From the Annex Gleaner: Rob Butler Talks Teamwork and the Baseball Experience

Maple Leafs manager's philosophy of the game remains unchanged by a tough season at Christie Pits

Toronto Maple Leafs Manager Rob Butler chats with Assistant Coach Brian Sewell during a recent ballgame at Christie Pits.

Four momentous years and Rob Butler is still smiling.

The East York native, best known as a member of the 1993 World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays, has spent the past four summers at Christie Pits as manager of the Canadian Baseball League’s Maple Leafs.

In that short span, the Leafs have evolved from a seasonal attraction enjoyed by locals to a professional outfit that draws international headlines and crowds in the thousands.

Butler has managed the team through a revolutionary period. He has worked under two owners and three different general managers. He has also handled the sensational arrivals of Japan’s Ayami Sato (the league’s first female player) and Cuba’s Yasiel Puig (the former Major League All-Star).

A championship remains elusive, and 2026 has been a tough season. Early on, the Leafs suffered a seven-game losing streak. Blowout losses became routine. By August, it was clear that the club would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Butler has remained a positive presence, usually coaching third base when the Leafs are at bat. Between innings he interacts with fans. He is very giving of his time.

Prior to the Leafs’ home game on August 8, he spoke about the current team.

“I love all these guys,” Butler said. “They’ve grinded it out in tough situations. Early in the season we sometimes didn’t show up.”

An offseason overhaul brought over a dozen new faces to the roster. Many were new to the league, and the infield is one of the league’s youngest.

Despite the bumps, Butler has emphasized the importance of team and teammates.

He played for celebrated managers Cito Gaston and Terry Francona and recalls the clubhouse atmosphere they generated.

“Go hard, always hustling. Good things will happen. It’s that kind of hardcore work ethic. There’s no burying people, you’ve got to try to pick them up and help them. That’s the philosophy I mostly take.”

Butler has instilled those lessons into his own coaching style.

“I am not an overcoacher. I don't dwell on errors on the field or even scores in the game. I'm such a big believer in the baseball experience, and everything else will take care of itself. Like last year, we had a team that was built to win in the playoffs, even though we still finished seventh or eighth, whatever it was. We didn't care. We were building towards what ultimately we wanted to do, which was win.”

This year, that winning culture has been lacking, impacted perhaps by the publicity generated by the signing of Puig.  

Early in the season, some fans at Christie Pits booed and brandished placards referring to Puig’s legal affairs. He faces sentencing in the United States for one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making false statements to federal authorities stemming from an investigation into an illegal sports gambling ring.

On the diamond, Puig has lived up to his all-star billing. He leads the club in batting and leads the league in home runs. The booing has faded. Fans and autograph seekers have flocked to the park to see him. 

Puig’s outsized personality has been present at every game. Often the loudest player on the field, he can be heard giving instruction and feedback to teammates. For his manager, it’s a bit too outsized.

“You’ve got a guy who, you know, does things a little differently out there,” Butler said.  “He basically tries to run some of the players in the show. It causes a little bit of – that vibe, that chemistry is not there for a team to win.”

Being a bad teammate is the one thing that makes Butler angry.

“It can be really tiring trying to deal with grown men who can't accept the fact that it's a team game and we all need to be here for each other. At the end of the day, the teammates are the most important thing.”

Asked about the Leafs’ prospects moving forward, Butler lights up. He coached several current players when they were younger, including outfielder Marcus Knecht and infielders Spenser Ross and Brando Leroux. They are all starters and big contributors now.

He cited several pitchers who have shown great stuff on the mound this season: Nick Veselinovic, Reinaldo De Paula and Luis Florentino.

“Veselinovic is quite capable of playing affiliate baseball,” he said. “Big tall lefty, loose arm, he probably should play some pro. De Paula and Florentino are getting more comfortable throwing 95 miles an hour. Those guys look like higher-level pros.”

It has been a rough go but he remains the optimist.

“I would say that there's a core here that can build for the future,” he said. “I think that somebody will come in and probably do a great job with these guys, adding new guys coming in.”

Does he see himself back in the manager’s chair in 2027?

“I don't honestly know. That's a tough one. I definitely am always looking forward to doing other things. I like changing it up every now and then. I'll evaluate at the end of the year and see how it goes.”

Like all great managers, Butler will reserve the last word for himself.

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

From the Annex Gleaner: Chasing Dreams and Flyballs at Christie Pits

Maple Leafs outfielder J.J. Dutton pursues baseball success at home and abroad

J.J. Dutton has earned All-Star honours this summer with his batting prowess. (photo: Craig Aikin)

J.J. Dutton has been playing baseball since he was four years old.  

Born and raised in North York, he learned to play catch with his dad, started playing slow pitch as a tyke, and grew up in the little leagues.

By 2023, he was playing collegiate baseball at a college in Iowa. That summer, he took ill and returned to Canada for medical treatment. 

The baseball itch proved incurable and he connected with the Toronto Maple Leafs. They took him on and he made his debut playing the outfield at Christie Pits.

Dutton remembers attending a kids’ baseball camp that the Leafs hosted at the Pits. As a 20-year-old, he became one of them and made an immediate impression.

Over 35 games, he batted .357, scored 20 runs and drove in 15 more. 

“My favourite moment of the season was against the London Majors,” Dutton recalls. “Our team came together and put up 21 runs on the scoreboard just two days after losing to the Majors. It was also the game I hit my very first [Leafs] home run, which I will remember for the rest of my life.”

After his successful rookie season, Dutton returned to college ball in the United States. He played at schools in Iowa and Kentucky, then his ancestry presented a unique opportunity.

“My mom is Hungarian, and it was always her dream that I would play for the Hungarian national team,” he says. After some digging into the team’s requirements and obtaining dual citizenship, Dutton reached out to the head coach and landed a spot on the roster.

Like many teams outside the Americas, Team Hungary consists mostly of players born in the U.S. and Canada. 

In July 2024, Dutton suited up for Hungary at a European Baseball Championship Qualifying tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. The Magyars went undefeated against Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Türkiye. Hungary advanced to the next round of qualifiers with a chance to make it to the World Baseball Classic, the sport’s highest-level international championship which was played earlier this year.

“It was a different baseball culture out there,” he says. “The tournament was held in a park like Christie Pits, nothing super fancy.” Games attracted curiosity seekers more than hardcore followers. An announcer conducted ongoing play-by-play commentary on a loudspeaker to help spectators follow along. Instead of hot dogs, the crowd chowed down on large quantities of grilled meats.

Dutton was unable to continue with the team because of school commitments, but he remains an active member of the Team Hungary roster.

After completing his collegiate baseball career, he came full circle and returned to the Leafs for the 2026 season.

Since his first go-around, the club has undergone wholesale changes under new ownership. Dutton was impressed by the improvements to the park, seeing more sponsors, more social media presence and a better quality organization. The league has also gone pro, which means a regular monthly paycheque.

As for the outfielder, he picked up right where he left off.

Early in the season, he led the club in batting average. He has since been overtaken at the plate by veteran teammates like Yasiel Puig and Marcus Knecht. Dutton, still just 23, looks up to his teammates and acknowledges them as leaders in the clubhouse.

“Puig and Knecht, they’re both outfielders and teach me so much about the game,” he says. “They’ve been there, done that, they’re at the level I want to compete at.”

Dutton’s early season performance did not go unnoticed. He was one of three players chosen to represent Toronto at the Canadian Baseball League’s All-Star Weekend July 11-12.  Joining him for the festivities in Chatham were Puig and pitcher Nick Veselinovic.

At the All-Star Game, Dutton went 1-for-2, scored a run and drove in two more. Teammate Veselinovic pitched one inning and ended up as the game’s winning pitcher.

It has been a season of great individual performances, but the Leafs have been struggling.  At the halfway point of the season, they languish in last place with a 6-17 record.

“We’ve been too inconsistent,” Dutton says. “Sometimes when our pitching is on, our bats aren’t working, and when the bats are working our pitching isn’t.”

During the offseason, the Leafs overhauled their roster and brought in a lot of fresh faces. 

“It’s a new team, and new teams like this are slow to start. We have a lot of games left and hopefully we can click and get a winning streak going.”

Asked to look beyond this summer and where he sees himself in the future, Dutton responds without hesitation.

“Pro baseball. That’s always been the dream.”

He hopes that his second turn with the Leafs will build his resume and provide a springboard to a return to States. With his stats, All-Star status and optimism, it may not be a difficult leap.

The Maple Leafs season continues through August.

More information about the Leafs can be found at www.mapleleafsbaseball.com. 

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

From the Annex Gleaner: Meet the Voice of Christie Pits

Win or lose, Michael Roudbari brings the fun to Maple Leafs baseball games 

In-park host Michael Roudbari presides over a doughnut-eating contest in between innings at a Maple Leafs baseball game on June 19 at Christie Pits.

It is Friday, June 19, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are about to play a ballgame against the Barrie Baycats.  Players warm up on the field and fans gather.

A squad of blue-shirted club staffers are at work.  Many of them have been here for hours, hanging sponsor banners on the outfield fences, unpacking Leaf-branded merchandise and getting everything into place, including the smoke gun that is activated when a Leaf hits a home run.

Up in the booth, a couple of staffers provide pre-game music and announcements.  At field level, the blue shirts sell merch and raffle tickets.

Ten minutes before the game is to start, their leader’s voice rings out.  A pre-recorded intro welcomes everyone and hypes up the crowd.

“Our eyes are on the prize.  It’s time to win it all.  Are you ready?  Let’s go!”

It’s Michael Roudbari, the voice of Christie Pits.

The 23-year-old Aurora native is in his third season as the Leafs’ Game Presentation Manager and In-Park Host.  His roles are many.

For the next three-plus hours, Roudbari will be the energy source that powers the between-innings entertainment at a Maple Leafs baseball game.  He will exist in a kind of stream-of-consciousness, playing master of ceremonies, activations manager, social media overseer, fan liaison, leader, motivator, game show host and troubleshooter.

The troubleshooting begins before first pitch, when the sound system cuts out.  Roudbari uses a walkie talkie to communicate with the booth.  They conduct a hasty analysis.  “Shut it off, then turn it back on,” he suggests.  The fix works and sound returns 30 seconds later.

At the pitcher’s mound, a young woman performs the national anthem.  Moments later, she is replaced by starting pitcher Cam Dimidjian and the game begins.  A new signing, Dimidjian gives up a run to the Baycats and the Leafs fall behind right away.

For Roudbari, the action on the field is a sidebar to the in-game fun he has plotted out in advance.  He landed this job by sending an email to the club and they took him on.  A graduate of TMU, he spends his days as an assistant producer for the Daryn and Deepa Morning Show on 99.9 Virgin Radio.  Tonight, it’s his job to keep everyone at Christie Pits engaged no matter the score.

In the bottom of the first, Leafs shortstop Brandon Leroux hits a flyball deep to centerfield.  Roudbari scrambles for the smoke gun, but the ball stays in the park, no home run.  Later in the inning, Leroux scores on a hit by Yasiel Puig and the game is tied 1-1.  That will be as good as it gets for the home side tonight.

In the top of the second inning, Barrie takes a 4-1 lead.  Roudbari is approached by a fan requesting a birthday shoutout for his significant other.  He adds it to his in-game itinerary and radios instructions up to the announcer.

By the bottom of the third inning, Barrie leads 5-2.  

It’s time for the “Jackass” movie promo.  Roudbari and his team distribute t-shirts, posters and other paraphernalia to fans.  They end up with some left over.  “You gotta get into it more,” he urges his crew to up their energy.

The Leafs are not off to a great start this season.  They entered the game with a record of 3-10 and have scored the fewest runs of any club in the league.  

As night settles in, Roudbari tells his team it’s time to give out the glow sticks.  

“Lots of our giveaways are based on the crowd, based on the score and based on the vibe,” he says.  “We always have a scheduled activation, but I do like to switch it up.”

The crew fan out and 100 battery-powered multi-coloured light sticks end up in the hands of fans.  Soon, the park is alive with waving lights.

“They look so good.  I love them.  Why don’t we do this every game?”  He makes a note to up the number of glow sticks to 250 next time.

The Leafs have kept it close, but a grand slam by Barrie makes it a 9-4 game.  Enthusiasm at the park flags.

“Let’s have some fun.  It’s too quiet, it’s Friday.”

Roudbari recruits a couple of fans for a doughnut eating contest.  They wage a closer battle than that on the diamond.  One of them wolfs down five doughnuts in 60 seconds and wins.

“That was amazing.  That was the best one yet,” Roudbari says.

Away from the park, he enthuses about his crew.  “My game day team are so good at what they each do that it allows me to focus on hosting and having a good time.  They're also just nice people, so going to work is something I cannot complain about, it's my favourite thing to do!”

It is late in the game and Barrie still leads.  Food and merch sales are closed and the crew begin dismantling the various tables and tents.

Halfway through the eighth inning, word spreads that the Toronto Marlies have just won the American Hockey League championship.  Roudbari marches onto the field to announce the news, finally making use of the smoke gun.

The moment proves a final highlight.  The Leafs lose 9-5.

Six hours after they went up, the sponsor banners are taken down.  Everything is packed away and stored in the clubhouse.  

A few nights from now, Roudbari and his crew will be back to do it all over again.  

Despite the Leafs’ record, he loves the job.  He sees it as a springboard to hosting radio or TV shows. 

“I want to be the next Canadian Ryan Seacrest,” he says.

The Maple Leafs season continues through August.

More information about the Leafs and their schedule can be found at mapleleafsbaseball.com.  

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

From the Annex Gleaner: Free Seats, Scoresheets and Athletes

A new season of Maple Leafs baseball launches at Christie Pits

Pitcher Wilgenis Alvarado stares down a Hamilton base runner as thousands of fans take in the action at Christie Pits on May 17.

The world is going to hell, but we still have Maple Leafs baseball.

As the cost of living skyrockets, baseball at Christie Pits remains free for everyone.  This is one of the last unspoiled pleasures of our times.

The 2026 season has gotten under way and the Leafs have upped their game.  They are part of the newly-christened Canadian Baseball League, a professional circuit with clubs in nine Ontario cities.

Thousands flocked to the Pits for the Leafs' season opener.  Many more are expected in the months ahead.

Every ballgame is someone's first ballgame.  Taking inspiration from the Gleaner's annual "Grading Our Greenspaces" park reviews, here follows a kind of gazetteer for newcomers who may find Toronto's sunken ballpark a curious place.  Which corner of Dominico Field is best for you?  Let the degree of your fanhood be your guide.

Street Level.  Recommended for: the unadventurous.

At the park but barely in the park.  Well away from the action, but with a view that takes in everything.  Players' parents will often sit on the lip of the Pits, content to watch without being involved.  This is also a favourite roost for less-mobile fans who don't want to have to climb back up from field level.

The Hillsides.  Recommended for: the good-timers.

These are the all-embracing slopes that surround most of the diamond.  Find a spot, throw down a blanket and set your cares aside for a few hours.  Families, friend groups and spontaneous communities sprawl across the hillsides.  Kids romp, dogs frolic.  It's a summertime idyll.

The Bush.  Recommended for: the party animals.

This dense cluster of trees and scrub sits on the east slope of the park.  It is home to the Leafs' famous fan group, The Bushmen.  Founded by three hardcore fans over a decade ago, the group has swollen in numbers and is famous for relentlessly cheering the home side and heckling opposing players.  Always funny, never vulgar.

The Seats.  Recommended for: the diehards.

Three modest tiers of bench seating wrap around the infield.  Here you will find the regulars, those fans who know all the players and know their stats, their slumps and their triumphs.  Fan-player intimacy is at its peak here.  You are closest to the action and hear every interaction on the diamond.

The Members' Zone.  Recommended for: the status seekers.

Behind the third base fence is the only paid seating in the park.  Members get reserved seats, food and drink, and other VIP perks.  The pizza is great.  Single game passes are also available.  It's an exclusive bubble for people who prefer not to rub elbows with the hoi polloi.

The Fences.  Recommended for: the associates.

Two long fences stretch from the infield to the outfield corners.  Onlookers drape their arms over these fences, happy to stand and watch the entire game.  This is where you will often find teams' front office staff, clusters of photographers, or ex-teammates who stop by to visit and chat.

The Outfield and Beyond.  Recommended for: the distant observers.

Furthest from home plate, but still a great view of the entire diamond.  A nice vantage point to watch plays unfold with no obstructions.  Fans set up blankets, folding chairs, even tents from which to sit and watch.  Also conveniently close to the snack bar and restrooms.

On the diamond, there has been a huge turnover.

Fans arriving at Christie Pits will want to grab one of the free program sheets that are handed out by club staff.

As of this writing, the Leafs have signed 17 new players for the 2026 season.  That’s well over half of the 28-player roster.

Among the players who have departed are long-time veterans Greg Carrington, Jordan Castaldo, Marek Deska, Ryan Dos Santos, Connor Lewis, and all three Marra brothers, Adam, Dan and Justin.

Some returning favourites include pitchers Wilgenis Alvarado and Luis Florentino, and outfielders Marcus Knecht and Dennis Dei Baning.

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

The Leafs go from being one of the league's oldest teams to one of the youngest.  The newcomers bring plenty of youth and energy.  This summer, fans can start getting attached to the next generation of Maple Leaf stars

As well as 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 Canadian Baseball League's largest-ever contract.  The report turned out to be true.

In the Leafs’ season opener, Puig made his Toronto debut in style.  Before an estimated crowd of 4,000, he hit a pair of home runs to lead his new club to an 8-6 victory over the Kitchener Panthers.

If Puig sticks around for the entire season, he will continue to be a huge draw.  Even if he doesn’t, there is still plenty of baseball to be had as the Leafs pursue their first league championship since 2007. 

The regular season continues to the end of August.

More information about the Leafs and their schedule can be found at mapleleafsbaseball.com.

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

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.]

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.

From the Annex Gleaner: From Toyko to Toronto, Sato's Season of Surprises

A sit-down with baseball sensation Ayami Sato

A sensation from day one, Ayami Sato is routinely sought out for autographs and photos whenever the Leafs play.  (photo by Craig Aikin)

It’s a Friday night in July, an hour before gametime at Christie Pits.

Ayami Sato seeks out a shady spot on a bench beside a tree.  Speaking through interpreter Yoko Van Veen, she says the heatwave doesn’t bother her, that it’s even more humid in Japan.  She only wants to get out of the sunlight while we talk.

Sato has just finished helping her Toronto Maple Leafs teammates at batting practice.  As a pitcher, her duty was to retrieve baseballs.  As one of the most accomplished female baseball players in the world, the task might have seemed beneath her, but it was not. 

Last winter, the Leafs made international headlines when they signed Sato, who helped her native country win five women’s world baseball championships.  This spring she became not only the first woman to play for Toronto, but the first in Canadian pro baseball history.

A year ago, she never imagined she’d be sitting on this bench, not far from the kids’ splash pad.

“This is a very casual place to play baseball,” she says.  “Everybody can just drop by and watch.  I feel the players and fans are very close and they can interact easily.”

Sato was an opening day sensation.  Her presence attracted thousands of spectators.  She started the game and pitched two perfect innings.

“Every moment here has been precious for me, but when I stood on the mound and made my first pitch, that was the most memorable moment,” she says.

Since opening day, Sato has settled into the bullpen.  Like most ballplayers, she’s had her ups and downs over the course of the season.

After some games, Sato has posted long messages on social media, analysing her performance on the mound, being self-critical when necessary, and always looking forward to the next game determined to succeed.  Not a common practice among North American athletes, it’s another thing that has made her stand out from her peers.

She routinely praises her teammates online, and says she enjoys the collegial atmosphere of the Leafs’ clubhouse, a place filled with postgame music, pizza and beers – three things that break down barriers in most places.  

She appreciates the diversity of Toronto, and the Leafs’ roster reflects that diversity.  Being the only Japanese is not as isolating when her teammates here are Canadian, American, Dominican, Venezuelan and Korean.

“Playing with those guys, it’s very inspiring,” she says.  She admits it was a huge leap from living near Tokyo and playing for a women’s team to competing against men in a foreign country. “But I just jumped into the environment and tried to do my best to adjust.”

Prior to making the move to Toronto, Sato received messages of support from former Toronto Blue Jays Munenori Kawasaki and Yusei Kikuchi, who encouraged her to enjoy her journey.

The support of her countrymen followed her to Canada.  Sato says she can pick out voices shouting in Japanese when she is on the mound.

“I hear a lot of supporting voices and I know they are out there and I’m happy to receive that support,” she says.

In between game days, Sato has spent time visiting girls’ baseball teams, coaching and speaking to younger players.  She has also taken the opportunity to play tourist, visiting Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, Centre Island and Kensington Market.

She is impressed by Toronto’s Japanese food scene, praising Ikkousha Ramen and Taro’s Fish in particular.  She is also amused by the creativity of Canadian sushi restaurants.  She breaks into a wide smile as she describes how one place put cream cheese on top of salmon, something she’d never seen before.

As for Toronto’s greater food scene: “There are so many temptations when it comes to sweets.  I like fried chicken and French fries and I’d love to try [more] but since I have to perform, I restrict myself.”

She lives close to Christie Pits and has travelled around the city on all modes of transport.  Asked to compare Toronto’s subway system to that of Tokyo, she goes politely silent.  

“It’s small,” she concedes, “but I can access anywhere easily so I think it’s very convenient.  I use it a lot.”

Some of Sato’s teammates begin to emerge from the clubhouse in uniform.  First pitch is approaching.

Since arriving in April, Sato has loved her time in Toronto.  However, she will return to Japan in September and rejoin her Saitama Seibu Lions women’s team for a big competition in October.  

Looking ahead, she has her eyes on the nascent Women’s Pro Baseball League, which will be the first of its kind in North America in over 70 years when it begins play in 2026.

For now, the present beckons.  It’s time to suit up for this evening’s game.  The Maple Leafs are hosting the Guelph Royals as they battle for playoff contention.

Sato is fully committed to doing her part to help the Leafs succeed.  Modest to a fault, she doesn’t dwell on her place in Toronto sports history.  Having achieved that by spending the summer here, her focus is on the collective goal.

“We play as a team, so every player has to do their best in their positions,” she says.  “That’s the beauty of baseball.  I have to play my role and focus on what I have to do.  I’ve started to figure it out, and by the end of the season I hope I can say I did my best and it was a great season.”

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

From the Annex Gleaner: Dos Santos Finds Home at Christie Pits

Team leader racks up runs and chases records for the Maple Leafs

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.]