IBL's Barrie Baycats sign Benitez

The Intercounty Baseball League’s Barrie Baycats have signed former Miami Marlins pitching prospect Juan Benitez. Photo: Barrie Baycats

June 16, 2021

Official Barrie Baycats News Release

Barrie, Ontario - The Barrie Baycats have signed pitcher Juan Benitez for the 2021 season.

Benitez, 29, joins the Baycats after an extensive career in the professional ranks.

The 6-foot-6, 180-pound Dominican-born pitcher signed with the Washington Nationals in 2012 and spent the season in the Dominican Summer League before signing with the Hiroshima Carps of the Nippon Professional Baseball in 2013.

After spending three seasons with the Carps, the hard-throwing righty signed with the Miami Marlins in 2017 and received an invite to their big-league camp.

From there, Benitez, who now resides in Orillia, Ont., signed with the Quebec Capitales of the now-defunct Can-Am League in 2018 while also pitching for Caneros de Los Mochis in the Mexican Winter Pacific League.

In 2018, Benitez made eight appearances and seven starts for the Capitales, posting an earned run average of 4.91, a WHIP of 1.48, and a SO/W of 2.07.

Baycats manager Josh Matlow says he’s excited to add Benitez to the fold.

"We are excited to add a big arm to our starting rotation,”said Matlow. “The resume and experience Juan brings to Baycats is extremely impressive and will help greatly in big situations and with the young pitchers. The fact he is also local is just the cherry on top. We think the fans will be very excited to watch Juan pitch this summer."