Team leader racks up runs and chases records for the Maple Leafs
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| Ryan Dos Santos shows off his own Toronto Maple Leafs baseball card priot to a game at Christie Pits on July 11. For the first time ever, the Leafs have released a complete team set of cards available for purchase at the ballpark. |
The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball season is in full gallop.
For fans at Christie Pits that means lazy summer nights, home runs and hot dogs.
The Leafs are putting on a charge for the Intercounty Baseball League championship. Halfway through the season, they hold fifth place in the standings. They are the second-highest scoring team in the league, guaranteeing audiences a show of offensive firepower each time they take the field.
Ryan Dos Santos is one of the horses pulling the blue and white chariot.
The 26-year-old Toronto native is having a career season. At the midway point, he leads the league in walks and is on pace to shatter the single-season record. Of course, walks are not as sexy as home runs, but once he gets on base, Dos Santos makes the most of it.
He is among the league leaders in stolen bases, and he has scored more runs than any other player so far this year.
“I’m more disciplined away from my pitch,” Dos Santos says.
“Last year I set a career high for myself in walks, so I’m sticking with the same approach of looking for a fastball early. If I don’t get it, [I’m] not chasing a pitcher’s pitch on the outside to just put a ball in play but waiting for my pitch. It’s led to me getting on base a bit more through walks rather than hits and my goal is to score runs.”
Scoring is definitely sexy.
Dos Santos first joined the Leafs in 2019. At the end of last season, he was selected co-MVP of the team in a players’ vote.
He loves the uniqueness of playing at Christie Pits, where games are free, fans can sit anywhere on the slopes surrounding the diamond, and the place has an aura all its own.
“The fans here are different, the atmosphere is different,” he says. “You have that home field competitive edge on most teams because of how different Christie compares to other stadiums. It’s not a full stadium but it gets loud like a stadium, which is awesome.”
Dos Santos is currently tracking another record, one which simply involves showing up.
Last season, he was the only Leaf to play every single regular season and postseason game. This season, he has not missed a game. If he completes two 42-game regular seasons in a row, he will be the first Leafs player to achieve that record of consistency.
In a league where players have to juggle baseball along with full-time jobs, family commitments, travel and other facts of life, this consecutive-games-played streak is notable.
“Someone mentioned last year how I played every game,” he says. “Honestly, I like to make myself available for the guys and to the ownership here as well in that they signed me on [and] they’re going to have me for as many games as I can go out there and play. I’m all in good health and happy for that and hope to keep that going.”
Dos Santos expects to keep showing up whenever and wherever the Leafs take the field.
“I don’t plan on missing any games – knock on wood – yeah that’s the goal.”
Normally an outfielder, Dos Santos has also put in playing time at third base and shortstop, whatever it takes to help the team. He also senses a culture change in the team, the Leafs moving away from being a “swing for the fences” type club, with results to show for it.
“Guys are way more bought in for playing for each other, and more quality at bats,” he says. “We’re more of a base hit type team, driving in runs rather than so many fly ball outs and I think that’s changed the win total.”
Even if the Leafs win an elusive championship this season, Dos Santos sees himself working counts, tearing up the basepaths, and scoring more runs for years to come.
“I think I’ll stick around,” he says. “Only being 26, I’m just entering my prime and understanding of baseball.”
In addition to the action on the field, the Leafs organization continues to roll out promotions and attractions.
In late June, former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston made a guest appearance at the Pits. He signed autographs and posed for photos, and the club has confirmed he will make a return appearance later this season.
Fans and collectors now have an opportunity to grab some Leafs baseball cards. For the first time, a complete team set of cards has been released. It includes all the players, coaches and even the club mascot. The cards are available during home games at Christie Pits and go for $20 a set.
The Leafs’ regular season continues to mid-August, followed by playoffs.
[This story was originally published in the July 2025 edition of the Annex Gleaner.]
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