?

That would be Greg Maddux.

And Carlin did a fine job. Maddux allowed just three hits and an unearned in six innings.

Carlin also caught Trevor Hoffman, another Hall of Famer, in that contest. Hoffman retired the side in the ninth to earn the save in the Padres’ 3-2 win.

Remembering Roland Gladu

Please take a moment to remember former big leaguer and Quebec baseball legend Roland Gladu who was born in Montreal on this date in 1911.

Gladu enjoyed a 23-year playing career in the pro, semi-pro and foreign professional baseball ranks.

In 1944, he got his only taste of big league action when he batted .242 with a home run and seven RBIs in 21 games for the Boston Braves. The following year, he suited up for his hometown Montreal Royals and enjoyed an outstanding season, batting .338 with 12 home runs, 45 doubles, 14 triples and 105 RBIs.

Towards the end of his playing career, he also served as a player/manager and later became a scout for Cleveland (1953) and the Milwaukee Braves (1954 to 1964). As a Braves scout, he signed Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Claude Raymond (St. Jean, Que.) and Ron Piche (Verdun, Que.).

He passed away on July 26, 1994 at the age of 83.

He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 2021.

Danny Gallagher has a new Expos book out

Danny Gallagher’s new book, The Tragic Story of Willie Davis and other Expos Vignettes, was released on Tuesday.

I went to my local Chapters and purchased my copy.

I will have a complete review of the book soon, but it is excellent, just like his other books.

You can purchase your copy here.

Lessons for kids and a new dream for former Blue Jays’ farmhand

Former Blue Jays farmhand Julian Valdez passes on his knowledge to a youngster at the Dominican Canada Baseball Corporation’s training facility.

By Scott Langdon

Canadian Baseball Network

Julian Valdez left his native Dominican Republic at the age of 19 with the dream of playing for the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Now 27 years old, the game has brought him to the city, but with a new dream to pursue.

Valdez moved away from his family when he was 14 to learn at one of the academies in the Dominican Republic (DR). The Blue Jays signed the right-handed pitcher when he was 19. He moved again, this time to the United States to pursue his professional baseball dream.

He played in the Blue Jays’ minor league system for four years, rising to the double-A level. He was released and eventually moved to Toronto to pursue his dream with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the then Intercounty Baseball League. He no longer plays for the team.

“Baseball is a passion for kids in the Dominican. I could not wait for opportunities to play and have fun with my friends. It was an escape from the neighborhood,” he explained.

* * *

For many Dominican children, a future in the sugar cane fields, the hotel or travel industry or some other low-paying job may seem inevitable. But when the majors began obtaining talent from the DR, Dominicans could dream of making heaps of money hitting home runs.

_ Baseball Research Journal, 2017

* * *

Valdez says his fastball topped out in the high 90s.

“But I could have been better with my control,” he says with a chuckle.

He didn’t achieve his dream of playing for the Blue Jays but considers his 13-year journey a success for him and his family.

His easy smile, encouraging attitude and knowledge of the mechanics and fundamentals of the sport have made him a poplar instructor at the Dominican Canada Baseball Corporation (DCBC) training facility in North York, Ont.

“There are many opportunities in the game besides playing the game, such as coaching and teaching. I’m married with a new, three-month-old daughter,” Valdez said. “My new dream is to give her a better life and more opportunities in Canada than I could have back home.”

Moving from the DR to the United States as a teenager was difficult, he says. It was a “new world, with a new language and a new culture.” But overcoming challenges including how to cook his own food and teaching himself to speak English were valuable life lessons, He tries to pass these lessons to the children he teaches at the DCBC.

“Fun comes from learning new skills that will allow someone to continue playing as they get older. But it requires discipline, hard work and an ability to pay attention,” he says.

Baseball skills require repetition that develops muscle memory and builds confidence by transforming the mechanics into habits.

Valdez is one of five instructors at the DCBC in addition to Wellington Francisco, the president of the company. Francisco is also a native of the DR, where he was coaching since the age of 16. He moved to Toronto with his Canadian wife in 2017 and started the DCBC with partner Anthony Cohen in 2022.

The other instructors are:

_ Wilgenis Alvarado – A left-handed pitcher from Venezuela, he played in the Blue Jays minor league system for three years reaching the Single A level. Like Valdez, he came to Canada to pursue his dream with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the then Intercounty League.

_ Saul Vasquez – A left-handed pitcher from Mexico, Vasquez played three seasons in the Chicago Cubs system reaching the Single A level. He also pitched for the Yucatan Lions in the Mexican League as well as other teams in his native country. He has come to Canada to pitch for the Barrie Baycats of the Canadian Baseball League this season.

_ Sammy Jimenez – An American of Puerto Rican descent, Jimenez learned his in competitive leagues around New York City.

_ Vanessa Flores – She played for the national women’s softball team in her native Venezuela, for the Chilean national women’s team and spent a year playing for a team in France. She arrived in Canada in 2024 to live with family who had immigrated to Toronto. She intends to try out for the Canadian national woman’s softball team this year

Like Valdez, the other instructors have international journeys on their resumes. Not surprisingly, their advice for kids learning baseball is similar.

“Teaching baseball is an opportunity to share what I have learned through my experiences. My best advice for kids is to focus on their dreams, avoid distractions and use their time well to improve their skills,” Vasquez says,

Flores says, “I love my job” and encourages her students to focus on improving their mechanics.

“Baseball is hard and takes concentration,” she says and adds that “a hunger to learn will keep kids playing.”

Perhaps Jimenez has the best advice.

“I moved away from baseball for a few years, then started helping to coach my nephew’s team. It was a reminder of how much I enjoyed the game. I realized how much I missed it. I hope I can help kids avoid my mistake. I would be happy if I can have a positive impact on a child’s life by teaching the importance of discipline, hard work and commitment to getting better.”

The DCBC’s slogan is “transforming lives through baseball.” Perhaps it applies to its instructors as well as its players.

May 9, 2026

Official Kitchener Panthers News Release

KITCHENER, ONT. - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of pitcher Ben Hewitt (New Westminster, B.C.).

The 6-foot-5 hurler is coming off his senior season with Ottawa University (NAIA) in Kansas. There, he racked up 36 strikeouts and four saves in 16 appearances and 22 1/3 innings. Batters hit just .173 against Hewitt.

He spent last summer with the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League, where he had 11 strikeouts in 21 innings in 10 appearances and a 5.14 ERA.

"Ben's coming off a great season as the closer for a nationally ranked program," said general manager Shanif Hirani. "His experience in high leverage situations will be a big addition to our bullpen."

May 9, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Cleveland Guardians have traded left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.), along with the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft, to the San Francisco Giants for catcher Patrick Bailey.

To make room for Bailey on the roster, the Guardians have sent Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) down to triple-A, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic.

In six starts for the double-A Akron RubberDucks this season, Wilkinson, 23, has posted a 1.59 ERA and has struck out 36 batters in 28 1/3 innings. This followed the Okotoks Dawgs alum’s outstanding performance for Canada at the World Baseball Classic in which he didn’t allow a hit, while fanning four, in 2 2/3 innings in two outings.

Nicknamed Tugboat, the 6-foot-1 southpaw was selected in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB draft by the Guardians. In parts of four pro seasons, he owns a 13-17 record and a 2.82 ERA in 56 appearances (55 starts). He has 330 strikeouts in 252 innings.

In exchange for Wilkinson, the Guardians receive Bailey, who has won back-to-back National League Gold Glove awards and will replace Naylor behind the plate. Bailey has struggled offensively this season. In 30 games, he’s batting just .146 with one home run and five RBIs. For his career, the 2020 first-round pick has hit .224 with 22 home runs and 154 RBIs in 383 major league games.

Like Bailey, Naylor has yet to find his stroke at the plate this season, batting .143 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 28 games. The 26-year-old Canadian had been the Guardians’ regular catcher for the past two seasons.

He belted a career-high 14 home runs in 2025 and batted .353 in four games for Canada at this year’s World Baseball Classic.

An Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum, Naylor was selected in the first round of the MLB draft by Guardians in 2018. He has not played in the minors since 2023.

May 8, 2026

Official Miami Marlins News Release

MIAMI – The Miami Marlins have announced the April recipients of the organization’s Next Wave Awards, recognizing top performers across the Minor League affiliates whose performance reflects the club’s core player development priorities.

The honorees for April are:

LHP Nate Payne – Pitcher of the Month

C Connor Caskenette (Duncan, B.C.) – Hitter of the Month

OF Dillon Lewis – Defensive Player of the Month

OF Emaarion Boyd – Baserunner of the Month

C Brian Navarreto – Fish of the Month

The Marlins’ Next Wave Awards recognize performance aligned with the organization’s evaluation and development model, with an emphasis on skills that support sustainable major league success. This month’s winners were chosen based on their performances from the start of the 2026 season through April.

Payne, 20, struck out 42.0 percent of the batters he faced and walked just 9.0 percent of his opponents in four appearances (three starts) for Single-A Jupiter, earning a promotion to High-A Beloit. In his first start for the Sky Carp, he added another eight strikeouts, bringing his season rate to 40.8 percent, the sixth highest among all pitchers in Minor League Baseball with at least 20.0 innings pitched (344 total pitchers).

Caskenette, 23, ranks in the 79th percentile in xwOBA and in the 74th percentile in strikeout rate, while his 94th percentile walk rate ranks 11th among Minor League hitters with at least 80 plate appearances. In 18 games with High-A Beloit, he posted a .500 on-base percentage and 1.000 OPS, with two home runs, 12 RBI and 19 walks.

Lewis, 22, earned the Defensive Player of the Month recognition for his impact on the field and for the consistency and preparation he brings every day. He made 14 starts in center field and five starts in right field with Double-A Pensacola during the month of April to begin his first year in the Marlins organization.

Boyd, 22, proved to be the most aggressive and calculated baserunner in the organization in the month of April. He stole eight bases in nine attempts, including two steals of third base, in 13 games at Double-A Pensacola. Boyd attempted to steal over 50.0 percent of opportunities, while maintaining a safe rate of 88.0 percent.

Navarreto, 31, earned “Fish of the Month” honors, an award recognizing a player who best embodies what it means to be an outstanding teammate within the organization. He appeared in nine games with Triple-A Jacksonville through April.

May 8, 2026

By Jake McGrail

UBC Communications

LAKELAND, Fla. – The UBC Thunderbirds will be quite far from home as they fight to make it back to the NAIA World Series, as they face off against three other high-level programs in their NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round tournament in Lakeland, Florida, home to the Southeastern University Fire.

The No. 3 seed for the four-team, double-elimination tournament that runs from Monday, May 11 to Thursday, May 14, the 'Birds will have to outlast all their opponents in order to punch their ticket to the World Series. With 46 teams battling in 10 different cities across the United States, the competition will be fierce.

"This is a really tough bracket for sure, but at this point in the year everyone is good," said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett. "Our message will be simple and only focus on the controllable … when teams get in trouble in the postseason I believe it's when they try to do more and get out of their comfort zone."

The T-Birds are coming off a runner's up finish at the Cascade Collegiate Championship last weekend, and will be aiming to do what they did last year when they bounced back from second place at their conference tournament to reel off a perfect 3-0 record in the NAIA Opening Round.

First, they'll have to take down the Milligan University Buffaloes, who despite being the No. 2 seed behind hosts Southeastern, are actually the team in the Lakeland tournament that are ranked highest in the NAIA Coaches' Poll (No. 11 vs No. 14 for the Fire).

The Tennessee outfit ripped through the Appalachian Athletic Conference this year, winning the regular season title for just the second time in program history, but did stumble in the AAC Tournament where they were upset twice by in-state opponent Bryan College.

The Fire, meanwhile, have had sort of an opposite journey – ranked No. 3 in the NAIA in the preseason, they were slightly underwhelming compared to those lofty expectations for much of the year, but after finishing second in the Sun Conference in the regular season they swept through the playoffs to claim the conference championship for the fourth time in the last six years.

The final team at the tournament are the Faulkner University Eagles from Montgomery, Alabama, who finished fifth in the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season standings but earned one of the final at-large berths for the Opening Round thanks to a good showing in the SSAC Baseball Championship.

Facing three schools from the American south in some Florida heat, the Thunderbirds will be in a more unfamiliar environment as they begin play against Milligan at 11:30 a.m. (P.T.) on Monday.

"Our guys are used to being pushed every day and are very excited about this opportunity," remarked Pritchett on his team's mindset heading into these crucial games. "I don't expect this group to be impacted by the travel and weather."

The T-Birds also have some experience to lean on from last year's squad that won their Opening Round tournament and made it to the NAIA World Series for just the second time in program history.

While there was a lot of roster turnover between this season and last, the 'Birds do still have some key players with that playoff pedigree on hand for this run, a group that includes starting pitchers Will Anderson (Delta, B.C.), James Brock (Burnaby, B.C.) and Daniel Orfaly (White Rock, B.C.), as well as hitters Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.), Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.) and David Krahn (Langley, B.C.), among others.

"Certainly some of our players that were along for the ride last year will have some experience to draw upon for this year's tournament, however, this is a very different squad with a lot of new faces on it compared to last year's group," added Pritchett. "That being said, this group is tighter already than last year's group in my opinion, and if the experienced postseason players can set the example for the new guys we just might end up in a pretty good spot."

May 8, 2026

Baseball Canada

Baseball Canada is proud to announce the 29 participating teams and regional qualifier schedules for the inaugural Road to Okotoks and the Morneau Cup presented by Rawlings.

The qualifiers will take place from May 28-31.

Fourteen teams will then punch their ticket to Okotoks (July 14–19), joining the host Okotoks Dawgs Black and a wild card entry to compete for the Morneau Cup.

Here are the schedules:

May 8, 2026

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Ottawa, Ont. - In a record-setting season opener, the Ottawa Titans dropped an entertaining home opener to the Québec Capitales by a 6-4 final in sudden death on Friday night.

It was an ace vs. ace matchup on the mound, with reigning Frontier League Pitcher of the Year Braeden Alleman facing off against lefty Kaleb Hill.

Hill came out strong, going three up, three down to kick things off in front of a record-breaking crowd of 10,278 fans.

The Titans would get an early base runner as "The Magnet" Jackie Urbaez, who leads the Frontier League in hit-by-pitches (134 all-time), was plunked to start the inning. Alleman went on to retire the next three batters in order and nine in a row afterwards.

The home side went hitless through three innings, but that would change in the bottom of the fourth with Myles Smith knocking in shortstop Aaron Casillas on an RBI double. Kaiden Cardoso (Abbotsford, B.C.) added an RBI single later in the frame, making it a 2-0 contest.

In the bottom of the fifth, flame-thrower Ian Villers came in for relief, sitting at 95 mph and striking out the Titans in order.

The Capitales showed why they are four-time reigning champions, tying the game in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from Chavez Young and an RBI single from Jordan Smith.

In the top of the seventh, Yohanse Morel entered in relief for starter Kaleb Hill, who went six strong innings, giving up two runs while striking out five.

Eddie Hacopian took Morel deep with a solo shot travelling 381 feet at 103 mph off the bat, giving Quebec the lead at 3-2.

Villers, coming off a strong sixth inning, gave up back-to-back singles and a walk to start the seventh and was pulled for Cooper Morgan. Morgan walked pinch hitter Chris Davis to bring in one run, then hit Jackie Urbaez to bring in another, handing the Titans the lead back at 4-3.

The Titans held a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth with Brett Garcia coming into the contest in a save situation. With one out, he gave up a broken-bat double to David Mendham (Dorchester, Ont.), putting the tying run on second. Yuta Hamada came up big in the clutch, bringing home the tying run on an RBI single.

Garcia and the Titans allowed no runs to score in the 10th. The Titans looked like they had the win in hand after a successful bunt moved the extra-innings runner from second to third, but Myles Smith grounded into a double play, and veteran AJ Wright struck out swinging to end the threat.

Do or die for the Titans on defence in sudden death - Chavez Young delivered, sending a two-run shot 384 feet and 106 mph over the right field fence. The Capitales walked off with the win.

Cardoso went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jackie Urbaez was plunked by two pitches, and AJ Wright walked twice in the defeat.

With the sellout attendance, the Ottawa Titans have set a single-game Frontier League attendance record - drawing 10,278 fans. It also marks the first sellout of Ottawa Stadium since September 1, 2002.

The Ottawa Titans are back in action for game two of a three-game series with the Québec Capitales on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. for Hockey Night at Ottawa Stadium. The series wraps up at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon for Mother's Day.

Ryan Lee had a 3-run HR in the win for the Selects

By Dan Estey

Canadian Baseball Network

The Can Am Baseball League out of the Windsor area, kicked off its 2026 regular season Wednesday night and the Windsor Stars and Windsor Selects 22U collected opening day victories in their respective games.

The Stars took on the Windsor Athletics and it was a tight affair at Rev. Ronald Cullen Stadium. The Stars opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Mitch Hudvagner. That lead though was short lived as the A’s plated three runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI ground out from Shane Munro and two more on a error for a 3=1 lead.

WAA extended its lead in the fourth on an RBI single off the bat of Mitchell Zimmerman to make the lead 4-1. The Stars kept plugging away though and plated a run in the fifth inning using a pair of walks and a passed ball to cut the lead after five innings. In the seventh, the Stars completed the comeback scoring three runs on a passed ball and a pair of RBI singles from Alec Boucher and Josh Hudvagner for a 5-4 victory.

Offensively for the Stars, they were led by Jake Lumley who was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a walk. Mitch Hudvagner and Josh Hudvagner were both 1-for-2 with a single and an RBI. Veteran OF Noah Renaud was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Veteran SS Frank Jeney was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored to lead the way for the A’s. Mitchell Zimmerman was also 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and an RBI while Chris Rinaldi-Ross was 1-for-4 with a single. Jake Columbe was 1-for-3 with a double.

On the mound, the Stars used five different arms on the night. Right hander Jack Zimmerman drew the start going two innings allowing three runs -- one earned -- on three hits while walking one and striking out two. Noah Pickering and Josh Shepley each followed with an inning after that. Brock Whitson threw the next two scoreless collecting the win. He allowed zero hits, walking one and striking out two. Chris Renaud gained the save, with a scoreless seventh walking two and striking out one.

Mitchell Zimmerman, the second of three Athletics hurlers, took the loss throwing 1 1/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out one. Cole Hillier drew the starting assignment for WAA and went 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs -- one earned == on four hits while walking two and striking out four batters.

Meanwhile, down the road at Lacasse Park, the Tecumseh Thunder opened 2026 hosting the Selects 22U team. The Selects got the bats going in the second due to a walk, a single followed by a three-run homer off the bat of Ryan Lee for an early 3-0 lead. The Thunder would get their first run in the third on a Noah Ruttle double follwoed by a Kaeaton Ruttle single cutting the lead to 3-1. The Selects got that run back in the fifth as they would load the bases with a pair of singles and a walk and score on a sacrifice fly. Tecumseh answered back with an RBI single from Patrick Kribble cutting the lead to 4-2. They would make things initeresting in the botom of the seventh as Keagan Knowler who swatted his first home run to come up short with a 4-3 loss.

Offensively for the Thunder, they were led by Roberto Duncan and Keaton Ruttle who were both 2-for-4 each with a pair of singles. Duncan scored a run with Ruttle collecting an RBI. Patrick Kibble was 1-for-2 with an RBI while Noah Ruttle was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Keagan Knowler was also 1-for-4 with a solo HR while Myles Miller,

On the hill, veteran right hander Chris Horvath took the loss in this one. He tossed three innings allowing three runs on two hits while walking two and striking out two Selects batters. Kyle Brietner tossed the next three innings allowing one run on two hits while walking two and striking out five. Mike Hamlin tossed a clean seventh for Tecumseh. Mike Grondin started and earned the win for the Selects tossing four innings. Brady Knelsen came in to clean things up and collect the save.

May 7, 2026

Official Indiana State Athletics News Release

D1Baseball – Indiana State outfielder Carter Beck was recognized among the top outfielders across NCAA Division I according to the D1Baseball Week 12 positional rankings as announced by the organization this week.

Beck (Carnduff, Sask.) was ranked No. 81 among all D1Baseball outfielders on the season and was one of two in the Missouri Valley on the list with Illinois State's Brayden Bakes.

The Canadian slugger has been arguably the top player in the Missouri Valley this season leading the MVC in both RBIs (48) and runs scored (52), while posting 11 home runs, 17 doubles, and a .338 batting average. Beck enters the weekend on a career-best 32-game on-base streak and leads Indiana State with 23 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI contests.

Six of Beck's 11 home runs have come in conference play and he has connected on three of Indiana State's eight grand slams from the plate in the 2026 season.

The junior outfielder has been recognized on all three D1Baseball outfielder lists, sitting No. 43 in the preseason ranks, No. 79 after Week 6, and now No. 81 following Week 12.

Beck is one of three Sycamores to receive honours from D1Baseball this week joining Caden Miller (No. 49 catcher) and Mason Roell (No. 28 third baseman).

May 7, 2026

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Ottawa, Ont. - The Ottawa Titans announced the following signings on Thursday:

LHP Colt Anderson

HEIGHT: 6-4 | WEIGHT: 190 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 2001-08-04

HOMETOWN: Verdigris, OK | SCHOOL: Rogers State

2025: Evansville/Washington (Frontier): 0-0, 3.13 ERA, 11 G, 8 GS, 46 IP, 46 H, 20 R/16 ER, 18 BB/48 K

OF Chris Davis

HEIGHT: 5-10 | WEIGHT: 195 lbs | BIRTHDAY: 1997-07-16

HOMETOWN: Bristol, CT | SCHOOL: Duke

2025: Joliet (Frontier): 89 G, .235 AVG, 13 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 36 RBI, 43 BB/67 K, .673 OPS

The club has also announced further transactions:

Released RHP Rafael Ohashi, RHP Michael O'Hanlon, OF Dylan Driver, UTIL Austin Gurney (Campbell River, B.C.), and RHP Konsta Kurikka

Traded RHP Grant Garza to Missoula (Pioneer League) for future considerations

Traded OF Jake Sanford (Cole Harbour, N.S.) to Welland (Canadian Baseball League) for future considerations

Acquired LHP Colt Anderson from Washington for future considerations

Placed UTIL Taylor Wright (North Vancouver, B.C.) on the 7-Day IL

Placed RHP Nelson Mercado (Brampton, Ont.) on the 7-Day IL

Placed RHP Kyle Demi on the 60-Day IL

Final Opening Day roster

May 6, 2026

Official SABR News Release

MAY 6, 2026 — SABR is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Henry Chadwick Award, established to honour the game’s great researchers — historians, statisticians, annalists, and archivists — for their invaluable contributions to making baseball the game that links America’s present with its past.

The 2026 recipients of the Henry Chadwick Award are:

• Brian Kenny has served as a host and anchor at MLB Network and ESPN since 1997, bringing analytical insights to World Series coverage, All-Star Games, and the daily rhythms of baseball coverage on television. He helped create Clubhouse Confidential, the first television program devoted to sports analytics, and is the author of the award-winning Ahead of the Curve: Inside the Baseball Revolution. His contributions to baseball research aren’t measured in awards, databases compiled, or new statistics invented; his public impact and legacy come through highlighting the work of fine writers and thoughtful researchers, making them part of the mainstream conversation. In doing so, he helped reshape how millions of fans understand baseball.

• Eugene Murdock was a prolific baseball researcher and past SABR Board President who left behind an essential baseball biography and several dozen interviews with old ballplayers. He joined SABR one month after its founding in 1971 and was a frequent contributor to the annual Baseball Research Journal. He was the author of three acclaimed baseball books: Ban Johnson, the Czar of Baseball; Baseball Players and Their Times: Oral Histories of the Game, 1920-1940; and Baseball Between the Wars: Memories of the Game by the Men Who Played It. His oral history interviews and the rest of his extensive research papers are available at the Cleveland Public Library. 

• Rob Ruck, a history professor at the University of Pittsburgh, has been contributing to the research landscape for many decades, on topics ranging from local history to baseball in Latin America. The theme of his work has revolved around the recognition that working people have sporting lives and a desire to explore what sport has meant to everyday people and their communities. His books and documentary film subjects have included Puerto Rican legend Roberto Clemente and photographer Teenie Harris, sandlot baseball in Pittsburgh, and the Negro Leagues. He was also a consultant on the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s exhibit, “Souls of the Game: Voices of Black Baseball.”

• Allan Simpson (Kelowna, B.C.) is the founder of Baseball America, which reintroduced minor league baseball coverage to thousands of fans in the early 1980s and initiated meaningful widespread reporting on college baseball. He largely created the field of baseball draft analysis and prospect tracking and evaluation, forging a new, deeper connection between ardent fans and the future of the sport. During his 25 years at Baseball America, the publication transformed a niche interest into an essential part of the baseball conversation, creating a legacy of information and insight that has forever enriched our understanding of the national pastime. 

By honouring individuals for the length and breadth of their contribution to the study and enjoyment of baseball, the Chadwick Award will educate the baseball community about sometimes little known but vastly important contributions from the game’s past and thus encourage the next generation of researchers.

The criteria for the award reads in part: The contributions of nominees must have had public impact. This may be demonstrated by publication of research in any of a variety of formats: books, magazine articles, websites, etc. The compilation of a significant database or archive that has facilitated the published research of others will also be considered in the realm of public impact.

For a complete list of Chadwick Award winners, click here.

*It was eight years ago today that North Delta Blue Jays alum James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) became the second Canadian to throw a major league no-hitter when he pitched the Seattle Mariners’ to a 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. With the performance, he also became the first Canadian to throw a big league no-hitter on Canadian soil. We thought we would resurrect this article that was published the day after Paxton’s no-hitter.

*This article was originally published on the Canadian Baseball Network on May 9, 2018.

By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network

A month before last Christmas, James Paxton’s mom walked into The Sport Gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver looking to buy a picture of her son’s favourite pitcher, Andy Pettitte.

How many mothers of Canadian youngsters will enter stores this shopping season seeking pictures of Paxton? The Ladner, B.C. native, nicknamed "Big Maple," became the first Canadian to pitch a no-hitter on Canadian soil, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 on 99 pitches at the Rogers Centre Tuesday.

Toronto’s Dick Fowler was the other Canadian to pitch a no-no on Sept. 9, 1945. Pitching for the Philadelphia A’s, Fowler held the St. Louis Browns hitless for nine innings. Yet, he wasn’t a winner until Hal Peck tripled and Irv Hall singled for the 1-0, walk-off win. 

Paxton faces the Blue Jays in the bottom of the first -- Teoscar Hernandez strikes out swinging. Josh Donaldson strikes out swinging. Yangervis Solarte lines out to Dee Gordon. 
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

James Paxton’s parents, Barbara and Ted, invited Ted Paxton’s brother, Lindsay, and his wife, Lisa, over to watch the Mariners-Blue Jays game. 

“As the game progressed no one was saying anything, you know how it goes,” said Ted Paxton, “You talk about it, you jinx it. We didn’t mention it.”

The Paxtons knew proper etiquette during a no-no for this was not the first time their son had hung a zero in the opponents’ hit column. James was pitching in Ridge Meadows and dispatched the other 12-year-olds in the summer of 2000. Time of game, according to Ted Paxton: 58 minutes.

“James has the ball at his house in Seattle,” said the pitcher’s father.

After the final out of the eighth on Tuesday someone said, “This is looking a lot like ‘you know what.’”

The 6-foot-4 Paxton threw an 0-2 pitch to Josh Donaldson who bounced sharply to third baseman Kyle Seager. With already one five-star play in the book (robbing Kevin Pillar of a double), he fired to first baseman Ryon Healy for the 27th and final out. You know, the one they say is the toughest to get, as it always was for Dave Stieb.

“We were all out of our seats with tears in our eyes, there was a lot of hooting and hollering going on,” Ted Paxton said. 

Was there so much noise that neighbours phoned to complain?

“No, they all phoned to congratulate,” he explained, as emails, text messages and phone calls of congratulations flooded in, many from the town of Ladner (POP: 22,193).

Some knew of James Paxton, some had played on the same teams with him on the way up and some figured things out on their own from knowing Ted. Ted Paxton heard from people he had not spoken to in 33 years but the corker was a phone call. 

“A man phoned and said, ‘I don’t know if you remember me but we worked together at Victoria Station,’ (a railway car restaurant), it was at the corner of Pacific and Hornby in Vancouver,” Ted Paxton said. “That was when I was 18 years old, over 40 years ago.” The caller extended his congratulations. 

Blue Jays second with Paxton pitching: Justin Smoak grounds out, Kevin Pillar pops out, Russell Martin grounds out.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Greg Hamilton, coach of the Canadian Junior National Team, remembers the first time he saw Paxton pitch for the North Delta Blue Jays at 16 years old in a BC Premier League game.

“The velocity was not there, but the arm really worked, he really got out front,” Hamilton said. “He stood out compared to the other pitchers. You didn’t know he was going to strike out 16 and throw a no hitter in back-to-back starts, but you knew there was a chance.”

Paxton was with the Juniors in 2005 and the next year he was Canada’s ace at the World Juniors in Cuba. Paxton had Canada leading Team USA 2-1 in the seventh inning when a misplay allowed the tying run to score. Team USA won eventually.

“James should have won that game, he deserved to beat Team USA,” Hamilton said. 

Blue Jays third,-- Kendry Morales walks. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flies out to Dee Gordon. Anthony Alford walks, Hernandez pops out, Donaldson grounds into a force out. 
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)

Former North Delta assistant coach Mike Kelly recalls a trip his team made to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Kelly was sitting with head coach Ari Mellios when the University of Kentucky recruiter came by to talk about Paxton.

“I remember Ari saying ‘Now don’t foul this up, the way you fouled up the scholarship for Jeff Francis,” said Kelly. 

Francis was recruited by the University of Portland out of high school. Portland decided not to make the scholarship offer. And now the recruiter had moved from Portland to Kentucky.

Things worked out fine for Francis, who attended the University of British Columbia, went ninth over-all in the 2002 draft, won 17 games for the 2007 Colorado Rockies on the way to the World Series. 

Kelly didn’t watch the game as he’d gone to the movies. He watched the Blue Jays in 30 ... or as it could have been renamed under Paxton: Blue Jays Offence in 30 Seconds.

Kelly said he read on Facebook that Cam Mace, one of Paxton’s catchers with North Delta, had posted that he was at the game. 

“What are the odds of Cam being in Toronto? He lives in Cloverdale, BC,” Kelly said.

Blue Jays fourth-- Solarte strikes out swinging. Smoak walks. Pillar grounds into double play.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Paxton is represented by Scott Boras, baseball’s smartest man with an iron-clad memory for the game’s history?

Boras was asked if he could recall a starter on a white-hot streak to strike out 16 and then pitch a no-hitter in next start. He pointed to Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer who no-hit the New York Mets while striking out 17 in 2015.

Five of the last six hurlers to pitch complete-game no hitters are Boras clients: the Cubs Jake Arrieta against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015, Scherzer, Arrieta facing the Cincinnati Reds in 2016, Oakland A’s Sean Manaea against the Boston Red Sox and Paxton.

Blue Jays fifth, -- Martin pops out, Morales grounds out, Gurriel grounds out, J. Segura to R. Healy.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Ari Mellios, who coached Justin Morneau, Jeff Francis and Paxton, watched the first five innings of the Paxton start on TV and then headed to his son Jimmy’s practice. Jimmy, named after his grandfather, plays for the New Westminster Little League Yankees. 

“I got to the park in the sixth and he still had it, my brother, Peter, sent me a text in the eighth that he still had it going,” Mellios said. “I told my brother to keep me posted.”

About 10 minutes later, the text came from Peter: “He Got it!!!”

Last year when the Blue Jays visited Safeco Field, Mellios took Jimmy onto the field to see Paxton. They had pictures taken with Paxton and Jays on their way for early hitting. It is Mellios Ted Paxton credits for giving his son the work ethnic his possesses. 

“How about that? A no-hitter against the team that drafted him and in Canada?” said Mellios. “Hopefully he’ll be getting the contract he deserves. He’ll be turning 30 in November. But he hasn’t logged the innings most 30-year-olds have.” 

Mellios, a Montreal native, is a big-time Paxton fan, like any coach who sees a player progress to the top of the heap. But as for the majors?

“My brother and I are still waiting for the Expos to come back to Montreal,” said Mellios, who thought Alex Anthopoulos would be a good choice to run the team.

Morneau, now works in the Minnesota Twins front office and he was keeping tabs on Paxton, like he does on all Canadians. Said Morneau: "I can’t imagine having a moment like that on Canadian soil. There’s a lot of us that grew up on the west coast that were Blue Jays fans when we were younger. What a moment."

Blue Jays sixth -- Alford strikes out swinging. Hernandez grounds out, Donaldson strikes out swinging.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Thomas Paxton, James’ younger brother, had been working his construction shift in Ladner.

“He walked in the back door all bug eyed, he had not seen it,” said Ted Paxton. “He was in the same bewildered state as the rest of us. This was absolutely so exciting.

“When you think of everything going back to his injuries, the ups, the downs, James working so hard at his craft. It’s nice.”

Blue Jays seventh -- Solarte grounds out, Smoak lines out, Pillar grounds out, on a five-star play by 3B Kyle Seager.

(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

What if? What if the Blue Jays had signed Paxton, selected in the first round (37th overall) in the 2009 draft from the Kentucky Wildcats. Imagine the noise the 20,513 fans at Rogers Centre would have made if he was wearing a Jays uniform. The Jays selected Chad Jenkins 20th over-all from the Kennesaw State Owls. Jenkins pitched 100 2/3 innings in parts of four seasons. Paxton has had two 100-plus inning seasons.

Back then, president Paul Beeston was supposed to handle negotiations with Paxton’s advisor Scott Boras. General manager J.P. Ricciardi phoned Boras to say that the Jays would pay the $1 Million US (above the assigned slot money) as a signing bonus. An agreement could not be reached and Paxton returned to Kentucky as a senior. 

Meanwhile, in a rehash of the draft -- who signed and who didn’t -- Beeston was quoted in a Toronto newspaper as saying that they lost Paxton because “Boras would not allow him to talk to the pitcher.”

When Paxton returned to campus he was asked to fill out a form with a myriad of questions. Then, he was told him to go out the door, turn right and talk to the NCAA officials with the instructions “Do not turn left, do not phone your parents or your lawyer.”

Did a Kentucky rival subscribing to a Toronto paper turn Paxton in to the NCAA or did the NCAA see the story on its own?

Paxton, 21, turned left and phoned his parents as we would hope all our sons would do. The NCAA demanded an eligibility hearing. It never came so Paxton headed to pitch for the Grand Prairie AirHogs in the independent American Association. After Paxton was drafted by the Mariners in the fourth round the next June.

What we never really understood was why former Blue Jays executives seemed happy that after turning down $1 million from the Jays, Paxton received less ($942,500) from the Mariners. One reason: it’s tough to impress in four starts of indy ball compared to pitching Friday nights in NCAA, even if Pete Incaviglia is your manager.

Mariners scouts Brian Williams and Jesse Kapellusch signing Paxton. Wayne Norton of Port Moody, BC, had wanted Paxton as a high schooler.

The Jays did receive an extra pick for their failure to sign Paxton. And with the 38th overall selection, scouting director Andrew Tinnish chose high schooler Noah Syndergaard of Mansfield, Tex. giving him a $600,000 bonus. 

Blue Jays eighth-- Martin flies out to LF Ben Gamel on the warning track. Morales lines out to Gordon. Gurriel strikes out on foul tip.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

When Paxton re-emerged from the clubhouse to wave to the fans, it was to the Jays fans who rooted him home in general and his cousins Graeme and Amy McIntyre who live in Toronto and were at the game.

“I loved it when he showed his maple leaf tattoo to the crowd,” said his father. “And it was really neat the way the fans turned and began to cheer for him late in the game. It was very patriotic.”

Blue Jays ninth-- Alford flies out, Hernandez strikes out swinging. Donaldson grounds out, 
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

So to recap:

Paxton struck out 16 Oakland A’s pitching seven scoreless in a 105-pitch effort at Safeco kast Wednesday.

And Tuesday night he fanned seven as he pitched the first no hitter on Canadian soil with an economical 99 pitches. His final three pitches of the game were 98, 100 and 99 MPH. His highest three velocities of the game. That’s a Justin Verlander finish with flare.

His next start is Sunday in Detroit.

Mother’s Day.

On a Mother’s Day, a long, long time ago in a galaxy far away, we recall watching Charlie Lea of the Expos no-hit the San Francisco Giants 4-0 in 1981 in the second game of the doubleheader. We phoned Lea’s mother in Memphis. She told us how her daughter and elder son gave her flowers and chocolates, but “the best gift of all was from Charles.” 

Consider this early Happy Mother’s Day wishes to Barb Paxton.

Canadian Content: The highly-respected Baseball America has Mississauga’s Noah Naylor of the Ontario Blue Jays going 12 over-all to the Toronto Blue Jays in its latest mock draft of the June amateur draft. The Blue Jays sit 11th when it comes to paying six-figures signing bonuses to Canadians since 1991. The Pittsburgh Pirates are No. 1 at $6,905,000 US, followed by the Mariners at $5,557,500 and the San Diego Padres are at $5,327,045. The Jays have spent $2,202,500 on Canadian talent.

Unanswered questions: Is it true that Tony LaCava, who the new regime raved about during the process between Alex Anthopoulos’ departure and Ross Atkins’ arrival, no longer has an office at the Rogers Centre? ... Think that the Blue Jays long-time security man Ron Sandelli was missed this week? ... Is that three starters or four or five on the disabled list? Aledmys Diaz, who took over for Troy Tulowitzki, Randal Grichuk along with the platoon of Curtis Granderson and Steve Pearce are all injured.

Hit the play button: OK, Ben Wagner is good. Very good. Imagine how good he would be if he had one partner in the Blue Jays radio booth rather than learning to work with a different partner nearly every series. Put Wagner in the booth with Mike Wilner and call it two as a Jays broadcasting great used to say. 

Good luck: To former Blue Jays crack PR whiz Mal Romanin, who begins teaching this week at Sheridan College.

The first: It wasn’t Fergie Jenkins or Ryan Dempster but rather Toronto native Dick Fowler (66 career wins) who threw the first no hitter by a Canadian. Kevin Glew has a flashback piece to the game in 1945 on the Canadian Baseball Network

May 7, 2026

By Mark Whicker

Canadian Baseball Network

The 1975 Atlanta Braves had Phil Niekro, Dusty Baker and Tom House.

Darrell Evans was their top home run hitter, with 22. They also went 67-94 and drew 534,672 fans. More than once, the team would trail by eight runs after three innings, and Skip Caray, the play-by-play man, would intone, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you promise to keep patronizing our advertisers, you have my permission to watch something else.”

When the Braves went up for sale, mental health professionals watched closely to see who would be interested. Ted Turner was. It figured.

Turner had taken over a failing UHF station in Atlanta and beamed sitcom reruns. If you wanted to see what Opie and Aunt Bea were up to, WTCG (Watch This Channel Grow) was your outlet on Channel 17. Then Turner picked up the rights to show the Braves, as if anybody wanted to watch such a civic eyesore. Then Turner put up $12 million to buy the team itself. Atlanta baseball changed from that day forward, like everything else Turner touched. When he died on Wednesday, at 87, the Braves led the National League East by eight-and-a-half games and were in good position to make the playoffs for the 25th time in 36 years.

There’s a wide canyon between those days and these. In the mid-70s Turner was already Captain Outrageous, challenging the sailing establishment, winning the America’s Cup in 1977 and practically falling into the bay during the celebration. He had already divorced his first wife because she had beaten him in a boat race. Now Turner would execute a cannonball into the stratified world of Major League Baseball, in which the starchy Bowie Kuhn was commissioner.

Turner appointed himself manager for one game, a loss to Pittsburgh in which he wore the shoes of outfielder Cito Gaston. He thought there was nothing wrong with bounding out of his front-row seat at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium to high-five his players. He unleashed promotions director Bob Hope on the world, and the Braves were suddenly sponsoring Wet T-Shirt Nights and Star Trek Nights and peanut races, in which a contestant pushes a peanut down the baseline with his nose. Turner joined in and defeated Phillies’ reliever Tug McGraw, and emerged with blood flowing into his mustache. He also was laughing, as were most witnesses. His first Braves team won three more games than its predecessor but gained nearly 300,000 fans.

But then he ran afoul of the suits. He signed Gary Matthews, a free agent from the Giants, for the staggering sum of $1.2 million spread over five years. Problem was, Matthews’ contract hadn’t expired yet. And Turner, after a few pops at a World Series party, told Giants’ owner Bob Lurie that he was going to do that very thing. That cost the Braves a first-round pick and got Turner suspended, although he fought it in court and got the suspension reduced.

He also signed Andy Messersmith as a free agent and gave him an even more staggering sum of $1 million over three years. Messersmith wore No. 17, so Turner made him wear “Channel” above it, instead of his surname. That lasted one game before Kuhn blew the whistle again. In 1977 the Braves outdid themselves with a 16-game losing streak. Turner gave manager Dave Bristol a 10-day vacation and took over the team. When Niekro jokingly asked him where he would hit in the batting order, Turner said, “Hell, you can lead off. Hit anywhere you want.” The Braves lost and Kuhn said Turner couldn’t do that anymore. Turner really hadn’t had a boss before, except for his dad Ed, who founded the family billboard business. But the fans loved the distraction. It was much more fun to follow the owner than the team.

In 1982 the Braves were actually good enough to win the N.L. West, with Joe Torre managing. Then they lost 15 of 16 in August. On Aug. 19th, young righthander Pascual Perez got his Georgia driver’s license and set off to the ballpark, where he was supposed to face the Mets. Three hours and 20 minutes later, and after the game began, Perez finally arrived, having circled Atlanta on Interstate 285, a/k/a The Perimeter, three times. His start was moved back one night and Perez won, and the Braves, sufficiently loosened, won 12 of 13 and nailed down the division.

“Now I just follow the map,” Perez said.

But after 1982 the Braves went bad again, and Turner was chasing other rainbows, and there was nothing funny about futility. At least the nation could watch and empathize. Thanks to the WTBS superstation, baseball-deprived fans in Wyoming and North Dakota began rooting for the Braves. Bill Tush, an outlandish WTBS newsman, was named Grand Marshal of the Valdez, Alaska Christmas parade, even though he’d never been without a thousand miles of it. For once, people could watch someone play baseball on a weeknight, and somehow there was power in that.

Seasons of 65 and 63 wins convinced Turner to realize there were things he didn’t know. He brought back manager Bobby Cox and paired him with general manager John Schuerholz. There were good pitchers on hand, thanks to Cox’s work as GM, plus an astute scouting director named Paul Snyder. Schuerholz improved the playing surface, professionalized the operation. Stunningly, the Braves won the division in 1991 and their home attendance soared from 980,000 to 2.1 million and then to 3 million in 1992. A generation of excellence was born. The old cautionary tales disappeared. Yes, fans would come to the ballpark even if they could watch the games for free at home. No, the dilapidated neighborhood would not keep the people away. The Braves won the 1995 World Series, won 14 consecutive division championships, and produced Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Fred McGriff, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones, along with Cox and Schuerholz. And Turner confined his participation to sitting in his first-base-line seats and eating peanuts and drinking beer with wife Jane Fonda and an assortment of guests, sometimes Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

It’s hard to recall an American with more impact on daily lives, and more determination to get big things done, than Ted Turner. He founded CNN in 1980 and confidently said it would stay on the air until the end of the world, which, so far, it has. His network was the first to provide live coverage of the Iraq War and has become the first choice of viewers who want to be plugged into developing stories.

He also replenished the bison population in America, became the country’s largest private landowner with promises never to develop those millions of acres, and gave the United Nations $1 billion for peacekeeping and environmental causes. His Goodwill Games, with Americans competing with Soviets, was a typically audacious idea that at least provided a nudge toward the end of the USSR. When the Goodwill Games came to St. Petersburg, a vice mayor named Vladimir Putin was assigned to take Turner around. When Putin’s wife became ill, Turner overrode Putin’s bosses and told him to go home.

Turner was talking to Fidel Castro when no other American was. He bought the MGM’s storehouse of movies and, to others’ dismay, tried to “colorize” some of the classics. His favourite was Gone With The Wind, and his avatar was Rhett Butler. He produced a movie called “Gods And Generals” that was somewhat sympathetic to Confederate soldiers, but he was anything but a racist. Turner made Bill Lucas the first Black general manager in baseball, and Lucas might have been a great one, but died of a brain aneurysm when he was 43. 

Turner lived at least a half-dozen lifetimes at once. He never entertained the thought of running for President, on the grounds that he never accepted demotions. But except for CNN, which was like a family member, Turner got his biggest thrills out of taking a decrepit baseball team and applying CPR until it reached its feet. The fact that Turner never knew CPR, in a baseball sense, was just an inconvenience. 

Unlike today’s unqualified disruptors, Turner was a creator. Move fast, but don’t break things. Build them. Now the Braves play in the northwest suburbs, their stadium surrounded by a district of shops and restaurants that overflows its banks with revenue. Turner left monuments all over the world but, if he were here and functioning tonight, he’d be there. 

May 6, 2026

Official Guelph Royals News Release

GUELPH, ONT. - The Guelph Royals are excited to announce the addition of Jake Sanford via a trade with the Welland Jackfish.

Sanford, 28, joins the Royals with a decorated resume.

In 2019, the Cole Harbour, N.S. native was drafted by the New York Yankees in the third round and spent two seasons in their organization.

In the minors, Sanford batted a lifetime .267 with 23 home runs.

From there, the power-hitting left-handed bat tore up the Frontier League with the Ottawa Titans, where he hit .311 with a whopping 22 home runs.

Since 2023, Sanford has spent time with both the Titans and Jackfish, most notably winning the IBL championship with Welland a season ago.

In the playoffs, Sanford hit .333 with one home run and three doubles, most notably going 4-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, and an intentional walk against Barrie ace Frank Garces in two finals games.

Sanford will report to the Royals ahead of Thursday's exhibition game in Barrie.

The slugger said he is excited for a fresh start in Guelph.

"I'm excited to come in and be an impact player. I look forward to hopefully winning and bringing this city a championship.”

Royals assistant general manager Ryan Eakin said he is excited to add Sanford's bat to the Guelph lineup.

"Jake is one of the premier players in this league. His power is as good as anyone's and he gives you a professional at-bat every time he's at the plate. More importantly, he's a great person who lives and breathes baseball. We are thrilled to add an everyday guy with his talent, upside, resume, and work ethic."

May 4, 2026

Official London Majors News Release

The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of left-handed pitcher Alex Springer for the 2026 season.

Springer returns for his fourth season with the club, adding another experienced and versatile arm to the Majors’ pitching staff.

The London native recently completed his senior season at University of Bridgeport, where he posted a 2-0 record across six appearances. In 9 1/3 innings, Springer struck out eight batters while issuing seven walks.

Springer wraps up his collegiate career with a 4-3 lifetime record and 5.74 ERA over 21 appearances, including nine starts. Across 53 1/3 innings, he recorded 40 strikeouts and 26 walks.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound southpaw has also become a familiar face on the mound for the Majors. Last season, Springer made seven appearances, including two starts, and struck out 10 batters while walking just three. Since joining the Majors in 2023, he has made 22 career appearances, including six starts, compiling 45 strikeouts and only 12 walks over 46 1/3 innings pitched.

One of Springer’s strongest seasons came in 2024, when he registered a stellar 1.68 ERA over five appearances, including two starts.

“We’re excited to welcome Alex back to the Majors for his fourth season with the club,” said Majors field manager Roop Chanderdat. “Springer is another option on the mound for us, given he can start and relieve. He’s shown success in our league over the last few seasons, in particular in 2024, and is a young arm who has a promising future.”

May 5, 2026

Official Okotoks Dawgs News Release

Dawgs Academy alum Will Labonté is making waves in his first season at the University of Portland, and he's bringing that momentum back to Okotoks for the summer.

After making a relief appearance for the Dawgs in 2024 and a start in 2025 as an academy player, the Montreal native began his collegiate career with a bang, quickly becoming one of the most decorated young pitchers in college baseball.

The right-handed ace was recently named a semifinalist for the College Baseball Hall of Fame 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Award and has twice earned the title of West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week. Last month, Labontè was also named a Midseason Freshman All-American by Perfect Game.

Despite his freshman status, Labonté has thrown a team-high of 57 2/3 innings, recording 50 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA, making him an obvious consideration for the National Pitcher of the Year honour.

In an article written by Matt Betts that was published on the Canadian Baseball Network and Alberta Dugout Stories, Labonté attributed much of his discipline and team-oriented mentality to his time with the Dawgs Academy.

“It’s the key to having a good work ethic, and what allows me to stack good days,” Labonté said.

For Labonté, the mental side of the game is the most important. Labonté doesn’t allow his age to define his game, choosing instead to use his years of experience with the Academy for courage on the mound. He focuses on a pitch-by-pitch approach, shaking off mistakes to focus on the next play.

“Everybody is competitive at this level, and we’re all here because we’re good. It doesn’t matter how old you are, and if it’s your first or 150th game. I think that mentality helps me be fearless on the mound,” Labonté said.

This approach helps him lead by example, staying composed in a position where mistakes can be costly and executing in high-pressure moments.

With a pitching mix that includes a 90–92 mile per hour fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup, the highly-decorated pitcher is bound to be a major contributor to the Dawgs pitching staff this season.

May 6, 2026

By Greg Brons

Canadian Baseball Network

In 1989, I remember being at the Canada Games hosted in my hometown of Saskatoon. Team Saskatchewan was led by head coach Jim Baba and I attended every game as a 17-year-old kid.

Team Sask competed hard and defeated Team Ontario in pool play and had to play them again in the gold medal game. Cairns Field was packed for all of the Sask games as I am used to seeing this park empty for the majority of local events. The games were tense and to me, it seemed like pro ball.

The gold medal final against Ontario was especially dramatic. There was a bench-clearing brawl, nail-biting moments, and unfortunately a silver medal finish for Sask. But I remember the fiery personality of the Sask skipper – he was all but 5-foot-6 as I saw him come out for the mound visits. He would look up to the towering Sask pitcher but whatever he said on the mound, I knew it was something meaningful for them.

I thought to myself, wow what a program! I want to be part of this someday. In 1990, I figured I had better get myself to an ID camp in Saskatchewan and go to more than one if I wanted to show Jim that I really wanted to be part of it. I got in the car and made the drive to North Battleford and the following weekend I attended the one in Saskatoon. I was hoping I caught the eye of Jim and his coaching staff in the hopes of wearing that green jersey and representing Saskatchewan nationally someday.

In 1990, I was elated when the mail arrived and I found out that I made the team along with two good friends of mine, Trevor Skjerpen and Derek Berschaminski. I was more than thrilled as I told my parents we would be going to Trois-Rivières for the Baseball Canada Cup. We had training camp in Moose Jaw and on the very first day, myself and my two buddies, Derek and Trevor, who I was rooming with, were late for practice. That didn’t’ go over well with Jim who told us, “You will be doing some running.”

We did and we learned that there were consequences and nobody was above the team. The two guys that were late would eventually be drafted (Skjerpen, 32nd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates from University of North Dakota in 1993, Berschaminski, 61st round by the Atlanta Braves from North Dakota State in 1991) and compete at the college and pro level. I am sure this lesson served them as well.

Years later, Jim continued to lead our Team Sask programs where we achieved a bronze medal in 1992, silver in 1993, gold in 1994 and silver in 1996 at Baseball Canada Cups. Traditionally the best players from across the nation come to compete at these tournaments. For a province the Saskatchewan, where we are barely above a million people, this says a lot about what Jim developed.

I had another opportunity to play for Jim and Team Sask at the Canada Games in Kamloops. We had an average team but with Jim he got the best of us and we ended up in a three-way tie for first place in our pool with BC and Quebec. Unfortunately, defensive run differential had us settle for third in pool play and we ended up playing in the sixth-place game where we faced an up-and-coming star pitcher named Jason Dickson of New Brunswick.

Dickson is now leading Baseball Canada and took over for Jim after he retired. The passion and confidence Jim brought to the park during practices and games was contagious. Everyone on that team loved playing for Jim – to us, he was the smartest guy on the field and we were a better team with him at the helm. We loved his aggressive style – “the hell with a bunt go hit a three-run homer damn it” was always his mantra.

During this time, he was also coaching the national team and their pursuit to qualify for the Olympics. He inspired hundreds of Saskatchewan players to chase their dreams south of the border. A lot of us in Saskatchewan didn’t know of the opportunities. Jim had many contacts and led us in the right direction. He helped so many of us.

In 2000, Jim left for Baseball Canada where his passion, knowledge, and vision continued to leave a mark with our national teams, grassroots programs such as the Rally Cap, NCCP coaching programs, or Baseball Canada championships hosted around the country. These programs continue to have a positive impact on thousands of players. Jim’s baseball intellect was also used on the world stage as he was the technical representative at many world championships. His passing was felt around the world.

I had the opportunity to take the job with Baseball Saskatchewan as Jim urged me to apply. Before Jim left for Ottawa, he encouraged me to get involved in coaching baseball as I started coaching 18U and participating in camps and clinics and the National Certification coaching program. I had no idea that someday I would be able to do this full-time as Baseball Saskatchewan hired me in the fall of 2000. These were going to be huge shoes to fill but Jim was always a phone call away and willing to give his advice as things were rough going my first few years.

At Baseball Sask, we have enjoyed some success over the past 10 years or more but everything was because of what Jim established beforehand. Back in the day, I remember him telling us he wanted Team Sask to have the same standards as a college program so we were ready for that level. We continue to demand the same from our players.

I remember at the 2016 Canada Cup he was the technical rep for the event from Baseball Canada. When we won the gold medal in Fort McMurray at Shell Stadium, I could see he was just as excited as we were to bring that gold medal home for the first time since 1994 when he was with Baseball Sask. We all know the saying, “You can take the kid out of Sask but you can’t take the Sask out of the kid?” I know his heart was still in Saskatchewan many times.

Umpires, players from Japan and Team USA observe a moment’s silence before the WBSC U-18 World Cup Gold Medal game at Cellular Stadium NAH OA in kinawa, Japan . That’s Jim Baba’s picture on the scoreboard. The same ceremony was conducted betfore the Chinese Taipei-Korea bronze medal hame _ WBSC.

I think there are lot of people in Canada who are not aware of his impact in the game. Jim was never one to “toot his own horn.” He liked staying in the background and was always the first to give others credit. Many people who have the knowledge he possessed and the people he knew in this game might be arrogant and conceited. Not Jim, he never “big leagued” anyone.

Our uniforms for Team Sask, which we will wear as we compete on the Road to Okotoks for the Morneau Cup, Baseball Canada Cup and various spring and fall events, will have the “Babs” logo on the sleeve. Everyone affectionately called Jim “Babs.” Every year we go to the Jackie Robinson Complex in Florida for spring training. Jackie Robinson opened the door for many.

The Saskatchewan players that came to Florida all know of Jackie Robinson but likely didn’t know much about Jim. I told them Babs is the guy that set the standard for us – the standard we continue to follow and the one who told us we could compete at a national and college level. He was the one that opened that door for many of us in the 90s and then went on to lead programs nationally with Baseball Canada.

He was loved throughout Saskatchewan and he was loved in Ottawa as a boss and an independent problem solver for all 10 provinces. When he passed away in September of 2025, a few weeks later there was a WBSC championship with teams from around the world. These teams lined up along the first and third base line and a moment’s silence was held as Baba’s picture flashed on the right field scoreboard. I am glad that his wife, Penny, and children, Mitch, Melani and Jamie, were able to see that online. Sadly, Penny passed away from her battle with cancer in November of that same year.

Everyone thinks that the most valuable resources in Saskatchewan are our grain, oil and potash. I don’t. I believe it’s the people and Jim was one of the very best. He inspired so many, including myself. This province and country will miss him dearly.

I have been lucky to receive a few honours in baseball – mostly thanks to the teaching of Babs. It is my great honour to tell readers across our great country that Jim Baba is the deserving winner of the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2026 Lifetime Builder Award.

I am not sure who will win in 2027, but whomever he or she is, will win the Jim Baba award. That’s what people across our country think of Jim Baba. I think about him every day.

May 6, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Kansas City Royals have called up right-hander Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.).

The Royals made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon.

This is the first big league promotion for Cerantola.

In 12 games for the Royals’ triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers this season, the 6-foot-5 righty is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA with five saves. He has 18 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings.

His dominance in triple-A came on the heels of two scoreless relief outings for Canada at the World Baseball Classic.

The 25-year-old right-hander’s stock in the Royals’ system rose last season after he fanned 63 batters in 49 innings in 38 appearances (one start) in triple-A. He finished with a 2-2 record with a 4.04 ERA.

🚨 BREAKING 🚨

Former GLC RHP Eric Cerantola
(@Eric_Cerantola4) has been called up to the big leagues by the Kansas City Royals. #GLCAlum🍁 pic.twitter.com/WIMf1jQU5A

— Great Lake Canadians (@GLCanadians) May 6, 2026

Selected in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Mississippi State University by the Royals, he is in his sixth professional season. The Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum owns a 10-13 record and a 3.59 ERA in 133 minor league appearances (24 starts). He has fanned 326 batters in 245 2/3 innings.

Cerantola, whose best pitch is his slider, will join a Royals’ bullpen that owns a 4.82 ERA this season.

He is set to become the 20th player born in Canada to play in the majors this season. Three other players who have suited up for the Canadian national team - Freddie Freeman, Otto Lopez and Jameson Taillon - are also playing in the big leagues.

May 6, 2026

By Dan Estey

Canadian Baseball Network

The Edmonton Cubs and Red Deer Riggers both scored wins on 2026 opening day action of the Sunburst League in Alberta on Monday evening. They were the first senior games ball played in Canada.

For the Riggers, last year’s Sunburst League champions, they opened their season with a decisive 14-3 win over the Calgary Diamondbacks on the road at Webber Athletic Park. Red Deer wasted no time in this one putting up three runs in the top of the first for an early 3-0 lead. Calgary answered back in the bottom half with two runs of their own. After a scoreless second, the Riggers would put their foot on the gas and not look back in this one. They scored four runs in the third, five more runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth. The D-Backs would get a single run in the third but this game early due to the league mercy rule.

Offensively for Red Deer, they were led by Jason Louis who was 3-for-3 in the game with a homer, a double and a walk while scoring four runs and collecting four RBIs. Veteran Tyler McWillie was 1-for-2 with a double, a pair of walks, four runs and an RBI while Owen Coumont was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and a pair of RBIs. Mason Love-Hollman and Kyle Bellich were both 1-for-4 in the game each with a double and a run scored. Alex Lemieux rounded out the offensive going 0-for-2 with a walk, a run and a pair of RBIs.

For Calgary, they were led by Duncan Eglert who was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Nolan Handley was 1-for-2 with a walk, a run and a pair of RBIs while veteran Alex Bishop was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Nolan King wrapped up the Diamondbacks offense with an RBI.

On the hill, McWillie was working some double duty as he pitched up the win for the Riggers. He tossed four innings allowing three runs on three hits while walking four and striking out five. David Guldranson threw the fifth allowing only a hit while striking out one. Andrew Malone was the starter for Calgary and took the loss going 3 2/3 innings allowing 10 runs on six hits while walking six and striking out three. JP Willner threw the next 1 1/3 innings allowing four runs -- two earned -- on one hit while walking four and striking out one.

In other action, the Edmonton Cubs got their season off to a great start as they traveled to Centennial Park and downed the Sherwood Park Athletics 13-3. The Cubbies opened the scoring in the second plating a pair of runs for a 2-0 lead. The Athletics answered back plating a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half and add another run in the third inning for a 3-2 lead. That lead would be short lived though as the Edmonton bats woke up over the next couple of innings scoring five runs in both of the fourth and fifth inning running the score to 12-3. They added one more run in the sixth inning making the score 13-3 ending the game due to the league mercy rule.

Offensively for Edmonton, they were led by Dan Chappel who was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Cory Scammell, the former Seattle Mariners draft, also had a pair of hits going 2-for-4 with two RBIs while David LeBlanc was 1-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs. Garrett Cyr was 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs while Blake Davis was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and two RBIs.

For Sherwood Park, it was led offensively by Bronson Paetsch who was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Connor Williams and veteran RJ Bourjet were each 1-for-3 with an RBI while Jeremy Harasymchuk and Greg Wallace each scored a run as well.

On the mound, Edmonton veteran hurler Jarvis Greiner was the beneficiary of all of the offense as he went the distance tossing six innings allowing three runs scattering eight hits while walking four and striking out five. Carter MacDonald, one of four Athletics hurlers this game, was saddled with the loss as he went two innings allowing 10 runs -- five earned -- on four hits while walking seven and striking out one. Brett Higgins tossed two innings, Jeremy Harasymchuk tossed an inning allowing an earned run on three hits and a strikeout while Andrew Mirasty tossed a scoreless inning allowing a hit and collecting a strikeout.

-Action in the Sunburst League will pick up again on Friday night as the Red Deer Riggers (1-0) will make their way back to Webber Athletic Park to take on the Calgary Rockies (0-0) in their season debut.

May 6, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Dunedin Blue Jays are getting some Canadian flavour.

Oakville, Ont., product Owen Gregg has been promoted to the class-A club after making the most of his two games in the Florida Complex League.

“I got called into the manager’s office and they let me know I was making the jump up to Dunedin,” recalled Gregg. “I was very grateful for this opportunity and the next step in my professional career.”

With the FCL Jays, Gregg collected four hits in six at-bats, including an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. It was a small sample size for the Blue Jays staff, but Gregg made the most of the opportunity and was rewarded with a promotion.

The Canuck also got some preseason action against the Junior National Team during their extended spring training trip in April, belting a home run against a team he used to represent.

“I am excited to compete with guys I played with during Spring Training,” explained Gregg. “I am also looking forward to learning from my teammates and coaching staff with Dunedin, and to just become a better baseball player.”

Gregg was an undrafted free agent signing following the 2024 MLB draft. The Fieldhouse Pirates alum decided to forego his commitment to Utah University and turn pro. The Blue Jays allowed the infielder to play for the Junior National Team that fall at the U-18 Pan American Championship in Panama.

The 2025 season was supposed to be the year Gregg got his feet wet in the pro ranks, but an injury forced him to the sidelines for the entire campaign.

“It’s a great reminder that my hard work throughout the rehab process is paying off,” said Gregg, speaking about his return from injury and the recent promotion. “I learned a lot about myself, and I have been playing every game since the injury with gratitude. It’s such a privilege to be able to play this game at this level, and I remind myself of that every time I step onto the field.”

So far, Gregg has appeared in one game for Dunedin, replacing Addison Barger at third base during yesterday’s contest against the Bradenton Marauders.

Gregg will likely spend the rest of the season in Dunedin. At just 19 years old, thanks to a December birthday, Gregg has a few years to develop in the farm system before he's potentially knocking on the big-league doors. Make no mistake, he will be one Canuck to keep an eye on over the next several years.

Junior National Team and Ontario Blue Jays alum Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) has signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.

May 6, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Jordan Romano has signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.

Thomas Harding, of MLB.com, reported the transaction last night.

According to Harding, Romano (Markham, Ont.), who had been released by the Los Angeles Angels last week, will report to the Rockies’ minor league complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he’ll be assessed and then assigned to an affiliate.

With a 14-22 record, the Rockies are tied for last place in the National League West. Their closer Victor Vodnick owns a 7.24 ERA in 13 appearances.

Romano was designated for assignment by the Angels on April 26. The move came after the veteran reliever was roughed up for four runs in 2/3 of an inning by the Kansas City Royals the previous day, which boosted his season ERA to 10.13.

After starting the season 4-for-4 in save opportunities and not allowing a hit in his first five outings, Romano surrendered nine earned runs in three innings in his last six appearances with the Angels.

The 32-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $2-million deal with the Angels in December after a rough 2025 campaign with the Philadelphia Phillies.

After inking a one-year, $8.5-million contract with the Phillies in December 2024, the ex-Toronto Blue Jay proceeded to post an 8.23 ERA and record eight saves in 49 relief appearances before he was sidelined by a season-ending finger injury in late August.

Prior to his tenure with the Phils, Romano recorded 105 saves and was a two-time All-Star in his six seasons with the Blue Jays.

Originally chosen in the 10th round of the MLB draft by the Blue Jays in 2014, the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team alum is in his eighth major league season.

May 4, 2026

Official CCC Athletics News Release

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Baseball postseason awards were announced Monday by the conference office.

Eastern Oregon University’s Jace Nagler was named the CCC McDonald’s Player of the Year, presented by Urban Edge Network. Myles Chamberlain, of the University of British Columbia, earned Pitcher of the Year honours. Lewis-Clark State College head coach Jeremiah Robbins was selected as the Coach of the Year. Corban University received the Athletic Solutions Team Sportsmanship Award.

Nagler, a junior from Bend, Ore., delivered a standout season for the Mountaineers, leading the conference in total bases (100) during CCC play. He ranked second in slugging percentage (.777) and hits (53), while placing third in batting average (.398), on-base percentage (.514), and runs scored (38). Nagler also tied for second in home runs with 11 and was strong defensively, finishing conference action with a .959 fielding percentage.

Chamberlain, a junior right-hander from Victoria, B.C., played a key role in leading British Columbia to a share of the CCC Regular Season Championship. In conference action, he posted a 2.91 ERA, second-best in the CCC, while leading the conference with seven wins. He also recorded a conference best 1.10 WHIP across 55 2/3 innings pitched.

Robbins, a three-time NAIA National Champion and Lewis-Clark State Athletics Hall of Famer, returned to lead the Warriors in the 2026 season and guided the program to both the CCC Regular Season and Tournament titles. Under his leadership, LC State led the conference in slugging percentage (.521), home runs (52), RBIs (304), and hits (411), while also posting the lowest team ERA at 3.47 during CCC play. Ranked No. 4 nationally, the Warriors hold a 41-7 overall record and are set to host an opening round of the NAIA Baseball World Series. This marks Robbins’ first CCC Coach of the Year honor.

The full list of the 2026 CCC All-Conference teams can be found here.

May 5, 2026

Baseball Canada

OTTAWA – Baseball Canada is pleased to announce the 32 athletes who have been invited to participate in the Junior National Team’s Dominican Professional Academy Camp, scheduled for May 12 to May 20 in the Dominican Republic.

The east coast of the Dominican Republic will serve as the backdrop for the camp, as the Juniors are set to visit 11 Major League Baseball player development academies.

The schedule features 11 games against Dominican Summer League affiliates of the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays.

Thirty-one of the 33 players invited previously participated in the Junior National Team Extended Spring Training Camp held last month in Dunedin, Florida.

Infielder Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, Ont.) and left-handed pitcher Sam Davis (Beaumont, Alta.) are the two latest additions and are set to make their Junior National Team debuts in the Dominican Republic.

Head coach and director of men’s national teams Greg Hamilton will lead the coaching staff, which includes former professional players and national team alumni Pete Orr, Michael Johnson, and Dustin Molleken.

Full Roster

Schedule

May 5, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

With the New York Mets floundering in last place in the National League East and their fourth and fifth starting pitchers struggling, it seems inevitable that Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) will be called up by the club.

That promotion could come sooner rather than later after Tong allowed just an unearned run, while fanning six batters, in six innings in his start for the triple-A Syracuse Mets against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday.

It’s a performance that has earned Tong the Canadian Baseball Network’s Minor League Player of the Week award (April 28 to May 3).

The 22-year-old righty threw 53 of his 85 pitches for strikes in the start and registered two Ks in the third inning and single strikeouts in the first, second, fourth and sixth.

Tong now has 44 strikeouts this season, which ties him for the International League lead. He is also tied for the league lead in starts (7) and ranks eighth in innings pitched (31-2/3).

Opposing batters are hitting just .186 off him.

Tong was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Wayne Norton Award winner, as Canadian minor league pitcher of the year (affiliated ranks) in 2025, after he put together a dominant season with the New York Mets’ double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and triple-A Syracuse, combining to go 10-5 with a 1.43 ERA in 22 starts.

His 179 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks in 2025. He also topped all minor league hurlers in ERA and opponents’ batting average (.148). His minor league dominance earned him his first big league call-up in late August.       

2026 CBN Minor League Player of the Week winners

Opening Day to April 5 - Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.), Rangers

April 7 to April 12 - Dante Nori (Toronto, Ont.), Phillies

April 14 to April 19- Matt Wilkinson (Surrey, B.C.), Guardians

April 21 to April 26 - Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.), Braves

April 28 to May 3 - Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.), Mets

Top Canadian Minor League Batters (April 28 to May 3)

Top Canadian Minor League Pitchers (April 28 to May 3)

May 4, 2026

Official MLB Press Release

All-Star closer Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres has been named the National League Reliever of the Month for March/April, and relief pitcher Louis Varland of the Toronto Blue Jays has been voted the American League Reliever of the Month for March/April.

The announcements were made on Monday on MLB Network.

Miller claimed his third career Reliever of the Month Award and his second with the Padres after winning in September 2025 and March/April 2024 as a member of the Athletics. Miller is the eighth different Padres reliever to receive the honor, joining Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman (3x: May 2005, September 2006 & May 2007); Heath Bell (April 2009); Brad Hand (2x: July 2017 & May 2018); Kirby Yates (April 2019); Mark Melancon (April 2021); Josh Hader (April 2023); and Robert Suarez (2x: May 2024 & March/April 2025). San Diego’s 13 awards are the second-most of any franchise behind only Milwaukee’s 14 recognitions. With his award for March/April, Miller became the 17th pitcher to receive three-or-more monthly recognitions, joining Félix Bautista, Aroldis Chapman, Emmanuel Clase, Edwin Díaz, Camilo Doval, Hader, Ryan Helsley, Liam Hendriks, Trevor Hoffman, Greg Holland, Raisel Iglesias, Craig Kimbrel, Joe Nathan, J.J. Putz, Rafael Soriano and Devin Williams.

Varland claimed his first career honour in his second season with the Blue Jays, becoming the fourth Toronto reliever to receive the recognition, joining B.J. Ryan (May 2008); Roberto Osuna (June 2017) and Jordan Romano (2x: April & July 2022).

Mason Miller, San Diego Padres (@mason.j.miller)

The 27-year-old pitched to a 1.17 ERA (2 ER/15.1 IP) while converting all 10 of his save opportunities across 15 appearances in which he allowed six hits with three walks, 29 strikeouts, a 0.59 WHIP and a .118 opponents’ average.

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native led the Majors in saves, while his 53.7 strikeout percentage was the highest among all qualified relievers, over 10 percent higher than the second-best reliever.

Dating back to the 2024 All-Star’s second appearance as a member of the Padres on August 5th of last season through April 27th, Miller produced a streak of 34.2 scoreless innings across 33 appearances. The streak, which passed Cla Meredith for the franchise record, ranks eighth-longest in MLB history.

Per Elias, Miller was both the first pitcher in the Expansion Era to record a scoreless inning streak of at least 34.0 innings and strike out 70+ batters, and the first to record such a streak while allowing fewer than 10 hits during the streak.

Miller became the first pitcher in MLB history to record 10 saves and 29 strikeouts through March/April. The flamethrower also joined Hall of Famer Rich Gossage (September/October 1980); Norm Charlton (September/October 1995); Eric Gagne (August 2003); Brad Lidge (September/October 2004); Francisco Rodríguez (September/October 2006); and Aroldis Chapman (2x: July 2012 & June 2014) as the only pitchers in MLB history to record at least 10 saves and 29 strikeouts in a month.

Louis Varland, Toronto Blue Jays (@louievarland)

The 28-year-old pitched to a 0.56 ERA (1 ER/16.0 IP) while converting all four of his save opportunities across 15 appearances in which he allowed 12 hits with four walks, 26 strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP and a .214 opponents’ average.

The St. Paul, Minnesota native’s 43.4 strikeout percentage ranked second in the Majors, behind only Miller, his one earned run tied for second least, his 26 strikeouts were tied for fourth and his 14.63 strikeouts per nine innings tied for seventh among all qualified relievers.

Varland’s 26 strikeouts through 16.0 innings of work marks the fourth such occurrence in Blue Jays’ history, joining Tom Henke (26 in June 1987); Steve Delabar (28 in August 2012); and his bullpen mate Jeff Hoffman, who also accomplished the feat across March/April.

The Concordia University alumni joined Mark Eichhorn (May 1986) and Henke (3x: June 1987, July 1989 & August 1989) as the only pitchers in Blue Jays’ history to record at least four saves and 26 strikeouts in a month.

Varland’s strikeouts per nine innings mark joined him with Henke (3x: May 1986, July 1989 & August 1989), Brandon Morrow (August 2010) and his teammate Dylan Cease (March/April 2026) as the only Blue Jays pitchers to record a month with a K/9 ratio of 14.00-or-higher while pitching 16.0 innings-or-more. His 14.63 mark is the highest in franchise history in a month, surpassing Morrow’s previous record of 14.54.

Others receiving votes for AL Reliever of the Month included David Bednar (1-2, 3.55 ERA, 13 G, 9-for-10 SV, 12.2 IP, 16 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 14 SO) of the New York Yankees; Matt Brash (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 G, 0-for-1 SV, 11.1 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 8 SO) of the Seattle Mariners; Yennier Cano (1-1, 1.69 ERA, 15 G, 10.2 IP, 5 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO); Ryan Helsley (0-2, 2.53 ERA, 7-for-7 SV, 12 G, 10.2 IP, 7 H, 0 HR, 7 BB, 15 SO), Anthony Nunez (1-0, 2.35 ERA, 14 G, 1-for-2 SV, 15.1 IP, 12 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 18 SO); and Rico Garcia (2-0, 0.66 ERA, 15 G, 1-for-2 SV, 13.2 IP, 1 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 15 SO) of the Baltimore Orioles; Jacob Latz (0-1, 1.42 ERA, 12 G, 2-for-3 SV, 12.2 IP, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 11 SO) of the Texas Rangers; Daniel Lynch IV (0-0, 0.79 ERA, 11 G, 11.1 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 13 SO) of the Kansas City Royals; Tyler Rogers (1-1, 0.59 ERA, 15 G, 0-for-1 SV, 15.1 IP, 8 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 8 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays; and Cade Smith (2-0, 3.86 ERA, 14 G, 7-for-9 SV, 14.0 IP, 16 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 17 SO) of the Cleveland Guardians.

Others receiving votes for NL Reliever of the Month included Brock Burke (1-1, 0.63 ERA, 15 G, 1-for-1 SV, 14.1 IP, 10 H, 0 HR, 6 BB, 17 SO) of the Cincinnati Reds; Raisel Iglesias (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 G, 5-for-5 SV, 8.2 IP, 5 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO) of the Atlanta Braves; and Antonio Senzatela (1-0, 0.46 ERA, 9 G, 2-for-2 SV, 19.2 IP, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 BB, 19 SO) of the Colorado Rockies.

*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on May 3. You can read it here.

May 4, 2026

By Ian Wilson

Alberta Dugout Stories

Baseball lends itself to dramatic comeback stories.

When Dutche Iannetti spearheaded the creation of the Fort McMurray Giants in 2015, he no doubt dreamt of those captivating tales that would await his ball club. The ninth-inning rally, the unlikely walk-off win, the playoff upset, a home-run robbing catch at the wall, the grand slam after battling back from an 0-2 count. That’s the good stuff.

And it was very good stuff for sports fans in Fort Mac when news broke that the city was getting a Western Major Baseball League (the forerunner of the Western Canadian Baseball League) team on Nov. 2, 2015.

The community had just officially opened the multi-purpose Shell Place sports facility at MacDonald Island Park in June and welcomed the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for a “Northern Kickoff” exhibition game. The North American Soccer League’s Edmonton squad also played a pair of regular season games there in July and August.

Excitement for sports in the region was growing by leaps and bounds, and baseball was a big part of it all.

“The WMBL is thrilled to see this expansion take place and know that Fort McMurray will be passionate about supporting their new hometown club,” said league president Kevin Kvame in a press release.

Kvame noted the ownership group met all the criteria in their expansion bid, which was accepted by the WMBL Board of Governors.

“The quality of the ownership group, along with the outreach of support that we have been monitoring for months really made this decision no contest,” he said.

Kvame described the ballpark at Shell Place as “another facility that many will be envious of” and couldn’t wait to tour the stadium.

Annette Antoniak, the chief executive officer of the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo, also declared “genuine delight at welcoming this opportunity to bring a new sport and entertainment option to the Wood Buffalo region.”

The enthusiasm from the initial announcement continued throughout November. A special dinner celebration midway through the month helped usher in the WMBL era in Fort McMurray, with Toronto Blue Jays outfielders Kevin Pillar and Chris Colabello on hand for the unveiling of the team name “Giants” and the announcement of admission packages that offered up tickets from $10 to $20 per game. The home opener was also set for May 27, 2016 against the Lethbridge Bulls.

“We knew the community would support it, minor ball, the business community, a great local owner. It’s all the right formula for a long successful franchise here,” said Kvame at the dinner.

Josh Iannetti – Dutche’s son and a catcher on the team – was also elated about the opportunity to play in the league.

“It’s unreal,” Iannetti told the Fort McMurray Today newspaper.

“Whenever you get a chance to represent your city, it’s amazing.”

Fellow Fort McMurrayite Matt McPherson, an outfielder with the Giants, shared his teammate’s enthusiasm for a WMBL team in his hometown.

“Hearing about it, I was speechless,” said McPherson.

“It was life-changing, really. Bringing baseball to where it’s never really been a focus, it’s going to change that community forever. Amazing.”

As the days and months passed, the preparations continued and much of the focus shifted to what the on-field product would look like.

“We will put a product on this field that will be on paper as good as any summer collegiate team in North America,” said recruiter Steve Avila in late April.

“We want to be the biggest and best summer party for 25-30 dates … we have the ability to put 2,500 (people) in here right now with the patio and the seats and the suites. We want it to be the best.”

As the roster took shape and the anticipation continued to build, the introduction of the Giants to northern Alberta and the WMBL was set for success. There was some scrambling that was typical for any team approaching an upcoming season … connecting players with billet families, adding sponsors and advertisers to the mix, contacting vendors about concession stand supplies, preparing the field, and selling tickets were among the ongoing tasks as the club counted down the days to the home opener.

Unfortunately, even for those who are best at expecting the unexpected, no one was prepared for what unfolded ahead of the 2016 season.

BRINGING THE HEAT

On the first day of May, a fire began spreading southwest of Fort McMurray and in just a few days it blazed through the city and forced the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta history, displacing as many as 90,000 people from their homes.

Dutche Iannetti was assembling a batting cage near home plate at Shell Place on May 3 when his wife, Dianne, called and told him to head south to their family-run business, a commercial laundry service for oilpatch workers. Just hours later, a mobile-home park across the street from their business caught fire. Flames ended up destroying the homes of some of their neighbours, as well.

With the batting cage still unassembled, the Iannettis evacuated the area, leaving the Giants uniforms and baseball gear behind.

“I had no real expectation of when we might be back,” Iannetti told The Globe and Mail newspaper.

The inferno destroyed 2,400 residences and buildings while impacting oil sands operations in the area. It caused an estimated $9.9 billion in damage – the costliest disaster in Canadian history – as it ripped through northern Alberta and into parts of Saskatchewan.

The massive forest fire was finally declared under control on July 5, but it wasn’t fully put out until August of 2017.

Caught up in the devastation were the Giants, and while baseball was not a major priority for the region in May, team officials had some big decisions to make.

The Western Major Baseball League released an official statement on May 4.

“As you can appreciate, the situation is still active and dangerous. We are monitoring the situation and have conveyed to the Fort McMurray Giants that we are standing by for them. We expect to be involved with them when they have been able to access their situation but that likely will not occur until the threat has ended and the group has been able to reassemble,” stated the WMBL, while encouraging donations to the Canadian Red Cross.

While people in the region were assessing the damage and charting a path back to something resembling a normal life in Fort McMurray, the baseball operations team with the Giants was weighing its options.

Would they cancel plans for a WMBL season that was just weeks away or try to move ahead with some sort of modified schedule?

The answer came on May 13 via another league press release, which confirmed that the “Giants have now officially indicated that they plan to operate during the 2016 season.”

Home games against Fort McMurray remained scheduled and further details from the Giants and the WMBL would be announced soon.

A few days later, word came out that the Giants would begin the season in Edmonton and split time with the Prospects at their ballpark for the first half of the season.

“The decision had to be thought out and see if it could work,” said Kvame in a mid-May article in the Edmonton Journal newspaper.

“When you’re moving that number of games, everything’s going to be a little wonky for a little bit, but it’s all worked out so far, so good … we’re looking forward to having them part of the league.”

The home opener of the Prospects was set for May 28 against the Giants. Fort McMurray was then scheduled to face the Lethbridge Bulls in a doubleheader in Edmonton for a pair of games that were officially home contests for the Giants. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales would also be donated to the Red Cross.

“I had come close to postponing it because there’s a lot going on,” said Dutche Iannetti, the GM and vice-president of the Giants.

“The ultimate goal was to open up at Shell Place, of course. For me, it’s all about those kids, and to take it away from them, it’s just not in me to do that,” he said of the college players who had signed up to play for the Giants.

“We’re set here to start out the season, and if we have to play here for a full season, it’s an honour that they opened up their arms and opened up their doors to allow us to do that.”

Fort McMurray had gone through several failed bids to achieve a WMBL franchise before finally landing one, and the front office of the Giants didn’t want the community to lose out on the opportunity to have high-end baseball because of the wildfires.

The Prospects also didn’t want their neighbours to the north to miss out.

“The amount of energy I know it takes to start the team up, we didn’t want them to lose any momentum,” said Craig Tkachuk, the chief operating officer of the Prospects.

“The fans in Fort McMurray are really baseball crazy, and we wanted them to be able to have a team.”

The assistance meant a lot to those close to the Giants.

“Most of our stuff is locked up at our field – it wasn’t a high priority at the time we left,” said Jayne Kenny, a ballpark gift shop volunteer who fled the fires.

“The fact that the Prospects opened up their field for us makes you want to cry. It looked like we were not going to be able to play this year.”

PLAY BALL!

On the field, the Giants got a rude awakening in their WMBL debut, a 16-3 loss to the Prospects, whose roster included future Major League Baseball (MLB) players Kody Funderburk and Erik Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.). Funderburk, who is now a relief pitcher with the Minnesota Twins, had three hits and three RBIs for Edmonton in a matchup that stretched to five hours in length due to rain delays.

When the game finally came to an end after midnight, the Giants – sporting “Alberta Strong” patches on their jerseys – took the field for a team photo and received a boisterous round of applause from the baseball boosters who stuck around.

“Pretty cool – they were really loud, cheering us,” said coach Kellen Camus.

“That put a little touch on everything, for myself, just for understanding the whole context of the situation. It was bigger than baseball that night. It’s still going to be bigger than baseball throughout the season. It’s amazing what everyone’s doing – a great feeling, that’s for sure.”

Adam Kimmel, a pitcher with the Giants, also felt the love from those in attendance, officially listed at 4,720 fans.

“Really warming. That was a good feeling, really cool … because it felt like we were a part of it. Pretty late (at night), you wouldn’t think (the crowd) would be that lively, but people stood up and showed appreciation for us. It’s a nice, warm feeling that we’re so welcome there,” Kimmel told Calgary Herald reporter Scott Cruickshank.

McPherson was also choked up by the outpouring of support.

“Having so many strangers coming up and making sure you’re OK, offering places to stay if you need it … pretty amazing,” said the Fort McMurray outfielder.

“The outreach has been outstanding … it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed.”

The game brought out the largest crowd for a baseball game in Edmonton since the triple-A Trappers of the Pacific Coast League played their final season in 2004.

“It was just an amazing night,” said Kvame.

“I think it was a rallying cry for the community to come together and to cheer for something after a really hard month.”

Long-time Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake was among those in attendance.

“It was a unique opportunity to be on a foreign field and call it home,” she said.

“It was really jovial, and a fun way for our citizens to connect with one another. We have gone through a lot for a long time, and still have a lot more to go through. Singing Take Me Out to The Ball Game takes you away from that.”

The WMBL debut also brought a series of franchise firsts. Kyle Blakeman picked up the first hit in team history when he smacked a single in the first inning. Pitcher Nikolas Cardinal, who was tagged with the loss for the Giants, recorded the first K for the club when he got Nick Spillman to strike out swinging in the bottom of the first.

Most importantly, the players were playing.

Fittingly, the Giants picked up their first victory on the road, coming out on top of the Okotoks Dawgs at Seaman Stadium by a 9-5 score on June 3. Adam Falcon picked up the win in relief after logging two scoreless innings and striking out three Dawgs.

“We are jacked to have them here,” said John Ircandia, the managing director of the Okotoks Dawgs, prior to the arrival of the Giants in town.

“It reminds me of the (2013) flooding. This stadium, in this area, was a rallying point for the community. Having the Giants here will be a reminder of how fortunate we are to have gotten through that … we’re all bound together. Baseball’s a good healing thing to get neighbours together, to get over adversity. That’s going to happen in Fort McMurray.”

The Dawgs allowed the Giants to take centre stage at the Okotoks home opener. Dutche Iannetti threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his son, Josh, and High River firefighters who had been on the front lines in Fort Mac greeted players from the Giants before play got underway. The Okotoks Fire Department also passed a boot through the stands at Seaman Stadium during the game to collect funds for the Red Cross.

“We’re just so lucky that we’re able to play this year,” Josh Iannetti told the Herald.

“It was under the clouds that we might not even have a season … we have plans, plans to be an amazing team.”

The Giants collected their second win of the campaign against the Brooks Bombers – another expansion team that joined the WMBL in 2016 – in a June 4th contest that saw Giants players go yard for the first time.

First baseman Michael Echavia launched a three-run homer out of Elks Field in the third inning, while third baseman Cooper Krug followed up with a solo blast in the ninth inning to help secure the 11-8 win.

HEADING FOR HOME

As the Giants continued to tour around Alberta and Saskatchewan, their story was gaining headlines and national media coverage.

The Globe and Mail newspaper published a feature story on the front page of the sports section in early June under the title “Something to Root For.”

The article by Marty Klinkenberg recounted the Iannetti family’s experience during the upheaval, while recounting the journey for the team and its displaced fans.

“Every day, when I come to the ball field, it’s like medicine for me,” Dutche Iannetti told The Globe.

“The hardest time for me is driving to and from games. That is when I have time to think about the community I love … it is hard to talk about that.”

When asked about the timing of a return to Fort McMurray for the Giants, Iannetti said the city needed to be ready for such a homecoming.

“It’s not about when people can go back, it’s when the community can support the Giants in Fort McMurray,” he said.

“It’s important for our team, and for our kids, to have fans in the stands.”

The Giants continued to road warrior their way through the month of June.

Damage assessment and cleanup was underway in northern Alberta and people began charting a course home.

Brenda and Jerry Muir, who signed up as a billet family for the Giants, had fled to Regina with their children to stay with Brenda’s parents while the fires ripped through Fort McMurray.

They brought 11-year-old Draven, nine-year-old Brooklyn, their two German shepherds, three cats and boxes of photos in two vehicles to the Saskatchewan capital.

Jerry returned to Fort McMurray in early June to get back to work and start cleaning up their house – which didn’t suffer any visible fire damage – while Brenda stayed behind with the kids and the pets.

“We’re lucky – just so lucky,” Brenda said in the Regina Leader-Post newspaper.

“The only thing we’re wondering about is the smoke damage … I want to get the carpets cleaned. I know people have paid people to clean their houses, but I want to do it myself.”

The parents attempted to make life as normal as possible for their children, so they enrolled them in a Regina elementary school.

“They had a great experience there,” said Brenda.

“I just sent thank you cards for all of the teachers and the staff and some chocolates – the teachers have been great and the kids have been great.”

She added: “I just put them in school for a sense of community, a regular routine just so that they could meet some friends.”

In addition to school, Brooklyn was signed up for soccer and Draven played baseball during their stay.

Brenda also did yard work for her parents and planted vegetables in a community garden plot.

“They’ll be reaping the benefits of that shortly,” she said. “It’s growing like crazy.”

The Muirs were grateful for all the assistance they received while they made a temporary home in Saskatchewan.

“I have nothing but good things to say about the support we’ve received from the Red Cross here in Regina,” said Brenda.

“They’ve helped me get groceries and laundry soap to wash my kids’ clothes and I was just at the Red Cross and they gave me some gas money. They were very generous. ‘Thank you’ can’t cover all of the people here who have really gone above and beyond what my expectations were.”

Despite the soft landing in Saskatchewan, there’s no place like home.

The Muirs had agreed to take one player with the Giants into their house in December. That responsibility was left in limbo after the evacuation. As the team looked at a return to Fort McMurray, the importance of that commitment loomed.

“The Edmonton Prospects were sharing their diamond with our Fort McMurray Giants and the lady from the baseball team called me a couple of days ago and she asked if we still wanted our billet,” said Brenda, who agreed to take in a second player after learning that fire had destroyed six Fort McMurray homes of billet families.

“That was kind of the inspiration to get us going back there.”

The Giants were inspired to get back home, too.

Following a pair of losses to the Okotoks Dawgs near the end of June, the Giants were finally ready to play the role of host to a visiting team, not in Edmonton, but back at Shell Place.

Their franchise home opener came against the Regina Red Sox on June.

“It is very exciting to be part of this historic first game at Shell Place,” said Red Sox general manager Bernie Eiswirth.

“I know the Giants fans are going to fill the park and make this an electrifying home opener for their team.”

Under sunny skies and with an estimated crowd of 2,000 people on hand, outfielder Chase Hager picked up three hits, two runs and an RBI for the home side, while Ryan Dunn registered the win in relief during the 6-4 victory for the Giants.

With that, the Giants had truly arrived in Fort McMurray.

They missed the postseason that year, with an overall record of 16 wins and 32 losses, but the Giants played .500 baseball over their final 10 games of the season.

More importantly, they authored a comeback story for the ages.

It may not have been what Dutche Iannetti dreamt about, but it helped turn a nightmare scenario into some very good stuff indeed.

May 3, 2026

By Jake McGrail

UBC Communications

LEWISTON, Idaho – At the conclusion of a very busy three days in Idaho, the UBC Thunderbirds emerged as the second-place finishers at the 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship.

An 8-2 win over Bushnell began Sunday's action, a result crucial in that it earned the 'Birds an automatic qualifier spot in the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round.

That set up another bout against hosts Lewis-Clark State, with UBC needing to win in order to force a rubber match for the championship. Unfortunately, it was the Warriors who pulled through to claim their second successive conference title.

GAME ONE

The Thunderbirds got off to a hot start, chasing Bushnell starting pitcher Loreto Siniscalchi in the first inning. After recording an out on their first at-bat, the next six T-Birds all proceeded to get on base.

That included an RBI single from Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) and a three-run homer off the bat of Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.) that pushed the 'Birds out into a sizable early lead.

Those were the only runs that UBC scored through the first four innings, but Myles Chamberlain (Victoria, B.C.) didn't need any more run support on the mound as he was absolutely dealing to begin the game. He finished off the fourth having allowed no hits and just one walk, while boasting five strikeouts.

After the 'Birds added to their lead on consecutive singles from Matt Vanslyke (Whitby, Ont.) and Lou Fujiwara in the top of the fifth to make it 6-0, the Beacons finally got on the board with their first hit of the game – a solo home run by Caleb Richter.

Bushnell did get one more on the board in the following inning, but that's as close as they would get. Kansai Sugimoto added the final bit of insurance with a two-run single in the seventh, and the duo of Kaden Douglas-Pluff (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Mason Chien (Langley, B.C.) combined to throw the final three scoreless innings.

GAME TWO

Facing a well-rested Lewis-Clark State side immediately following the conclusion of the first game of the day, the Thunderbirds suffered the reverse of their win over Bushnell by falling into an early hole with a three-run opening inning for the home team.

After loading the bases in the top of the third, the T-Birds were able to get on the board thanks to a sacrifice fly from Cote, but that was all they could manage for the frame. The Warriors answered back in the bottom half of the same inning when Izzy Madariaga came home on a Sam Weber ground out to second.

The Warriors took a 6-1 lead into the sixth, when Calvin Warrillow (Toronto, Ont.) got another one back for UBC thanks to some strong baserunning. After stealing second and advancing to third on the same play following a throwing error, a wild pitch then allowed the Toronto native to scamper home.

Once again, however, Lewis-Clark State answered right back with a four-run inning of their own in the bottom half of the sixth. Bryce Johnson provided the exclamation mark with a three-run homer, and another pair of Warriors runs in the eighth finished off the scoring.

The Thunderbirds now will wait and see which group they will be assigned to for the NAIA Opening Round. There, they will battle either three or four other teams in another double-elimination tournament from Monday, May 11 to Thursday, May 14, with a spot in the NAIA World Series on the line.

May 3, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Some Canadian baseball news and notes:

Hicks clubs seventh home run

Miami Marlins catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) belted his seventh home run of the season on Wednesday. With that, he set a new career-high in just 29 games.

Last season, he socked six home runs in 119 contests for the Marlins.

He also knocked in five more runs this week to give him 29 RBIs for the season. That ties him for second in the National League with Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Braves first baseman Matt Olson leads with 30 RBIs.

A Toronto Mets alum, Hicks is in his second big league season.

Lopez also hot for Marlins

Like Hicks, fellow Canadian Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) has had an excellent start to the 2026 season with the Marlins.

Through 32 games, Lopez is tied for the National League lead with 43 hits. He leads the Marlins in hits and doubles (8) and is tied with Xavier Edwards for most runs (23) and highest batting average (.336). He also has five stolen bases, three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Lopez, who lived in Montreal for part of his youth and played for Canada at the last two World Baseball Classics, is in his second season as the Marlins’ everyday shortstop.

Brash placed on IL

The Seattle Mariners placed reliever Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) on the 15-day injured list on Friday with right lat inflammation.

The transaction is retroactive to Thursday, so he’ll be eligible to be activated on May 15.

The Canuck righty exited Wednesday’s contest against the Minnesota Twins after throwing just two pitches in the eighth inning.

Brash is 2-0 and has yet to allow an earned run in 14 appearances out of the M’s bullpen this season. Opponents are batting .091 off him.

The Mariners don’t believe Brash’s injury is serious but they are being cautious with the 27-year-old right-hander. Brash missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and he experienced some mild inflammation in his throwing arm during the past off-season.

A Kingston Thunder grad, Brash is in his fourth campaign with the Mariners.

Black performing well for Brewers

In six games since being called up by the Milwaukee Brewers, Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) has gone 9-for-21 (.429 batting average). He has four doubles and four multi-hit games.

Batting in the middle of the Brewers’ order and DHing, he also has two three-RBI games.

Prior to his call-up, Black was hitting .282 with a .378 on-base percentage in 10 games with the triple-A Nashville Sounds. He had two doubles, a home run and two stolen bases.

The Toronto Mets alum also spent the bulk of 2025 with the Sounds, where he had a .369 on-base percentage with four home runs and 22 stolen bases in 61 games. He also hit .250 with an RBI in five games with the big-league Brewers.

He made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2024. In 18 games that season, he went 10-for-49 with two doubles, three stolen bases and seven walks.

Jenkins joined exclusive club 46 years ago

It was 46 years ago today that Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) won his 100th game as an American League pitcher when he hurled a complete game for the Texas Rangers in their 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Arlington Stadium.

With that, Jenkins became just the fifth major league pitcher to earn 100 wins in both the American and National Leagues, joining Al Orth, Gaylord Perry, Jim Bunning and Cy Young.

Five other pitchers have since joined that exclusive group: Dennis Martinez, Nolan Ryan, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.

Thomson has highest winning percentage by Canadian manager

The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) on Tuesday. I wrote an article about it on the same day.

Shortly after Thomson’s firing, Canadian baseball statistician Neil Munro sent me the stats of all Canadian big league managers. His document indicated that Thomson’s 355-270 record as manager of the Phillies was good for a .568 winning percentage, which is the best among Canadian MLB skippers.

George Gibson, who was the dugout boss of the Pittsburgh Pirates (1920 to 1922, 1932 to 1934) and Chicago Cubs (1925), is second with a .545 career winning percentage.

Thomson’s 21 postseason wins are also, by far, the most among Canadian big league managers.

Happy Birthday Ryan Dempster!

Happy 49th Birthday to Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.)!

Selected in the third round of the 1995 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers, he was dealt to the Marlins on August 8, 1996. He proceeded to pitch parts of five seasons with the Marlins. In 2000, he posted a 14-10 record and a 3.66 ERA in 226 1/3 innings in 33 starts and was selected to the National League All-Star team and named the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award winner.

He collected 15 more wins the ensuing campaign before he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds. He’d spend parts of two seasons with the Reds prior to being signed by the Cubs in January 2004.

In his first four seasons at Wrigley, Dempster was employed as a reliever and from 2005 to 2007 he registered 33, 24 and 28 saves respectively. The Cubs converted him into a starter in 2008 and he rewarded them by delivering his best major league season, going 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 206 2/3 innings in 33 starts. For his efforts, he was named to his second National League All-Star team. He followed that up with three more campaigns in which he logged at least 200 innings for the Cubs before he was swapped back to the Rangers at the 2012 trade deadline.

He capped off his major league career by winning a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Dempster finished his 16-year major league career near the top of most all-time Canadian pitching categories, including second in wins (132) and strikeouts (2,075). He was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Clarke on IL

Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) has been on the 10-day injured list since April 22 with a deep bone bruise on his right foot.

According to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com on Tuesday, Clarke had been wearing a walking boot, but he was expected to start some running drills this week. There’s no set timeline for Clarke’s return.

Prior to the injury, Clarke was 9-for-53 (.170 batting average) with six RBIs in 22 games in his second MLB season with the Athletics.

In 47 contests with the A’s in 2025, the Toronto Mets alum batted .230 with three home runs, eight doubles and two triples.

Remembering Bill Slack

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Bill Slack would’ve turned 93 today.

During his parts of six decades in professional baseball as a player, coach and manager, Slack (Petrolia, Ont.) developed into one of the most respected and influential Canadians in the game.

Signed by the Red Sox as a left-handed pitcher in 1951, he’d toe the rubber for 10 minor league seasons before turning to coaching. Beginning as a manager in the Red Sox organization in 1961, Slack settled in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he would lead the Red Sox Class-A team for parts of 13 seasons. During that time, his teams captured four Carolina League titles.

Slack finished his career with more wins than any other manager in Carolina League history. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Slack passed away on November 9, 2025.

Naylor heating up for Mariners

After a slow start to the season, Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) has had a productive couple of weeks for the Mariners. In his last 15 games, he is 18-for-58 (.310 batting average) with two home runs, nine RBIs and four stolen bases.

This hot stretch has boosted batting average from .127 to .215.

Happy Birthday Kellin Deglan!

Happy 34th Birthday to national team alum and longtime pro catcher Kellin Deglan (Langley, B.C.)!

Selected in the first round (22nd overall) by the Texas Rangers in the 2010 MLB draft, Deglan was the highest Canadian chosen that year.

He played 11 pro seasons in the Rangers, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays organizations. In total, he belted 84 home runs in 738 games in the affiliated minor league ranks.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound backstop played for the Junior National Team in 2009 and 2010 and then suited up for the senior squad on multiple occasions, including on the 2015 Pan Am Games gold medal-winning squad and on the 2023 World Baseball Classic team.

He also served as a bullpen coach for Canada at the 2026 WBC.

Julien rejuvenated with Rockies

After two down seasons with the Twins, Edouard Julien (Quebec City, Que.) seems rejuvenated with the Colorado Rockies.

In 28 games this season, he is batting. 289 and owns a .385 on-base percentage. He has two home runs, two stolen bases, 12 walks and 12 RBIs while playing regularly at second base for the Rockies.

Julien was acquired by the Rockies from the Twins on January 28.

Selected in the 18th round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Twins, Julien finished seventh in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2023.

Anniversary of Cort’s first MLB start

Forty-nine years ago today, Toronto native Barry Cort made his first MLB start and tossed a complete game for the Brewers in their 6-2 win over the Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium.

Cort scattered nine hits and struck out five in the contest.

It would be the only win and complete game of his MLB career.

May 2, 2026

By Jeff Sargeant

UBC Communications

LEWISTON, Idaho – The UBC Thunderbirds were held to one run for just the third time this season as they now face a do-or-die battle Sunday at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship following a 2-1 defeat to the host Lewis-Clark State Warriors Saturday afternoon at Harris Field.

A game which featured tremendous pitching and clutch defence, the 'Birds held a 1-0 lead into the sixth when the Warriors tied the game before going ahead the following frame.

UBC loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a double steal by Braeden Scott (Vancouver, B.C.) and Stephen Waters (Toronto, Ont.) and an intentional walk to Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.). But with two down and no more margin for error, LC closer Zach Elsos got the critical ground out to push the defending conference champions into Sunday's final while the 'Birds will now need a win earlier Sunday to keep their season alive.

UBC starter Will Anderson (Delta, B.C.) did his Saturday, going 5 2/3 innings allowing just one run on five hits.

The 'Birds got on the board in the bottom of the second when Matt Vanslyke (Whitby, Ont.) hit a two-out single to left field, scoring Calvin Warrillow (Toronto, Ont.) from second for the early lead.

The two long-time conference rivals combined for five hits in the first two innings but tremendous work by both starting pitchers saw just two more base hits – both from LC State – over the following three frames.

Jordan Justice doubled with two outs in the top of the fourth for the Warriors but with two runners in scoring position, Anderson got Ryan Prescott to fly out, keeping UBC's tenuous 1-0 lead intact.

The Warriors finally found the tying marker in the top of the sixth when Jackson Reed's sac fly plated Izzy Madariaga. Owen McConnell (Vancouver, B.C.) got the call out of the bullpen and struck out Justice to end the inning.

LC State scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice with one down. The 'Birds prevented any further damage by catching Sam Weber on an attempted steal of second followed by McConnell fanning Jackson Jaha.

After surrendering the game's opening run, Warriors starter Mason Goodson continued to deal, throwing four innings of no-hit ball. Scott singled in the bottom of the seventh, UBC's first base runner since Warrillow earned a walk in the fourth. But Goodson struck out his next two batters to keep the hosts in front by one.

The 'Birds finally got a look at another pitcher when Jackson Cloud spelled off Goodson in the bottom of the eighth. Vanslyke opened promisingly with a leadoff single but UBC couldn't cash in, down to their final three outs to try to remain on the winner's side of the bracket.

After Mason Chien (Langley, B.C.) pitched a solid, two-strikeout top of the ninth to keep it a one-run game, the 'Birds loaded the bases in the bottom half with two out, but once again couldn't manage to cash in as UBC now faces a must-win game Sunday morning to keep their conference tournament alive.

The T-Birds will face the winner of Saturday's late contest between Bushnell and Oregon Tech. The winner will advance to both the conference final vs the host Warriors while also earning a berth at the upcoming NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round.

First pitch for the 'Birds Sunday is set for 11:00 a.m.

May 2, 2026

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Blue Jays scout Austin Wells was sitting in Hugo Marchand’s house in Charleston, S.C.

It was a routine, pre-draft meeting that scouts make to the home of the top prospects each year. Wells was asking questions to Hugo and his son, shortstop Taj Marchand, when all of a sudden the scout stopped mid-sentence. The Jays Atlanta Metropolitan area scout asked, “Wait a second ... where are you from?” according to Marchand.

“Montreal,” Hugo said, “I’m a proud Canadian. My parents are still in Montreal, I used to take part of the summer off to go home until baseball took over.”

A few Canadian scouts know Hugo’s son Taj -- rated the third-best prospect in South Carolina by Baseball America and a prospect who climbed from No. 172 to No. 86 on this week’s Baseball America’s national combined rankings. Taj would be eligible to play for Canada down the road in the World Baseball Classic.

“Oh yeah Hugo (his father) and I have talked about what Freddie Freeman, Jameson Taillon did ... playing for Canada,” said Taj. “I was one of the 88 players invited to try out for Team USA last year. I didn’t make the team, but what an experience.

“To play for Canada ... that would be sick.”

Draft hockey junkies and fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs might know Hugo’s background. After three seasons with the Victoriaville Tigres, Hugo was a seventh round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997. He spent five years in the minors with the St. John’s Maple Leafs, Louisiana IceGators, South Carolina Stingrays and the St. Hyacinthe Cousin before retiring. He scored nine goals and had 442 penalty minutes.

In Hugo’s draft year, the Leafs and Nick Beverley also chose Jeff Farkas from Boston College, Adam Mair of the Owen Sound Platers, Frank Mrazek of Czechia, Eric Gooldy from the Detroit Whalers, Shawn Thornton from the Peterborough Petes, Russ Bartlett of the Phillips-Exeter Academy and Jonathan Hedstrom from Sweden.

“When my hockey days were over, I had a choice -- either the beach or go home and shovel snow. I took the beach,” said Hugo, now a Charleston fireman.

Growing up, Taj played both hockey and baseball, but “baseball kind of stuck.” He made the right call. Hugo, Taj and Xavier, a grade nine right-hander, spent every summer in Montreal until 2020 (and COVID kept everyone at home). He has been to Montreal once since 2020.

“We are all so busy with baseball now,” said Taj, who was asked his best tool. “I would say it is the hit tool. I swing at a lot of strikes.”

Playing for the James Island High School Trojans, Taj and his teammates are going for their third straight state championship. Taj has committed to Ole Miss for next fall.

* * *

Charleston is a long way from the Montreal Forum or the Bell Centre.

Hugo says they get a few “Habs games” [on TV] but his adopted state is without an NHL team. The closest NHL arena is the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., home of the Carolina Hurricanes. Hugo says the main sports in his area are college football and baseball.

Taj warrants a top 100 placement given his impact ability and could wind up being a top three-round selection.

Hugo grew up an Expos fan rooting for likes of Tim Wallach, Vlad Guerrero, Dennis Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Gary Carter and his favourite Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.).

“Our stadium played a big role in what happened to the team. Did you watch that Netflix documentary, Who killed the Montreal Expos?, I’ll never forget 1994 when we had one of the best teams and the strike happened. I’m a dual citizen, it still hurts. I still believe the Expos uniform is one of the best in the history of the game.”

Hugo is in his 16th year as a fireman, working 24 hours on and then having 48 hours off. We told Hugo where we had read on a site how he was acclaimed a hero after Dylann Roof entered a Black Methodist Church in Charleston and opened fire, June 17, 2015. Roof was charged with killing nine people, including Clementa Pinkney, a state senator and injuring a 10th.

“I wasn’t a hero, I happened to be the first one there,” Hugo said.

Marchand told David O’Brien of Quebec Major League alumni site, “It happened on a Wednesday, around 7 p.m. I had finished supper at the station with the guys when we got the call. We were eight firefighters when we got there and we all immediately started to take the pulse of every victim.”

The shooter was already gone when the firemen arrived.

“Scenes like those make you think about the worst possible outcomes, of what could happen to us,” Hugo said. “We are human beings, but we were there to do our job. We wanted to save as many lives as possible. I went to see each victim, but it was clear that many were already deceased. Calls like those ones can haunt you. But the team spirit we have at the station really helps to put all that behind you for a while.”

On April 10, 2017, Roof was sentenced to nine consecutive sentences of life without parole after formally pleading guilty to state murder charges. He is currently awaiting execution for the federal convictions on death row at Terre Haute, Ind.

“It was pretty tough, you have to create a bubble, go to work, do your work and come home,” Hugo said, “Then, you spend time with the family.”

His work schedule changed last year to one day on, three days off, two days on ... “so I am either at work, at Taj’s or Xavier’s game, or on Game Changer, which really became my stuff.”

Hugo said 80% of the calls his trucks are sent out on are “medical emergencies -- we get there quicker.”

The Marchand family hopes to get a different kind of phone call July 11-13 when the 2026 draft unfolds in Philadelphia.

May 1, 2026

By Jeff Sargeant

UBC Communications

Lewiston, Idaho – The UBC Thunderbirds are off to a solid start at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship with a tournament opening 10-5 win over the third-seeded College of Idaho Yotes Friday afternoon at Harris Field.

One of five Thunderbirds with multiple hits on the day, senior Josh Cote (Midland, Ont.) drove in three runs, one of them part of a five-run fourth inning for UBC to help keep the T-Birds on the winner's side of the bracket.

James Brock (Burnaby, B.C.) struck out four batters through six innings to earn the win on the mound as UBC will now face the winner of Friday's late game between the host Lewis-Clark State Warriors and the Bushnell Beacons at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

It wasn't the smoothest opening frame for Brock who put his first two batters on base with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. A wild pitch allowed runners to advance to second and third with Yotes DH Cody Guy later scoring the game's opening run before Brock struck out Darren Smith to limit the damage.

The 'Birds took no time to take the lead with back-to-back RBI doubles in the bottom of the first from Cote and Braeden Scott (Vancouver, B.C.).

Cote drove in his second run in as many at bats with a sacrifice fly in the third, doubling UBC's lead to 3-1.

The 'Birds got to Yotes starter Jackson Cummins in the fourth, chasing him off the mound after Kyle Yip (Calgary, Alta.) doubled to score two runs with Lou Fujiwara driving in Kellen Bourne (Calgary, Alta.) from second earlier in the inning.

A David Krahn (Langley, B.C.) sac fly scored Kansai Sugimoto while Cote drove in his third run of the game to cap off UBC's five-run inning with reliever Willy Shirts getting Scott to line out, ending the frightful defensive frame.

The first home run of the postseason for the 'Birds came off the bat of Krahn, a leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to push UBC's lead to 9-1.

College of Idaho got one run back in each of the seventh and eighth innings including a Caden Casagrande two-out solo homer off Lukas Kaufmann (Regina, Sask.) who entered in relief for Brock. UBC's veteran starter allowed just the one run on two hits.

Scott's third hit of the day, a single in the eighth, sent Krahn across the plate to restore the 'Birds' seven-run advantage.

Jack Ryan hit a two run homer in the top of the ninth but the Yotes' deficit was simply too great as the College of Idaho will now battle Oregon Tech Saturday morning with the loser facing the end of their season.

UBC now awaits Friday's late game between the host Warriors and the Beacons, who defeated Oregon Tech 18-4 in the tournament's opening contest.

First pitch for the T-Birds' second game of the weekend is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

May 1, 2026

Official Seattle Mariners News Release

SEATTLE – Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced on Friday the following roster moves:

-Josh Simpson (#37), LHP, recalled from triple-A Tacoma.

-Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.), RHP, placed on 15-day Injured List (right lat inflammation, retroactive to April 30).

Simpson, 28, has made nine appearances for the Rainiers this season, posting a 0.96 ERA with 12 strikeouts and six walks. The left-hander was acquired by Seattle from the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations on Feb. 16 and spent time with the Mariners in spring training this year.

He made 31 appearances in the majors for Miami in 2025, going 4-2 with a 7.34 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 22 walks. He made his big league debut on June 21 and recorded his first win five days later, on June 26.

Simpson was originally selected by the Marlins in the 32nd round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Columbia University. He is one of 23 MLB players all-time from Columbia University, a list that includes Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Sandy Koufax, and Eddie Collins.

Brash, 27, was removed from Wednesday’s game during his relief appearance at Minnesota. In his 14 appearances this season, Brash is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA with eight strikeouts and two walks, allowing just one unearned run. The Mariners are 12-2 when Brash appears in a game.

The right-hander has appeared in four major league seasons with Seattle, going 16-11 with 8 saves and a 3.10 ERA with 235 strikeouts and 82 walks in 184 games. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Brash was acquired by Seattle as the “player to be named later” from the San Diego Padres in a deal that sent right-hander Taylor Williams to the Padres on Aug. 31, 2020. Brash has been one of the most effective relief pitchers in the game since joining the Mariners, leading the Majors in appearances (78) in 2023 and going 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 11 postseason appearances between 2022 and 2025.

The Women’s National Team has booked a ticket to Rockford, Illinois in July for the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage. Photo: Baseball Canada

May 1, 2026

Baseball Canada

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico - The Women’s National Team has booked a ticket to Rockford, Illinois in July for the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage after sweeping Puerto Rico in three games to win the WBSC Americas qualifying series between the two nations.

After a convincing 14-0 win on Thursday, Canada used a strong start on the mound from Michelle Roche (Burnaby, B.C.) in an 8-3 win before blanking Puerto Rico 10-0 to clinch the series on a strong pitching performance from Alli Schroder (Fruitvale, B.C.), strengthened by an inside-the park home run from Sena Catterall (Pierrefonds, Que.).

Canada will be one of six teams in Rockford from July 22-26 along with host USA, Australia, Hong Kong, Korea and Mexico. The top three teams will qualify for the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Finals, also to be held in Rockford in July 2027.

Game 1: Canada 8, Puerto Rico 3

In the first game of the doubleheader Roche tossed five scoreless innings shutting down Puerto Rico’s offence, only allowing two hits while striking out five. 

In the early going, Canada took a three-run lead in the first inning showing strong plate discipline forcing a bullpen move from Puerto Rico. The bats were hot in the second inning with four singles, two of them being run-scoring hits from Madison Willan (Edmonton, Alta.) and power hitter Andréanne Leblanc (Mont-Saint-Hillaire, Que.).

Willan finished the game with three RBIs while Leblanc had two bringing her two-game total to five after belting a three-run homer on Thursday.

Canada got into their own bullpen for the first time in the series in the sixth with lefty Liz Gilder (Port Moody, B.C.) coming in for an inning of relief in the sixth and allowing one run before Mikael Fields (Shortts Lake, N.S.) came out to close the game off in the seventh allowing two runs with one strikeout.

Three players had perfect performances from the plate in Mia Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.), Willan, and Alizée Gélinas (Trois-Riviéres, Que.). Valcke went 3-for-3, with a walk, four runs scored, and crushed a triple in the sixth inning. Gélinas was 2-for-2 on the day with two walks, an RBI, and came around to score once. 

Game 2: Canada 10, Puerto Rico 0

Canada put up four runs in the second inning keyed by a Catterall two-run single and rode the right arm of Schroder who tossed five scoreless innings in a 10-0 victory.

Catterall added an inside-the-park home run in the sixth to put Canada ahead by seven on a ball that she drilled to centre field and finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Schroder scattered just two hits and a walk while striking out five batters.  

Canada would add a pair of runs in the fourth with Claire Eccles (Surrey, B.C.) using a leadoff single to later score on a wild throw from the catcher on a steal of third, while Lucie Anctil (La Pocatiére, Que.) drove in another on a fielder’s choice. 

After Catterall’s homer in the sixth, Ela Day-Bedard (Gatineau, Que.) tripled in two runs before scoring on Emily Baxter’s (Toronto, Ont.) single to put Canada up by 10.

With the 10-run mercy rule looming, Jaida Lee (St. John’s, Nfld.) came out of the bullpen and worked a scoreless inning that included a strikeout to end the game.

WBSC Americas tournament website

May 2, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The future of Canadian baseball has been on the rise over the past few years, and you can see the results on fields both in Canada and south of the border.

Over 1,200 Canucks are playing for various post-secondary programs across the United States and another 700 in Canada, the number of pro minor leaguers continues to grow each season. Travel teams and academies from coast to coast continue to pop up, with skilled and experienced former players and coaches bringing those talents homeward bound. With this newfound success, another league has emerged in Ontario.

While the Canadian Premier Baseball League and the Premier Baseball League of Ontario (PBLO) have dominated the central provinces in recent years, the folks at New Balance are trying to change the mould with their new Future Stars Series (FSS) Canada Scout League.

It’s a grassroots movement starting in Ontario and includes five teams in this, its inaugural season, with the Durham Stallions, Mississauga Tigers, Ontario Kobras, Vaughan Vikings and the Midwestern Ontario Bearcats.

“For us, we started to really get the Durham guys to be able to play at a high-level close to home,” said Jeff Sharpe, general manager for the Durham Stallions. “This new league gave us the opportunity for a newer program such as ours to focus on developing players in this region—those who want to take their game to the next level. Youth who want more training and to play competitive ball.”

Greg Byron, head of college placement for the Mississauga Tigers, is on the same page as Sharpe.

“For our organization, this represents a new opportunity to showcase the program against some top talent,” said Byron. “(Sean) Travers and I have done the CPBL and the PBLO before, and both those leagues are great in their own ways, but this new opportunity through the Future Stars Series aligns with the goals we’ve set for our program—to get our players competing through the window of opportunity in Canada during the summer months and get them prepared for post-secondary opportunities down the line.”

The development of amateur ball has been a priority for many pro organizations over the years, with high school players seeking new ways to showcase their skills on the diamond. For Canadians, that has meant playing with a travel team or finding a program under various umbrella organizations such as Perfect Game. Those at the top of their game have found themselves playing for the Junior National Team or in front of scouts at the Canadian Futures Showcase.

With the Future Stars Series branching into Canada this year, development remains at the forefront and now includes the addition of advanced technologies and programs that take things to the next level when it comes to players’ futures.

This new loop will feature SmartPark technology at each of the five teams’ ballparks, along with other tech advancements such as Synergy, Infinite Sky, and Ntangible. These tools are complemented by FSS’s partnership with the NJCAA, focusing on development and predictive analytics under the JUCO wing that is spilling into this league.

To the average fan, these programs and tools might go over their heads. But for those who break the game down frame by frame, trying to squeeze every ounce out of an at-bat or pitch, it’s a game-changer. With baseball becoming more analytical by the hour, there are clear advantages for programs willing to buy into what FSS is offering.

“All of the fields are getting these technologies put in place, and it not only helps with player development but also allows college coaches who subscribe to these programs to access all the data at their fingertips within a day,” said Sharpe.

Schedule for Canadian leg of May’s Scout Day events:

May 11 – Midwestern Ontario Bearcats; Jack Couch Field – Kitchener, Ont.

May 12 – Durham Stallions; Vaughan Grove Sports Park — Field 1 Woodbridge, Ont.

May 12 – Vikings; Vaughan Grove Sports Park — Field 1 Woodbridge, Ont.

May 13 – Ontario Kobras; Athletic Kulture Stadium – Minesing, Ont.

May 14 – Mississauga Tigers; Meadowvale Sports Park – Mississauga, Ont.

Mississauga North’s Greg Byron

Byron calls it a major advancement.

“We’re getting our players in front of coaches and scouts from across the U.S.,” echoed Byron. “If a college coach isn’t able to attend one of our games due to scheduling, he can pull up specific counts, key moments, and everything in between from real, in-game footage. They’re able to evaluate players in real-time game action without having to leave their office.

“Coaches get all the angles they need to assess a player’s profile—at the plate, on the mound, and in the field. For programs looking to set these youth up for the next step, whether it’s development-wise or potential scholarships, it’s a huge step forward.”

For the Midwestern Ontario Bearcats, that connection between development and exposure to college coaches was a key reason for joining the league.

“We were approached by last summer after many successful seasons in the PBLO,” explained Mark Couch, president of the Midwestern Ontario Bearcats. “We wanted to provide more high-level exposure to our players in front of U.S. colleges, and FSS helps immensely with the technologies they bring to the field. These advancements feed through FSS to schools and scouting departments that subscribe to the programs, and that was an important factor in our decision to join.”

As for the league itself, the schedule is still being finalized as permits are secured and teams are confirmed for this season. The first pitch begins this Saturday with an intrasquad matchup featuring the Tigers. By next week, all teams are expected to be fully underway, playing at various facilities for approximately four to five games per week between the different teams.

The schedule will run from May through June, with teams branching out in July to compete on their own schedules. For example, the Stallions will travel southeast to Georgia and Louisiana, while the Tigers will head to Texas.

The goal is for all five teams to reconvene in August for a weekend tournament to crown a champion across the respective divisions. One key advantage is that all teams are located within an hour’s drive of the GTA, helping reduce travel time and expenses for families already investing heavily in youth sports.

Another notable development is the league’s division structure. Rather than strict age restrictions, teams will operate within three categories: Senior (17/18), Junior (15/16), and Prospect (14U). Players may move between levels based on skill and development needs, and the teams will manage these movements internally and hold each other accountable if things go awry.

The goal is to have as many competitive games as possible,” said Sharpe. “We want to avoid blowouts and instead reflect the strength of these teams as the season progresses. Our focus is on development rather than standings. Combined with reduced travel and overall expenses, this league brings a lot of positives.”

League plays still allows teams to make trips south of the border.

“We can still do our own trips—like Texas or our fall schedule—while playing competitive ball during May and June without it costing an arm and a leg,” added Byron. “We understand that in the first year, there will be learning curves. But every program involved is focused on player development and exposure. We’re all on the same page, and that will help grow this league from a grassroots movement into something much bigger.”

The final number of teams across all divisions is still being determined, with estimates currently around 22. Previously, FSS operated in Canada primarily through scouting events, focusing on drills and highlight videos — something that is becoming less relevant over time. With the launch of the league, all five teams are fully invested in the development of players at the forefront, while being supported by modern technology and real-game exposure.

“This is great for baseball in Canada,” said Byron. “You only get so many months each year to play outdoors here. The more footage, games, and opportunities we can provide to develop these players and build the future, the better. That will always be a win.”

May 2, 2026

Atlantic Academies unite to form Frontier Baseball Club

By Ryan Sweeney

A team comprised of the best players in Atlantic Canada is completing its final preparations for the Road to Okotoks, attending the Ontario qualifier beginning May 28.

The program was founded by Premier Sports Academy in Newfoundland, One Last Rep Training in Nova Scotia, Atlantic Baseball Academy in PEI, and Maritime Rapids Academy in New Brunswick.

It’s no secret that Atlantic Canada has produced talented players, with the best regularly being recruited by top academies across the country each year. Cole and Chase Tucker, (St. John’s, Nfld.) along with AJ Rogers (Dartmouth, N.S.), who headed to the Okotoks Dawgs Academy, and Jaxon George (Belnan, N.S.), a Vauxhall Academy Jet. With the Frontier bringing the best in Atlantic Canada together, that talent is finally wearing one jersey.

“Having a team of athletes you don’t work with every day is a challenge for any coach,” said Frontier and One Last Rep’s Cory Boutilier. “But when we got the group together, we were able to see how quickly they gelled and bought into the vision we, as a coaching staff, had for the program. It’s something we feel we can continue to build on.”

Competitive reps for your team before a major event is a concern for all coaches, but the way Boutilier sees it, it’s another opportunity for Atlantic Canadians to prove their value, saying: “While they may not have the same amount of time together as other programs, every one of these athletes is talented and has something to prove. When they come together to play later this month, I think it’s going to be pretty seamless, and they’re going to compete.”

The depth and talent are both real. The roster includes a dozen arms running fastballs in the mid-to-upper 80s, with at least four around the 90-mph mark. But it’s not limited to the mound; more than half the team runs a sub-seven, 60-yard dash, and most players produce exit velocities in the 90–100 mph range.

Statistical analysis aside, this team has real experience and players who have succeeded in big moments. No less than 17 players on the roster competed at the 2025 Canada Games, including five from PEI, who narrowly missed a medal after defeating powerhouse British Columbia in the playoff game following the round robin.

Jake Trask (New Minas, N.S.) can run his fastball up to 91 mph and is currently representing PBR at the Best of the West in British Columbia. Alex McGrath (St. John’s, Nfld.) delivered arguably one of the greatest individual days at the Canada Games, making a catch in right field and firing a 275-foot throw to nail a runner at home in a bases-loaded situation, and later that night hitting a three-run home run off an 86-mph fastball from Minot State’s Thomas Mitchell (Halifax, NS) in front of 4,000–5,000 hometown fans.

Then there are players like Evan Mabey (Stratford, P.E.I.) who was selected to attend the prestigious Blue Jays Futures Showcase at the Rogers Centre in 2025, and Carter Cooling (Quispamsis, N.B.) a consistent threat at the plate during national events each year.

It’s a diverse roster, with players in every high school grade, along with a few who have reclassified, and no less than nine already committed to playing university or college ball next season.

Todd Price (Saint John, N.B.), with Rapids Academy out of New Brunswick, is no stranger to watching Atlantic Canadians compete on the national stage, having coached the 17U provincial team on multiple occasions.

“This tournament levels the playing field for Atlantic Canadian athletes,” he said. “Collaboration among the four provinces allows us to unite our strengths and showcase our remarkable talent.”

Those factors, along with others, Price feels, put the Frontier team in a good position heading into the qualifiers.

“What sets Atlantic Canadians apart is not only their skill and passion for the game, but also their resilience, work ethic, and commitment to excellence,” said Price. “Our athletes have shown time and again that they can compete with the best, and now they have the chance to do so as one region.”

The staff and players view the qualifier as the next step in the evolution of baseball in Atlantic Canada. With travel less than a month away, they head to Ontario with one goal: to punch their ticket on the Road to Okotoks for a chance to compete for the Morneau Cup.

The group will travel to Ontario a few days early to prepare for the qualifier, getting pre-tournament work in at Royal Field, the Great Lakes Canadians facility, along with scheduled exhibition games against 22U junior teams from the area.

After the Road to Okotoks qualifier, the team will remain in Ontario to compete at the Perfect Game Canadian National Championship, maximizing travel and exposure opportunities for Atlantic players.

Other Road to Okotoks articles

Terriers

Etobicoke Rangers

Mississauga North Tigers

Home Run Sports

North Toronto Athletics

Elliott: The best will compete on the Road to Okotoks and in the Morneau Cup — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: WCBL to showcase teams to young talent during Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: Morneau appreciates team-first focus of Road to Okotoks national championship — Canadian Baseball Network

Sweeney: Atlantic provinces prep for Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

May 1, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

In April, the Junior National Team (JNT) went down to Florida on their extended spring training trip, playing eight games against the FCL Pirates, FCL Yankees, FCL Phillies, FCL Blue Jays (three games), and the Ft. Lauderdale Stars (two games).

This is an annual trip for the JNT, and it gives the players a chance to play against some tougher competition. It also gives scouts in the Grapefruit League a chance to see some of Canada’s top young players. College scouts are also in attendance.

With this in mind, here are four players who stood out in their recent trip:

Sean Duncan – LHP

Port Coquitlam, B.C.

When Sean Duncan takes the mound, the scouting world takes notice – and with good reason.

The Vanderbilt commit is the top-ranked Canuck heading into this summer’s draft, ranked by MLB Pipeline at No. 75 in their latest update.

Duncan drew a huge crowd of scouts in his outings, and the southpaw delivered. Duncan pitched six innings in two starts and allowed just four hits and one earned run on 91 pitches. He struck out eight compared to four walks. His command was a bit more shaky compared to his outings last year, but Duncan continues to be the top Canuck prospect. On this trip, he posted a 1.17 ERA with a 1.333 WHIP while holding opposing bats to a .182 average.

He sits in the low 90s with his fastball but has hit 95 mph, and he mixes his pitches well with his repeatable delivery on the mound.

He should be the first Canadian taken in the draft this summer unless the siren songs of Nashville are playing too loud.

Elliot Lascelles – INF

Toronto, Ont.

A product of the Toronto Mets program, Elliot Lascelles is no stranger to the JNT and the middle infielder put on an impressive show at the extended spring camp.

Lascelles led the squad in batting average (.348), going 8-for-23 with a double and a triple. He finished the week with a .901 OPS and a .423 OBP, walking three times compared to two strikeouts. Lascelles also topped the team with five RBIs.

Lascelles’ draft stock definitely improved, and he’ll get a chance to pad his stats before July rolls around when the JNT heads to the Dominican Republic and also competes in the MLB Draft League. He has a commitment to Yale University, but the Mets product will get some serious draft consideration this year.

Calum Andersen – RHP

Calgary, Alta.

Calum Andersen is a bit newer on the JNT scene, but the right-hander is going to be an arm to watch over the next two years.

The Vauxhall Jets product already stands at 6-foot-5 and is touching the low 90s with his fastball. He commands the zone well, and this recent trip showcased his abilities. Similar to Duncan, he made two starts and pitched six innings, and finished with an identical 1.17 ERA but allowed fewer hits (2) while striking out four. His command was a bit wilder compared to the older left-hander (six walks), but he was able to keep them in check, allowing just the one earned run on 99 pitches.

Andersen is quickly establishng himself as an arm that could play at the next level, and scouts are starting to take interest in the 2027 grad. He impressed at the Future Stars Underclass Elite event last fall, earning Most Outstanding Pitcher honours.

Andersen has a commitment to the University of Oklahoma, but if he continues to impress, he will likely sign a pro contract.

Maxime Blain – OF

Repentigny, Que.

Quebec product Maxime Blain is newer to the JNT squad, but the left-handed hitter impressed in this recent Florida trip.

Blain led the team in OPS (.943) and went 5-for-15 at the plate (.333 average) with two doubles. He suited up in seven games and finished just behind Lascelles in RBIs (four) but led the squad in runs (four) and walks (five) while also chipping in with a sac fly. The outfielder also recorded an outfield assist while adding 12 putouts.

His game still needs some polish, but the Wabash Valley CC commit is making a splash against pro talent in his last year of eligibility.

Quick hits:

-Zach McDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) was the lone player to hit a home run on this trip.

-Josh Mills (Leduc, Alta.) led the team in strikeouts with nine in 5 2/3 innings in two starts.

-Desmond Tregaskis (Delta, B.C.) and Austin Blair (Victoria, B.C.) were strong out of the bullpen, with each pitcher allowing one earned run in four innings (apiece).

May 1, 2026

Official Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame News Release

St. Marys, Ont. – The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opens for the season today.

“On behalf of our board of directors and our staff, I’m excited to open our doors for our 29th season in St. Marys,” said Scott Crawford, the Hall’s director of operations. “We are committed to celebrating the rich history of Canadian baseball and I’m looking forward to sharing our new artifacts with our visitors.”

Some of the new artifacts on display will include:

-A very special loan of the Toronto Blue Jays’ original Home Run Jacket from 2021
-A display of Blue Jays artifacts in celebration of the team’s 50th season, including a base from the team’s first season in 1977
-The cap Owen Caissie wore in his 2025 MLB debut
-The scorecards from the first Women’s Baseball Game at the Canada Games in 2025, as well as the first home run ball
-The trophy won by the London Tecumsehs baseball team in 1877
-A lineup card from the game when Cade Smith recorded his 100th strikeout of the 2025 season
-A collection of objects from the Blue Jays’ 2025 season, including a base from the “Springer Dinger”
-A selection of artifacts from our 2026 induction class

Renovated in 2018, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum also houses dozens of other one-of-a-kind artifacts. The museum features interactive exhibits, a gift shop and the Centre for Canadian Baseball Research, the country’s leading baseball resource centre.

The facility also offers rental space, including the R. Howard Webster Foundation Visitors Lounge, which overlooks King Field, and is ideal for work, team and personal events and functions for up to 55 people. For information about how your group can host an event at the museum, click here.

The museum is also located on a picturesque 32-acre site that includes outdoor walking trails and four premier baseball fields.

Museum Hours
May 1 to June 30 – Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 1 to August 31 – Seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
September 1 to September 30 – Fridays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission Prices
Adult: $12
Senior/Student: $10
Children (age 9 to 17): $9
Children 8 and under: Free
Family (2 adults & 2 kids): $35
Groups of 10 or more: $9 each person

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online here.

April 30, 2026

Baseball Canada

FAJARDO, Puerto Rico - It took an extra day and a game one location change for the WBSC Americas Women’s World Cup Qualifying Series to begin but when it did Canada came out swinging, pounding out 12 hits including a three-run homer off the bat of Andréanne Leblanc (Mont-Saint-Hillaire, Que.) for a convincing 14-0 win over host Puerto Rico.

Canada now leads the best-of-five series 1-0 with a doubleheader set for Friday at Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium in Carolina beginning at 2 p.m. E.T.

Box Score: Game 1 Canada 14, Puerto Rico 0 (5 innings)

On the mound, Raine Padgham (Abbotsford, B.C.) started for the Canadians, pitching a five-inning complete game with the mercy rule in effect after the fifth.

Padgham recorded seven strikeouts while only allowing one hit which came in the fourth inning.

Canada’s offence got going right from the start as they built a three-run lead in the top of the first getting RBIs from Mia Valcke (St. Marys, Ont.), Alizée Gélinas (Trois-Rivières, Que.) and Cassie Matlock (Edmonton, Alta.).

Gélinas, who was celebrating her 21st birthday, was a sparkplug for the Women’s National Team, leading the squad going 2-for-4 with four RBIs, and coming around to score twice. 

With Canada leading 5-0 in the second inning, Leblanc came to the plate with two runners aboard and drilled a 2-2 offering over the wall in right field to give her team a commanding eight-run lead. 

The veteran duo of Valcke and OF Claire Eccles (Surrey, B.C.), who were a part of the WNT silver medal performance in the 2016 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup, showed off their experience on the national stage, combining for four hits, five RBIs, four runs scored, and two extra-base hits.

Valcke went 2-for-2, with three RBIs, hitting a double in the first, driving in the first run of the game and came around to score three times. Eccles was also 2-for-2 on the day, with two RBIs, one walk, hitting a triple in the fourth and came around to score once.

How to follow

WBSC Americas tournament website

April 30, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Florida Complex League is one of the two remaining leagues still awaiting its first pitch, with the Dominican Summer League also on the horizon.

That changes on Saturday for the FCL Blue Jays, who will begin their campaign at the Bobby Mattick Complex against the FCL Phillies at 10:00 am E.T.

For those who follow Canucks in the pro rankings, there are five players listed on the Blue Jays FCL roster to begin the 2026 season.

Aiden Taggart – RHP

Grimsby, Ont.

Of the group listed in this article, Aiden Taggart is the only player to make his pro debut since being signed as an undrafted free agent early in the 2025 season.

In 10 relief appearances last year, Taggart allowed eight earned runs and one home run in 11 2/3 innings, while striking out 13 batters.

The Blue Jays also had Taggart make one appearance for the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays this season, then sent him back to the FCL. The right-hander pitched against the Clearwater Threshers on April 19. He tossed a clean frame, getting a fly out before fanning the next two batters. In that appearance, Taggart threw 12 pitches and was hitting the low-90s with his sinker and using a cutter, changeup and slider.

If Taggart can similarly attack the strike zone in the FCL, the Ontario product will likely end up in class-A before the end of the year.

Owen Gregg – SS

Oakville, Ontario

Last year was supposed to be the debut for infielder Owen Gregg but an injury sidelined him for the entire campaign. The Oakville, Ont., native signed with the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent following the 2024 draft. He didn’t appear in affiliated ball that year, instead, he was allowed to suit up for Canada at the U-18 Pan American Championship.

While he hasn’t appeared in an affiliated game, Gregg recently played against the Junior National Team during their Extended Spring Training camp trip. The right-handed hitter belted a solo home run in that contest.

The 19-year-old FieldHouse Pirates alum still has time on his side. He has a late December birthday that saw him drafted at 17 years old. Healthy heading into the year, Gregg is a player to keep an eye on.

Tim Piasentin – 3B

Coquitlam, B.C.

The Blue Jays selected two Canadians in the 2025 MLB draft and Tim Piasentin found himself heading to pro baseball after hearing his name called in the fifth round.

Piasentin was the highest-ranked Canadian prep player heading into the 2025 draft, and with good reason. The Junior National Team grad excelled at the Canadian Futures Showcase in the fall of 2024, winning the Home Run Derby. He features an easy swing from the left side.

Similar to Gregg, he faced the JNT squad earlier this month, going 1-for-4 with a double. This will be Piasentin’s debut season after the Blue Jays kept him in the complex following the draft, and the 20th-ranked prospect in the farm system should get regular reps at third base.

Sam White – 3B

Aurora, Ont.

Keeping the undrafted free agent signing train rolling, the next to get on board is Sam White, a versatile player that can hit for both contact and power.

White spent three years with the West Virginia Mountaineers and was the club’s go-to second baseman entering the 2025 season. A shoulder injury forced him to the DH spot during the season. This likely hurt his draft stock. In his junior season, White led the team in batting average (.361) and hits (69) while ranking second in RBIs (46), runs (47), and doubles (17), earning ABCA All-East Region First Team honours.

That shoulder injury may have played a part in the Blue Jays deciding to keep White on the sidelines following the signing, as he finished the year on the IL. Look for White to be a quick mover in the Blue Jays' farm system if the bat can transfer from his D1 playing days.

Micah Bucknam – RHP

Abbotsford, B.C.

It was a bit interesting to see a college arm like Micah Bucknam listed on the FCL Blue Jays roster heading into the 2026 season, but now we know why.

The right-hander was placed on the full-season injured list on March 26. We don’t know the extent of the injury.

The outcome is unfortunate for Bucknam, who was looking solid after spending his junior season at Dallas Baptist University. He made 13 starts for the Patriots, posting a 4.62 ERA with 32 runs allowed in 62 1/3 innings while striking out 80, authoring an 11.6 K/9 with an impressive 3.6 BB/9.

Things were trending in the right direction for Bucknam, a name the Blue Jays liked so much they drafted him twice (first back in 2021, a 16th-round selection out of high school). Now fans will have to wait one more year to see the former Abbotsford Cardinal and the Jays current No. 18 ranked prospect.

April 29, 2026

Baseball Canada

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico - Game 1 of the 2026 WBSC Americas Women’s Baseball World Cup Qualifying Series between Canada and Puerto Rico got off to a wet start and was cancelled due to excessive rain. 

The game will be moved to Thursday, where the National Team will now play in Fajardo at Concepción Pérez Alberto Stadium starting at 2 p.m. E.T., with a doubleheader scheduled for Friday back in Carolina at Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium with the first game slated for 2 p.m. E.T.

How to follow

WBSC Americas tournament website

April 30, 2026

By Trevor Fitzpatrick

Canadian Baseball Network

Despite the upcoming Road to Okotoks only holding regional qualifiers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C., the other provinces won’t go without a representative in the tournament.

Making the trip from Manitoba to the Ontario regional qualifiers is the Home Run Sports Training Centre (HRSTC) team out of Winnipeg. The training centre, which is the only indoor training space specialized for baseball in the city, will feature a 19U team which will compete at the tournament.

“Greg Hamilton reached out to our director Jon Ali, and said, we want there to be representation (for Manitoba),” explained the team’s director of player development, Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.). “With us not being a baseball hotbed yet per se, but being hand chosen to represent this region was super exciting.”

Bourassa, a national team grad, is an imposing 6-foot-4 right-hander from Lethbridge who played for the San Francisco Dons in college. Following his four seasons there, he landed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association.

He’ll be returning to the Goldeyes for their 2026 campaign while he continues his work with the HRSTC. He posted a 4.20 ERA across 15 starts for the Goldeyes in 2025.

The team is hoping that their advantage of being a baseball hub for the province will give them an edge for the upcoming tournament.

“How many high school academy teams get the chance to face four pro pitchers in one evening?” asked Bourassa, referring to the Goldeyes players and Winnipeg baseball alumni who often stop by. “It’s great to give our guys that chance to see what baseball looks like at the next level and take away any of the shock value.”

HRSTC’s roster will consist of mostly their own players, but also a few from other programs. Just a few that Bourassa wanted to highlight include:

LHP Aidan Shepherd (Winnipeg, Man.): “He’s a true pitcher. He can mix speeds and throw the fastball to all four quadrants of the zone.”

Had a great week in Tucson with @HRSTC_WPG I was able to get 2 starts against great competition in Langley and Delta. Across my 6 innings of work I lived in the zone striking out 13, and only walking one batter. FB lived mid 80’s working in the SPL and SL in the mid to upper… pic.twitter.com/cr8STjZzHk

— Aidan Shepherd (@aidanshepherd27) March 17, 2026

McCook Community College commit RHP/SS Lincoln Carriere (Winnipeg, Man.): “He’s been really figuring out a changeup and been up to 91 on his fastball. It’s cool when guys have that light bulb moment.”

Fellow McCook commit C Cole Adamson (Winnipeg, Man.): “He has to be one of the best athletes at the catching position in the country without a doubt.”

I’m excited to announce my commitment to McCook Community College, Nebraska. I want to thank my coaches, teammates, family and the McCook coaching staff for giving me this opportunity to continue my baseball journey. #rolltribe💙@MCCBaseba11 @HRSTC_WPG @WWMBA_Baseball @BaseballMB pic.twitter.com/VDU9cvpBE3

— Cole Adamson (@ColeAdamson_5) December 11, 2025

“Across the board, everybody has been talking about competing against the best players across the country,” said Bourassa. “It’s super exciting not only that they are getting the opportunity, but they all realize how big this opportunity is.”

The qualifying round will take place May 28-31, with the pool play winners going on to play in Okotoks from July 14-19. Of all the teams across the four Ontario qualifying sites, only seven will proceed to the next round.

As Bourassa puts it, for the class of 2026 players on the team’s roster, this tournament will be one of their last big ones before they all head their separate ways for post-secondary.

Looking at the tournament with an even wider lens though, it should be an excellent opportunity for Canadian baseball to continue its rapid growth from recent years.

“It almost feels like we export all of our baseball, right? There’s so many good players here (in Canada) and they all get exported,” said Bourassa. “Having a tournament like this to centralize and tie everybody together, I think it’s really cool.”

Other Road to Okotoks Articles

Terriers

Etobicoke Rangers

Mississauga North Tigers

North Toronto Athletics

Elliott: The best will compete on the Road to Okotoks and in the Morneau Cup — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: WCBL to showcase teams to young talent during Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

Wilson: Morneau appreciates team-first focus of Road to Okotoks national championship — Canadian Baseball Network

Sweeney: Atlantic provinces prep for Road to Okotoks — Canadian Baseball Network

April 30, 2026

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Ottawa, Ont. - The Ottawa Titans have set a new Frontier League single-game attendance record by selling out its 2026 Home Opener on Friday, May 8, at 10,278 tickets sold.

Heading into year five in Canada’s Capital, the Club has broken a 29-year-old Frontier League single-game attendance record and achieved the first sellout of Ottawa Stadium since the Ottawa Lynx in September of 2002. With first pitch at 7:00 p.m. against the four-time defending Frontier League champion Québec Capitales, Opening Day 2026 will mark a milestone as an exciting new campaign gets underway.

“We’re incredibly proud of the support Ottawa-Gatineau has shown,” said Martin Boyce, general manager of the Ottawa Titans. “I can’t think of a better city – or better fans – to set a new league attendance record.”

The previous mark for the highest-attended Frontier League game was set on July 4, 1997, by the Johnstown Steal with 10,250 fans.

The celebration is in full swing with live pre and in-game entertainment, food trucks, and a jersey giveaway to the first 5,000 fans who enter Ottawa Stadium. Note, all jerseys are size XL and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a message to the great sports fans of the National Capital Region, Boyce added: “The game hasn’t even started, and you’ve already made history. Your passion is incredible, and we’re proud to call this city home.”

Fresh off welcoming nearly 100,000 fans through home games alone, the club increased total attendance by 16% from the previous season. It was the third consecutive year – every year of the team’s existence – with double-digit percentage growth in attendance, underscoring the National Capital Region's growing love for a traditional summer pastime.

With the sellout, the club also has its sights set on the largest single-day fundraising event for the Ottawa Titans Field of Dreams Foundation to date. Fundraising includes auctions throughout the game, donation opportunities, and the largest 50/50 draw – the record funds raised will support children’s charities in the National Capital Region.

Since its inception, the Ottawa Titans Field of Dreams Foundation has distributed more than $100,000 to registered children’s charities throughout the National Capital Region.

Frontier League Commissioner Steve Tashler will be in the ballpark to certify the historic event with a special presentation during a between-innings break.

“We congratulate the fans of the Ottawa Titans for setting the Frontier League's single-game attendance record,” outlined Steve Tashler, commissioner of the Frontier League. “Selling out Ottawa Stadium is a great way to open the 2026 season. We appreciate the support that the Ottawa-Gatineau region has shown for the Titans and Frontier League baseball.”

After the final out of the home opener, fans will be treated to spectacular fireworks. Following the show, fans can head to Autograph Alley at the bottom of Section OO to meet and greet their favourite Ottawa Titans players.

The Ottawa Titans encourage fans to arrive early, take in pre-game festivities, and bring the energy inside the ballpark as the team launches a new season.

Fans will receive a comprehensive know-before-you-go email with all game-day information and logistics to ensure a great, seamless fan experience at the ballpark.

“We’ve come a long way since 2022, growing this great fanbase and turning Ottawa Stadium into a true summer destination,” finalized Boyce. “Next Friday will be a historic night for our community – but it’s only the beginning of what’s ahead.”

Since opening its doors in 1993, Ottawa Stadium has not seen a home crowd for professional baseball exceed 10,000 since September 1, 2002. Originally home to the International League’s Ottawa Lynx, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos (1993-2002), Baltimore Orioles (2003-2006), and Philadelphia Phillies (2007), the Lynx sold out 59 home games during their 15-year tenure, including 43 in their inaugural 1993 season.

April 27, 2026

Official Bellevue University News Release

HELENA, Mont. -- Bellevue University senior first baseman Carter Claerhout (Red Deer, Alta.) and junior left-handed pitcher Kody Butt (Saskatoon, Sask.) have been named the Frontier Conference Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

Claerhout and Butt led the Bruins to a four-game series sweep of Bismarck State College last week, as the Bruins put the finishing touches on an unbeaten 24-0 regular season. BU is ranked third nationally with a 44-3 overall mark on the year.

Claerhout was an offensive juggernaut over the four-game stretch, recording multiple hits and at least one extra-base hit in every contest. He batted a blistering .600 with a 1.886 OPS, driving in 10 runs and scoring 11 times. The award comes amidst a 25-game hitting streak, during which Claerhout has maintained a .621 average and launched 15 home runs.

On the season, Claerhout leads the NAIA and the Frontier Conference in nearly every major statistical category, including: hits, home runs, total bases, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS. Additionally, he leads the Frontier Conference in runs, RBIs, sacrifice flies and on-base percentage.

Butt earned Pitcher of the Week honours following a historic performance on the mound against Bismarck State. In an 18-0 shutout victory, Butt struck out a career-high 17 batters in just six innings of work, allowing only three hits. The 17-strikeout performance ranks as the fifth-highest single-game total in the history of the Bellevue University program.

On the mound this season, Butt has been a force for the Bruins' rotation, pitching to a 6-1 record with a 3.17 ERA. He leads the team with 12.33 strikeouts per nine innings and has totaled 74 punch outs on the year. Opponents are hitting just .224 against him and he has compiled a 1.19 WHIP.

Bellevue returns to action in the upcoming Frontier Conference Tournament which begins Thursday from Community Bank & Trust Ballpark in Dickinson, N.D. where they will be the top seed and shooting for a fifth-consecutive conference tournament crown. Their first game is set for 5 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 Dakota State University vs No. 5 Mayville State University.

April 28, 2026

Official Okotoks Dawgs News Release

Don Seaman, principal donor, visionary and Dawgs legend, was inducted into the Okotoks Hall of Fame yesterday in recognition of his contributions to sport and community in Okotoks.

One of Don's daughters, Marilou, accepted the award on his behalf.

At the April 27 Regular Council Meeting, Sandi Kennedy, Wayne Meikle and Don Seaman were announced as the 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees. Those able to attend were presented with commemorative plaques and formally recognized by mayor and council.

“Sandi, Wayne and Don each represent what it means to lead with vision, generosity and service,” said Mayor Tanya Thorn. “Their contributions have helped shape Okotoks into the community we know today, and we are honoured to recognize their lasting legacies through the Okotoks Hall of Fame.”

Don Seaman was posthumously nominated in the sports category for his role in helping establish Okotoks as a premier youth baseball development community and a national hub for youth and collegiate baseball. Made possible through his generous support for community facilities including Seaman Stadium and the Duvernay Fieldhouse—which together welcome more than 120,000 fans each year—Don’s impact lives on in the venues that bear his name, and the generations of young athletes whose lives he helped shape.

Each inductee will be honoured with a plaque on the Okotoks Hall of Fame wall, located at the Okotoks Recreation Centre outside the Murray Arena.

The nomination and selection process occurs every four years, with nominations closing June 30 of each nomination term and the Okotoks’ Governance and Priorities Committee serves as the selection panel.

April 28, 2026

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Laval, Que. -- At one table were the famous Canadian-born Expos battery mates from 1993: Joe Siddall and Denis Boucher.

Next to them was another fine Canadian, Bill Atkinson.

Then there were two 1970s fireballers at the same table: Balor Moore and Don Demola, the latter of whom is nicknamed "Three Digits'' by Steve Rogers, referring to his 100 mph velocity.

This was the scene at Expos Fest, the magnificent fund-raiser held each year at the Embassy Plaza in the Montreal suburb of Laval with proceeds going to the Kat Demes Pavilion at Montreal Children's Hospital.

Before the autograph festival started, there was a long lineup for Marquis Grissom, making his first appearance at the extravaganza in many years.

"Grip!'' I shouted to him before he went to his table. He turned around, recognized my voice and hugged me and said, "Call me anytime.''

Felipe Alou, 90, a former Expos player, coach and manager, drew a lot of A-lou, A-lou calls.

I went up to this familiar face and said, "How are things in Vermont?'' Bill Lee looked up and said, "I know you.''

We hugged and my wife Sherry, eager for a photo with him, hugged him. Both my wife and Spaceman are into spirituality so, there's a connection between the two.

Lee looked at the cover of my new book and said, "Willie Davis! He played in the 1973 all-star game. I was the only guy on the American League not used. Dick Williams was the manager.''

Tom Foley, Mike Fitzgerald and Andy McGaffigan, close friends since the 1980s, were aptly placed at one table for autographs. Foley purchased my book and I told him his chapter was No. 21.

Randy Johnson was the star of the show during the day and at night at the gala. Bidding on his uniform, with encouragement from announcer Pat Laprade, reached a sold decibel of an amazing $9,300. Pedro Martinez made an appearance at the banquet but he didn't sign autos during the day.

Pedro isn't that keen on large-group autograph gigs but it was still a thrill to see him. Big Unit and Pedro are the only Expos to be inducted into Cooperstown the same year. Felipe managed Johnson in the minor leagues and Pedro in the majors.

Like every year, there was a special lineup for Bill Stoneman and Steve Rogers.

Elias Sosa, a solid pitcher from the late 1970s, was there. I told him I'd tried to get a hold of him several times over the years with no luck.

Bosom buddies Cliff Floyd and Rondell White were on hand again side by side. I keep telling people they are so-close they live on the same street in Davie, Florida.

George Kobitsakis, brother-in-law of the brilliant Expos Fest operator Perry Giannias, told me the cool story of how Rondell was scheduled to fly back to Florida on Sunday but George told him he had tickets for the Canadiens game against Tampa Bay at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Rondell called his wife and got permission to hang around Montreal for another day.

There was the great Moises Alou, fireballer Javier Vazquez, soft-tossing lefty Kirk Rueter, reliever Dave Veres, Cool Lou Frazier, Michael Barrett, Claude Raymond, catcher renown Darrin Fletcher and hulking Fernando Seguignol, whose big-mitts handshake would make you never forget.

Montreal Canadiens great Larry Robinson, so appreciative of Giannias' fund-raising efforts, was on hand to sign autographs and even at the banquet, he could be seen walking around to tables and shaking hands and posing for photos. One fan, carrying one skate at the gala, approached Big Bird to see if he would sign it with a white marker. He did.

There were changes made this year to speed up the autograph lineups. No posed photos were allowed with signees and no selfies were permitted. Seasoned attendee like Frank Michaelis skirted the rules a bit by walking away from each subject to take a long-range selfie. In one instance, Michaelis was moved along by a staffer but Johnson recognized his plight and smiled at his camera.

I want to thank Perry, his sister Dina Bourdakos and all their families and many volunteers for such a tremendous event. There's a guy from St. Thomas, Ontario, who comes every year to volunteer and pick up/drop off players at Pearson Airport.

I also want to thank Perry and Dina for allowing me to set up shop and sell books. It was a blast. I sold a slew of books and made a $65 donation toward the Kat Demes Pavilion.

Danny Gallagher's new book The Tragic Story of Willie Davis: and More Expos Vignettes will be officially released at bookstores across Canada on May 5

April 28, 2026

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The 2026 baseball season is about to hit the one-month mark, and it’s been an exciting month for players tied to the Great White North.

Over 60 Canadians have suited up in the minor leagues to open up the year, and that number will only grow when the respective Rookie Ball Leagues open up in early May.

Team Canada showed that there is a horde of talent coming from north of the border with their World Baseball Classic run this spring, and now numerous players across different minor league levels are starting to showcase what they can do.

Here are a few standouts early into the season.

Eric Hartman – OF

High-A Rome (Atlanta)

There’s a fairly easy argument to be made that Eric Hartman has been the top minor league Canuck to begin the 2026 season.

The St. Albert, Alta. product has been a home run hitting machine, blasting eight round trippers in 19 games and 76 at-bats. That number of knocks has him sitting tied for third across all minor league systems, and he’s the only High-A player to reach that mark. He also leads the Braves’ farm system (with fellow Canuck David McCabe (Oshawa, Ont.) sitting right behind him with six).

On top of the power, Hartman owns a .316/.388/.711 slash line with a 1.099 OPS, while also walking seven times and adding eight stolen bases. There’s still a learning curve in the outfield with two errors committed between left field and centre field, but the 19-year-old is off to an incredibly strong start to begin the year.

Nathan Flewelling – C

High-A Bowling Green (Tampa)

Sticking in High-A (and Alberta), the Tampa Bay Rays are seeing what Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.) can do after his first full pro-season in the Rays’ farm system last year.

The backstop has been off to a scorching start at the plate, posting a .345/.441/.672 slash line that includes two doubles, one triple, and five home runs. His 1.113 OPS ranks 19th across all qualified minor league players, and he’s showcasing his eye at the plate with nine walks.

Behind the plate, the 19-year-old has tossed out 18.8% of base stealers and has five assists to his name.

Garrett Hawkins – RHP

Triple-A El Paso (San Diego)

Garrett Hawkins showed up in a big way last season, and the right-hander from Saskatoon, Sask. is continuing to shine at the top level of the minors.

In eight outings, spanning 8 2/3 innings, Hawkins has allowed just six hits and two earned runs with one hold. He’s punching out opponents at an 8.3 K/9 clip, and if it weren’t for some command issues this past month (nine walks), he would likely be in the Padres’ bullpen right now.

Hawkins will need to reel that in if he wants to make the jump to San Diego, but he continues to show why he was worth the 40-man roster spot.

Thomas Ireland – LHP

Triple-A Round Rock (Tex)

Another Saskatchewan product is off to a strong start to begin the campaign. Left-hander Thomas Ireland has made four appearances while bouncing between High-A and triple-A to begin the year (two apiece). Across both leagues, Ireland has allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and four walks while punching out 15 batters (13.1 K/9).

Ireland’s movement around the Rangers’ system is a bit odd, and he did experience the same type of movement last year, splitting time between three different leagues. He’s in triple-A right now, and the left-hander has quietly been one of the top relievers in the system. His 1.99 FIP ranks third in the Rangers’ farm system among pitchers with 10+ innings.

Mitch Bratt – LHP

Triple-A Reno (Ariz)

This is Newmarket, Ont., native Mitch Bratt’s first full season in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system after being traded at the 2025 deadline, and the southpaw is pitching well at the top level.

Across five outings and 19 innings, Bratt has allowed just six earned runs and has held opponents to a .182 average with a .544 OPS. Opponents are struggling to put hard contact on his offerings, and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in all but one outing. Bratt has seen a quiet drop in his K/9 (7.6) while seeing an increase in his BB/9 (4.3) out of the gate, but he finds ways to keep the runs off the board (2.84 ERA).

Bratt is knocking on the door to the big leagues this year and that’s one of the main reasons he stayed behind from the World Baseball Classic.

Dylan O’Rae – SS

Double-A Biloxi (Milwaukee)

You want speed? Then, Sarnia, Ontario product Dylan O’Rae is going to be one guy to keep an eye on.

With 15 stolen bases, O’Rae ranks seventh across all minor league players, and backs up that plus baserunning with a contact-heavy swing that is showcasing some sneaky pop as well. Across 77 at-bats, the left-handed hitting Brewers prospect owns an impressive .338/.453/.455 slash line with four doubles, one triple, and one home run.

While his OPS (.908) is lower than others mentioned in this article, with O’Rae’s speed, a single or a walk (16 so far) turns into a double or more very quickly.

Connor Caskenette – C

High-A Beloit (Miami)

Turning our attention to the West Coast, Connor Caskenette is repping Duncan, B.C. in a big way to begin the 2026 season.

Starting the year in High-A Beloit, Caskenette has authored a .298/.484/.489 slash line through 47 at-bats. While he hasn’t hit for much power, the backstop is an on-base machine, posting a 18.8% walk rate while also putting forth a .364 BABIP and 167 wRC+.