IBL's Guelph Royals sign Grills

The Intercounty Baseball League’s Guelph Royals have signed left-hander Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.). Photo: Guelph Royals

June 3, 2024

By Ryan Eakin

Guelph Royals

The Guelph Royals have signed veteran left-hander Evan Grills.

Grills, 31, returns to the IBL after first debuting in the league as a 16-year-old with the Oshawa Dodgers back in 2008.

The 6-foot-4 southpaw was then selected by the Houston Astros in the 10th round of the 2010 MLB draft, making it all the way to triple-A in 2016. He also experienced his best season as a professional that year when he posted a 3.71 ERA in 135 2/3 innings and was named to the Astros’ 2016 organizational All-Star team.

After his time with the Astros, Grills (Whitby, Ont.) was signed by the Colorado Rockies as a minor league free agent, where he once again reached triple-A in 2019.

Since his affiliated career ended, Grills has pitched in the American Association with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, in the CPBL for the CTBC Brothers, and in the Frontier League for the Ottawa Titans.

He most recently pitched for the Titans in 2022, where he recorded a 3.53 ERA in 15 starts, good enough for a top 10 finish in the league.

Grills also has experience pitching for Team Canada, having toed the rubber for the Junior National Team as a 14-year-old in 2006.

Royals manager Dino Roumel says it's great to reunite with Grills.

"We are beyond excited to have Evan join the pitching staff. I have known Evan for a number of years, even prior to his professional career,” said Roumel. “He is a great guy to have in the clubhouse and you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who is more of a competitor and perfectionist on the mound than he is. Evan joins a great pitching staff that is off to a great start and he will play a major role in our starting rotation."