New Age Music

The 2026 CBL Season Opener 

Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, May 10 at Christie Pits

A fan-made banner heralds the start of a new chapter in Maple Leafs baseball. (image: Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball TV)

Yasiel Puig put his team ahead and Dennis Dei Baning kept them there.

The slugging outfielders combined for three home runs for the Toronto Maple Leafs in an 8-6 opening day victory over the Kitchener Panthers at Christie Pits.

Borrowing from old advertising parlance, the Leafs presented "a new and exciting blend" of incoming and returning players to launch the 2026 Canadian Baseball League season.  Manager Rob Butler trotted out a starting lineup featuring five newcomers and five familiar faces.  

On a cold and windy afternoon, an estimated crowd of 4,000 took the opportunity to meet the Leafs in person.  Some local boys, some Cubans.  Some kids, some veterans.  An OUA All-Star, an MLB All-Star.  Would these disparate elements gel into a baseball team?  The early evidence bodes well.

Yadian Martinez opened the game on the mound for Toronto.  One year ago, he pitched on the same mound for the Panthers and grabbed a win.  Twelve months later he won again with five innings of work.  He surrendered three hits, a walk, and gave a short-lived lead to the visitors.

In the top of the second inning, Martinez hit his former battery mate Yunior Ibarra with a pitch.  Later in the frame, the Kitchener catcher came around to score on a double play and the visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Toronto's offence roared to life.  Second baseman Spenser Ross and catcher Matt Brandt both singled off Kitchener starter Owen MacNeil.  A sac fly by third baseman Matt Fabian scored Ross.  Left fielder Marcus Knecht took first after being plunked.  Right fielder Puig was up next and he deposited a MacNeil offering just on the other side of the left field fence.  The first Leaf homer of the year, the first lead of the year, and the home side were on their way with a 4-1 lead through two.

The Panthers clawed back, scoring one run in the fourth and another in the fifth to make it 4-3.

In the bottom of the fifth, Puig struck again.  He led off the inning with a solo blast off reliever Samuel Quintana.  That one was a no doubter that landed somewhere in the skate park.  Next man up, centerfielder Dei Baning, drew a walk.  He advanced to third on a single by DH Kyle Poapst and scored on a groundout by first baseman Mike Cecchetto.  That made it 6-3 Leafs through five.

In relief of Martinez, Wilgenis Alvarado pitched a scoreless top of the sixth.  Those Black Cats did not let up.  The following inning, they loaded the bases and scratched a couple of runs out of Alvarado via a hit by pitch (that ended Alvarado's day), and a walk by new reliever Ryan Capuano.  The Leafs got out of the inning but it was a tight 6-5 ballgame.

Bottom of the seventh, Puig and Dei Baning stretched the home lead for good.  Puig was walked by reliever Evan Elliott and Dei Baning blasted the Buds' third homer of the day.  It landed with finality somewhere beyond the fence in left and the Leafs enjoyed an 8-5 lead.

Like the monster in a Stephen King story, the Panthers came to life again.  Capuano walked two batters to open the eighth inning, and Yosvani Penalver doubled to drive one of them in.  Poapst put down his bat, picked up his glove and took to the mound as the Leafs' new two-way player.  He ended the threat by recording the final four outs of the game and securing the 8-5 FINAL.  And there was much rejoicing.

Martinez took the win, MacNeil took the loss and Poapst secured the save.  For Martinez, the game represented a "coming full circle" moment.  Over the past two opening days, he earned two wins for two different clubs.  Last June, he was placed on the Panthers' inactive list, and he played his final game for them in July.  Another subplot to the game involved the shortstops.  The same day Martinez was made inactive, Yordan Manduley was released and the Panthers signed head coach Pete Kiefer's son, shortstop Petey Kiefer.  This year, Manduley joined the Leafs along with Martinez.

Puig (3), Dei Baning (2) and Fabian (1) recorded RBIs on the day.  

Oversized importance is always assigned to The First Game of the Season.  Fans will scrutinize the stats while awaiting the Leafs' next outings.  Fun stat of the day: if he hangs around all summer, Puig is on pace to hit 96 home runs.  

It's great to start with a win and dream of things to come wrapped in ethereal new age music, but there are still 47 games ahead.  

Kitchener 6 6 0

Toronto 8 10 1

W - Martinez (1-0, 5.40)

L - MacNeil (0-1, 12.00)

S - Poapst (1)

BOXSCORE

The week ahead:

Thursday, May 14 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats, 7:38 pm at Athletic Kulture Stadium

Sunday, May 17 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

The Buds of Spring: the Toronto Maple Leafs 2026 Season Preview

At a Christie Pits practice on May 3, there were plenty of new faces in the Leafs uniform.  You will learn to identify them as soon as I do.

Grab your blankets and beverages, hillsiders.  

Toronto Maple Leafs baseball is back in a big way.

In case you missed the offseason news, a sea change swept over the Intercounty Baseball League.

A quick recap:

After 106 years as Ontario’s premier semi-pro baseball league, the IBL rebranded as the Canadian Baseball League and elevated to professional status.  

Pro status comes with a formal pay structure for players.  Clubs will be able to sign up to eight import players, up from the previous limit of five.

An expanded regular season schedule goes from 42 to 48 games.  That means 24 home games at Christie Pits, beginning on Sunday, May 10.  Admission to all Leaf home games remains free.

The league is reported to have acquired pitch clock technology that will be deployed to all nine CBL ballparks and go into effect at some point in the season.

A fast start will be a must, as fewer teams will qualify for the CBL postseason.  Starting this year, the regular season's top three finishers will make the playoffs.  The fourth- and fifth-place teams will play a wild card elimination game to join them.  Everybody else goes home.  The semi-finals and championship series will both be best-of-seven affairs.

The Dominico Cup, named for former Leafs owners Jack and Lynne Dominico, will carry over and become the CBL’s championship trophy.

Fans arriving at Christie Pits will also want to grab one of the free program sheets that they hand out.  

There has been a huge turnover in the roster, starting at the top with new general manager Denis Bailey, a veteran of the Burlington/Welland and Kitchener organizations.  Mike Boehmer also comes over from Kitchener as special assistant to the GM.

With one week to go before the season opens, the Leafs have filled 24 out of 28 spots on the roster.  Ten are returning players and 14 are new - that's over half the team.

Among the players who have departed: Marek Deska, Ryan Dos Santos, Dustin Richardson and Luca Boscarino.  All four have signed with or been traded to the Guelph Royals.  The Marra era of Maple Leaf baseball has come to an end.  Brothers Dan and Adam have been released and the Welland Jackfish acquired the rights to Justin.  Also released were longtime Leafs Greg Carrington and Connor Lewis.  Notables hitting the inactive list are Jordan Castaldo, Josh Berenbaum and Taylor Lepard.

At a glance, the Leafs go from being one of the league's oldest teams to one of the youngest.  The newcomers have been saying all the right things on the club's social media:

"Toronto is a city that loves its sports, and being able to represent this team and connect with that energy is something I'm looking forward to."

"It's been a while since I played baseball in my home city so I'm very excited to be able to do that again!"

"Can't wait for a packed Christie Pits on a Sunday afternoon!!!"

Some new guys.

Some more new guys.

New pitchers: Ryan Capuano, Reinaldo De Paula, Frankie Gulko, Yadian Martinez, Kyle Poapst, Nick Veselinovic.

New infielders: Matt Fabian, Kirk Gibson, Vasili Kaloudis, Yordan Manduley.

New outfielders/utility guy: Jacob Bonzon, Ben Sterritt, Cooper Tomkinson... and Yasiel Puig.

Yes, that Yasiel Puig.  In late April, social media erupted over a Toronto Star report that the Leafs had signed the ex-MLB All Star to the CBL's largest contract ever.  The Leafs have yet to make an official announcement.  However, his name appears on both the club and league websites as a Toronto signing.

All this newness promises a memorable season ahead. 

Despite all of the changes, it won't be a total culture shock at the Pits.  The park itself looks the same as always, and some familiar players will be suiting up in the blue and white.

Returning pitchers: Wilgenis Alvarado, Luis Florentino, Drew Howard, Alex Lanigan, Ben Sitarenios.

Returning infielders: Mike Checchetto, Jhon Javier, Spenser Ross.

Returning outfielders: Dennis Dei Baning, Marcus Knecht. 

The Skipper

Returning for his fourth season at the helm is field manager Rob Butler, joined by assistant coach Brian Sewell.

What of the opposition?  As mentioned, the other eight clubs in the CBL will be wanting to burst out of the starting gate or risk falling out of the postseason picture early.  Defending champions and finalists from last year, the Welland Jackfish and Barrie Baycats should provide stiff competition.  The Hamilton Cardinals and London Majors have made a lot of offseason moves.  The Toronto-to-Guelph pipeline should see the Royals contending as well.  Could we see surprise success from one of the remaining clubs, the Brantford Red Sox, Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, or Kitchener Panthers?  As the saying goes, that's why you play the games.

If you've made it this far you are a certifiable Leafs fanatic.  The season opens on Mother's Day, May 10.  The Leafs host the Kitchener Panthers and gametime is 2:00 pm.

From the Annex Gleaner: Maple Leafs Moving Up to the Pros

New Canadian Baseball League will bring more baseball and excitement to Christie Pits

This summer, professional baseball is coming to Christie Pits.

After 106 years as Ontario’s premier semi-pro baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League has rebranded as the Canadian Baseball League with professional status.

For fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it will mean more baseball and more excitement.

More baseball comes from an expanded schedule, which will see the regular season grow from 42 to 48 games.  That means 24 games played at home.

It’s just a few months away.  The Leafs’ season opener will be Sunday, May 10 at Christie Pits.  Game time is 2:00 pm and they will face the Kitchener Panthers.

The first half of the season will be heavy on Sunday games, with seven of them scheduled across May and June.

For July and August, the schedule will flip to more night games, with twelve of them spread over Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

With the league’s new professional status comes a formal pay structure for players.  Clubs will also be able to sign up to eight import players, up from the previous limit of five.  These changes are expected to attract a higher calibre of players and make teams more competitive across the board.

A competitive roster will be a must, as fewer teams will qualify for the CBL postseason.  Starting this year, the top three regular season teams will make the playoffs, with the fourth- and fifth-placed teams playing a wild card elimination game to join them.  

The semi-finals and championship series will both be best-of-seven affairs.

Gone are the days when all or almost every club made it to the playoffs.  Under the new format, every team will want to get off to a fast start to avoid falling behind early.

“We are more excited than ever and have been hard at work since last season ended preparing for 2026,” said a Leafs source.  “We really believe that next year is going to be our best yet, on and off the field.”

One of the club’s biggest off-season developments is a partnership with the Toronto Mets of the Canadian Premier Baseball League, a development league for young players aged 13 to 18.

In December, the Leafs held open tryouts at the Mets’ brand new practice facility in Aurora.  Over thirty prospects attended, along with a handful of returning unsigned players looking to crack the roster again.  The session was overseen by Leafs manager Rob Butler and the Leafs’ new general manager Denis Bailey.  

“Between Denis and Rob, the team has never had stronger leadership,” said the Leafs source.  “We believe we will have the most competitive team in the newly-branded CBL.”

As of January, no signings have been announced but it is expected that the Leafs will start rolling them out as the season approaches.

When news broke that the league was transitioning to professional status and that clubs would be paying their players more than just an honorarium or travel money, local fans wondered if that would impact the price of admission to games at Christie Pits.

The good news is that the cost of general admission to Leafs’ home games will remain the same: free.

The club is also building on the fan-friendly experience crafted over the past two seasons.

“Fans can expect more improvements, surprises, innovations and a generally enhanced experience,” said the Leafs source.  “We may look to slightly expand the [paid ticketed] members lounge, as that continues to be successful.  But there will be no general admission charge, as we continue to offer the best deal for our fans in all of professional sports.”

All nine of the IBL’s existing teams will be part of the new CBL for its inaugural season.  That includes the Leafs, their longtime rivals the Barrie Baycats, and 2025 champions the Welland Jackfish.  The league is looking to add more teams in the coming years.

The Dominico Cup, named for former Leafs’ owners Jack and Lynne Dominico, will carry over and become the CBL’s championship trophy.

[This story was originally published in the February 2026 edition of the Annex Gleaner.]

Pastimes, They Are A-Changin'

The IBL is dead, long live the CBL.

Earlier today, southern Ontario's 106-year-old Intercounty Baseball League shucked off its historic identity.  Emerging like a butterfly from the chrysalis is the brand new Canadian Baseball League.

Along with the name change, the league is embracing professional status.  Players will be paid to play.  Gone are the semi-pro days of travel money, alternate arrangements and wink-wink transactions.

Professionalization will allow CBL clubs to be better able to attract and support high-level talent.

The number of import players each team can sign goes up from five to eight.

To protect their draft eligibility and status as amateurs, players in U.S. college programs will not be allowed to play in the CBL.

Starting in 2026, the league will feature more regular season games and a revamped postseason.

A 48-game schedule will mean 24 home games for each club.  The season will kick off in mid-May and go an extra week to accommodate the expanded schedule.

The eight-team, three-round postseason format has been axed.  As of next season, only five teams will qualify for postseason play.  The top three finishers will qualify immediately.  The number four and five finishers will play a diabolical one-game playoff to determine the final slot.  Both the semifinals and championship series will be best-of-seven.

There is talk of expanding the league to cities like Windsor, Ottawa and beyond.  For now, the CBL's nine member clubs remain the same, including Canada's favourite team the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 2024, the Leafs first introduced a reserved, paid-ticket section at Christie Pits.  This year, the paid section was expanded and moved to the third base line.

According to a report in today's Toronto Star, the Leafs "will almost certainly have to start charging fans at some point, now that they have to pay all the players. Putting in seating will require some negotiation with the city, but [Leafs CEO Keith] Stein believes his team will ensure it’s worth the price of admission."

"We’re not opposed to pushing the envelope and doing different things," Stein said. "I will guarantee you that you will continue to see us, next season and beyond, do things that are different and maybe unique to the Toronto Maple Leafs."

Bush Gala Lights Up Liberty Village

Jordan Castaldo accepts the Golden Bush statuette as the winner of the 2025 Bush.V.P. award.

The stars were out at Left Field Brewery for the 2025 Bush Gala.

A red-circle event on Toronto's social calendar, the gala brings together Toronto Maple Leafs fans, players, family and friends for a night of fun and celebration.

A couple dozen jovial folks were on hand Saturday night, October 18th.  Now in its fifth year, the event was hosted by the Leafs' official brewery partner for the first time.  

The evening was both warm and chill.  Left Field's baseball-themed brewpub/restaurant/retail store/hangout in Liberty Village was the perfect setting for a gathering like this.

After a couple of hours of mixing and mingling, it was time for the highlight of the night.  As MC's for the evening, the Bushmen took to an improvised stage to deliver the 2025 Golden Bush awards.

Pitcher of the Year went to the ageless Marek Deska, who made his IBL debut back in 2006 and shows no sign of letting up.

Hitter of the Year went to outfielder Marcus Knecht, who not only led the Leafs in batting this season, but also published a book on the craft.

Fielder of the Year was Dennis Dei Baning for some spectacular catches in the outfield this season.

The big prize of the night, the Bush.V.P. award went to who else but Jordan Castaldo.  The Leafs' first baseman produced a dominant season in 2025, leading the club with 38 RBIs and an OPS of 1.148.  He also led the entire IBL with 12 home runs, a league-MVP-worthy performance.

All four players were on hand to receive their coveted Golden Bush statuettes.

The Bush Gala is well-established as an end-of-season gathering, and the Bushmen are looking to expand.  Saturday night, they hinted that something could be in the works for next spring prior to the start of the 2026 season.  Stay tuned.

Until then, that is a wrap for Maple Leafs baseball in 2025.

The Golden Bush awards presentation begins

Pitcher of the Year, Marek Deska

Hitter of the Year, Marcus Knecht

Fielder of the Year, Dennis Dei Baning

The four 2025 Golden Bush award winners

The Bushmen

Left Field Brewery, Liberty Village

Castaldo Tops Leafs' MVP Poll

Jordan Castaldo

Jordan Castaldo is the 2025 Toronto Maple Leafs team MVP, having received the most votes in a players-only poll.

This season, the Leafs' first baseman led the IBL with 12 home runs.  He also led the Leafs with 38 RBIs and an OPS of 1.148.

Castaldo's numbers put him in the conversation for overall league MVP, considering the fact that he racked them up in fewer games than any other league star.

Castaldo proved he continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the IBL, and remains a quiet leader in the clubhouse.

"It’s never been my style to go around and tell people what to do or how to do it," he said in a recent interview.  "I just try to be a good teammate and listen and provide what knowledge I can.  It’s a tough game.  I try to take care of myself and my performance first, and then help out the other guys the rest of the way."

Castaldo received twice as many votes as the number two man, Jhon Javier.  The revelation of 2025, Javier was a super-utility guy who did practically everything except put on the mascot suit.  He led the team with 56 hits.

Third place finisher was Marcus Knecht, who led the team with a .358 batting average.

Also receiving votes were newcomer Dennis Dei Baning and club legends Justin Marra and Adam Marra.

Jhon Javier

Marcus Knecht

From the Annex Gleaner: Maple Leafs Wrap Up Historic Season

A summer of memorable moments outshines early playoff exit

For fans of the game, baseball is the annual accumulation of statistics and memories.

Another season of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball has been recorded onto spreadsheets and written into hearts.

After finishing a disappointing seventh in the regular season, the Leafs upped their game in the Intercounty Baseball League playoffs and almost ousted the defending champions.

They made trouble for the Barrie Baycats and pushed their longtime rivals to the brink of an upset in the quarterfinals.

The best-of-five series went to a deciding game on August 27 in Barrie.  It was a close battle and the Leafs took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning.  They were unable to hold onto it, as the champs came back to win in the ninth with a final score of 5-4.

It was a frustrating finish to a season that left fans with many indelible memories.

The club made history before a single pitch was thrown, signing Ayami Sato of Japan as the first woman in Canadian history to play baseball professionally in a men’s league.

Sato was a sensation whose presence drew larger-than-average crowds to the ballpark at Christie Pits all summer.

The Leafs also welcomed an enthusiastic group of youngsters to the team. 

Spencer MacInnis, Kalayo Shaw and Ben Sitarenios may be budding stars of the future.  MacInnis hit a couple of home runs and showed speed on the basepaths.  Shaw caught everything hit to his vicinity in centerfield.  Sitarenios flashed his stuff as a two-way player, playing outfield and also pitching in a couple of games.

Former player and general manager Damon Topolie made a surprise return to the Leafs.  One weekend in July, the 49-year-old came out of retirement to fill a roster hole.  He played in a couple of games and was all smiles during his brief comeback.

Ryan Dos Santos set a single-season record with 46 walks, breaking a record that had stood since 1988.

While there were plenty of highs, there were some lows too.  The Leafs’ 18-24 record was underwhelming, and they won only six out of 21 games at home.

The nadir of the season came in July, when general manager and pitcher Dustin Richardson resigned after falling out with club ownership.  Conflicting views of the roster’s makeup proved irreconcilable and the two sides parted ways.

For the Leafs, the highest of highs had to be the season that first baseman Jordan Castaldo put together.  

The fifteen-year veteran and former league MVP had a resurgent year at the plate.  Castaldo batted .336 and led the club with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs.  The dozen round trips were his second-highest in one season and won him the IBL home run crown.

In one game in August, he hit a grand slam and drove in eight runs.

At 36, Castaldo ascended to some rarified air among the league’s all-time greats.  He became only the third man to record 500 career RBIs, the fourth man to hit 100 home runs, and the fifth man to reach 700 hits. 

He credits his great season with being in better shape.  

A hero on the diamond, Castaldo is also a hero in real life.  

In 2024 he became a full-time firefighter with Toronto Fire Services.  Based out of North York, he finds a way to balance his job’s 24-hour shifts and playing time with the Leafs.

“It can be tough, especially with a hot summer like this,” Castaldo said prior to a recent game at Christie Pits.  “It was a busy summer call-wise at work.  You take off that gear and you put on this gear, you lose a few pounds that’s for sure.”

This is Castaldo’s second stint with the Leafs.  In between, he played parts of seven seasons with the Baycats and enjoyed some memorable moments at the Pits.  He is the only man in memory to hit a home run that not only cleared the centerfield fence, but went over the concessions stand and hit the clubhouse roof, a monster shot that may be the longest in the park’s history.

He was also on the Baycats team that clinched an IBL title at the Pits in 2016.

“The Pits has always had its charm,” he said.  “We’ve had really strong fan support this year, and we’re all grateful for the fans who come down and watch us.”

A quiet leader in the clubhouse, Castaldo is happy to help younger players seeking advice.

“If there’s something they want to talk about, I try to be somebody they can talk to or ask questions,” he said.  “It’s never been my style to go around and tell people what to do or how to do it.  I just try to be a good teammate and listen and provide what knowledge I can.  It’s a tough game.  I try to take care of myself and my performance first, and then help out the other guys the rest of the way.”

Castaldo can’t see himself playing at age 49 like Topolie.  Then again, Topolie had a few years off and seized the opportunity to make a brief return, something many athletes wish they could do.

The pull of the diamond is strong.  If he can continue to balance work and baseball, Castaldo is likely to return to the Leafs next year.

After falling short, the Leafs will rebuild and bounce back for another season at the Pits in May, 2026.

[This story was originally published in the September 2025 edition of the Annex Gleaner.]

Some memories from 2025.