December 14, 2020

By Ryan Eakin

Barrie Baycats

BARRIE - The Barrie Baycats have signed infielder Riley MacDonald for the 2021 season.

MacDonald, 25, spent this past summer playing for the Dornbirn Indians of the Austrian Baseball League, where he recorded an OBP of .405, a SLG of .484, and an OPS of .889.

His best professional season came in 2019 when he recorded an OPS of 1.136 for Dornbirn.

The North Vancouver native also has experience playing professional baseball in North America, having played for the Quebec Capitales of the now-defunct Can-Am League in 2018 after a decorated college career with Waldorf University.

MacDonald - who can play all over the diamond - set the Western Canadian Baseball League record for the most home runs in a single season in 2018 when he hit 20 home runs while playing alongside current Baycats reliever Brandon Hillier and former Baycats shortstop Conner Morro, while being coached by former Baycats bench coach Kyle MacKinnion.

Baycats manager Josh Matlow said he is thrilled to have added an impact, middle-of-the-order bat in MacDonald.

“We are very excited to have Riley join our team. We feel he will be an immediate impact and middle of the order type of guy. His big bat and international experience will play nicely within the league as well with the younger guys in the clubhouse”.

MacDonald said he cannot wait to get started with the Baycats.

“I am looking forward to helping continue the tradition of winning! I think Barrie is hungry for another championship and has put the pieces together to make a run at another championship.”