Check Swing Column: Winds of Change
With a new season beginning in the Intercounty League, so too does the Check Swing Column — a weekly reflection on the players, people, and fans of the IBL. By Carlos Verde
As Rod Black rattled off the dozen-plus first pitch dignitaries at the Leafs’ home opener last Sunday, I thought about the equally large number of changes that have swept through the league. From new ownership in Kitchener and Brantford to revamped import groups and a few retirements, here are a few words from opening weekend.
Photos by Caps_Sports_Photography
Optimism in Brantford
Much has been written on the new ownership group in Brantford and two things are certain: American owner Terry Smith is as bold as they come, and his immediate ‘reverse tariff’ no-cost ticketing strategy has rejuvenated the market’s interest in the Red Sox.
Their pitching situation is somewhat murky; many are curious how local product and Canisius alum Tyler Soucie factors back into the mix, along with veteran lefty Pedro De Los Santos. Runs were hard to come by in Brantford last season, with the team averaging nearly a run less than any other club, and the jury remains out on the Red Sox’s ability to put up runs. General Manager & Interim Manager Jeff Lounsbury knows his way around an IBL front office, and given the right tools, should be more than capable of fielding a competitive team.
A New Dawn in Kitchener
Keep an eye on first-year GM Shanif Hirani in Kitchener, where the 26 year-old has been handed the keys to one of the league’s more challenging projects.
Selfishly, it is a treat to watch Yunior Ibarra work a game behind the plate, and I am glad he is back for another year; young Ontario catchers can learn so much by simply locking in on him during a visit to an IBL ballpark.
The Serie Nacional veteran does all the right things defensively and handles his staff exceptionally well.
Roster-wise, the hallmark Cuban imports remain and while external expectations are low it would not surprise me to see the Panthers comfortably in the playoff mix.
A Word on the Leafs
The full hillside on Sunday was a welcome sight, and it is clear to Christie regulars that Ownership is now ramping up the club’s promotional spend and community footprint after its ’24 maiden voyage.
Trailblazing Japanese right-hander Ayami Sato was fantastic — and smartly limited to two innings of work — in her historic outing, and it will be muy interesante to see how the Leafs handle both her workload and the pitching staff generally. How will Sato’s stuff play a second time through the order? Which Wilgenis Alvarado will the team get in ‘25? How electric will USF product Matt Brown’s fastball be?
Prediction: Cream of the Crop
The Welland Jackfish and Barrie Baycats, as per usual, will finish 1-2 atop the IBL standings. Welland has its typically excellent roster, with a few fun pieces in Jake Sanford Euclides Leyer (fresh off a great winter in Nicaragua) and the always-dialed Deivy Mendez, who boasts a career 1.03 ERA. The Baycats have their remarkably consistent stable of absolute horses in the rotation, from league legend Frank Garcés to former Astros farmhand Cesar Rosado and the lanky Juan Benitez, and veteran bats to match.
Happy Trails, Jose
After three seasons, Jose Vinicio’s time in Maple Leaf blue and white is over. The Dominican shortstop came to Christie Pits with over 2,000 minor-league at-bats, and ultimately hit a respectable .294 with good speed and the best defence the Pits infield would allow for.
He hinted to me before an August game in Brantford last season that his baseball future was uncertain; whether he surfaces elsewhere in the IBL or somewhere in Caribbean winter ball down the road, godspeed, número uno.
Retirement for Rich?
It appears veteran left-hander Rich Corrente has thrown his final innings in the Intercounty, barring a mid-season emergency signing. The 34-year-old ate 369 innings over roughly a decade, and spent time as a Bandit, member of the Herd, Jackfish, and wound down as a Cardinal. He quietly surpassed the 300-inning milestone in 2022, and grinded out one last great outing — a 142-pitch complete game playoff win — later that year. Farewell, bearded southpaw.