November 3, 2020

By Ryan Eakin

Barrie Baycats

BARRIE - The Barrie Baycats Baseball Club announced on Tuesday that they have signed catcher Andres Sotillo for the 2021 season.

Sotillo, 26, was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2012 before going on to play nine seasons in the Blue Jays' farm system.

Sotillo played at each minor-league level in the Blue Jays system, starting off with the DSL Blue Jays in 2012 before making it to triple-A in 2019 with the Buffalo Bisons.

The Tucupita, Venezuela native played a total of 244 games for the Blue Jays organization, recording a lifetime OBP of .333, a lifetime SLG% of .322, and a lifetime OPS of .655.

The defence-first, 5'11", 180 lbs catcher caught Blue Jays' phenom Nate Pearson's triple-A debut in 2019.

Sotillo -- who will become the first Venezuelan to play for the Baycats once he makes his debut in the spring -- was a member of the 2017 Dunedin Blue Jays team that were named co-champions of the Florida State League, before joining the Lansing Lugnuts in 2018 where he became friends with former Baycats play-by-play announcer Dante DeCaria, who suggested Sotillo to the Baycats.

His teammates with Dunedin in 2017 consisted of current Blue Jays Cavan Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.), and Ryan Borucki, among others.

Baycats Manager Josh Matlow says he is thrilled to have locked down a franchise catcher this early into the team's offseason.

“I am not sure you can have a bigger signing and presence to start an off-season. With Andres almost touching the Majors and ending his minor league career in triple-A in the Blue Jays system, Andres is one of the most polished and experienced players to ever put on a Baycats jersey, before he has even played a game. We are excited about his presence behind the plate as well as his experience working with young pitchers. We look forward to everything Andres brings to the organization.”

Sotillo says he cannot wait to start the next chapter in his baseball career.

"I am very excited to join the Baycats and to help the team to win. I am really excited to work with their pitching staff and help lead the Baycats to another championship."