Barnstormers' Strong named IBL MVP

Chatham Barnstormers slugger Seth Strong has been named the 2024 Intercounty Baseball League MVP. Photo: Bonnie Brown/IBL

September 20, 2024

Official Intercounty Baseball League News Release

The John Bell Memorial Trophy is awarded annually and presented by Rawlings Canada to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team.

The IBL Board of Governors selects the winner at the end of the regular season. Your 2024 IBL MVP is Seth Strong of the Chatham Kent Barnstormers.

The Panda much like his expansion team took the IBL by storm. Strong led the league with 10 home runs by the All-Star break and finished the regular season with a league-leading 16. He flirted with the triple crown finishing his rookie season with a .344 average (fouth) and 37 RBIs (third).

The Ohio native quickly became a fan favourite and not just in Chatham-Kent as the kind-hearted Strong was always in demand wherever the Barnstormers played.

Previous MVP Trophy Winners

2023 Tyler Duncan, Hamilton

2022 Claudio Custodio, Guelph

2021 Garrett Takamatsu, Toronto

2019 Jordan Castaldo, Barrie

2018 Justin Marra, Toronto