May 21, 2020

From the Intercounty Baseball League website

While the 2020 Intercounty Baseball League season hangs in the balance due to the entire world being put on pause, the pandemic can't prevent us from shining a spotlight on the spectacular performances players put on over the last season.

As part of the IBL’s On-Field’s Best Series, we checked in with 55 players from across the IBL and asked them who this past season’s absolute best were in a ton of different categories.

There were a few rules, however, largely to keep things as fair as possible. Participating players could not vote for themselves, for a current IBL teammate or coach, or their own team for the few franchise-specific questions that came up.

Players could submit as many as three names max for anyone question if they felt a player (or other response depending on the category) was deserving. Most did.

Responses were 100% anonymous, allowing players to vote freely without the worry of being chirped for their honest opinions unless they themselves decided to publicizes that they took part of course.

A range of players were included too: American players, Canadian players, Dominican players, pitchers, players that have played more than a decade, those that have played less than a decade, and even a handful of rookies. We tried our best to ensure the pool of players taking part represented the IBL’s current locker-room landscape as closely as possible.

So, below are names you’d expect, some that will surprise you, those that are regularly celebrated, and many that are long overdue for recognition. Agree, disagree, or otherwise, the players in the league have spoken (we also mentioned the "next three" top vote-getters listed in order of votes received). Here is the IBL Player Poll…

Who was 2019’s Best Offensive Player (Most Lethal at the plate)

Winner: Jordan Castaldo (Barrie)

Next Three: Sean Reilly (Guelph), Justin Gideon (Hamilton), Tanner Nivins (Kitchener)

Jordan Castaldo on over 60% of possible player ballots and had a full 26 votes more than the next nearest player, Guelph’s Sean Reilly. Castaldo recorded a .453 average with fifteen home runs and forty-seven RBI, earning the IBL’s Triple Crown honour. He finished top of the league in several offensive categories and helped the Barrie Baycats finish first in the regular season. There is no surprise that his peers rated him so high above the rest of the players.

Who was 2019’s best defensive player?

Winner: Yorbis Borroto (Kitchener)

Next Three: Wilson Soriano (Welland), Ryan Spataro (Barrie), Justin Gideon (Hamilton)

As defensively outstanding as all the players are above, this one wasn’t even close. Yorbis Borroto, whose name appears in the IBL Player Poll more than anyone else, was again, a defensive dynamo this year. Kitchener’s Borrato is a freak of an athlete, is as agile and he is smart and has virtually all the other required tools to be the league’s most complete defensive package. And while appreciated for his defensive ability in this question, he was a legitimate contender in the offensive category too.

Who was 2019’s best Starting Pitcher?

Winner: Euclides Leyer (Welland)

Next Three: Adrian Salcedo (Barrie), Jasvir Rakkar (Kitchener), Juliandry Higuera (London)

We have some amazing pitching in the IBL but Euclides Leyer was regarded as last season's most lethal ace by the players poll. Recording a 2.57 ERA, Leyer has some serious power and movement on the bump. The Dominican talent had his best IBL season to date in 2019 and ended the season with a 7-2 record.

Who was 2019’s best Closing Pitcher?

Winner: Kelvin Pichardo (Hamilton)

Next Three: Miguel Lahera (Kitchener), Jon Fitzsimmoms (London), Adam Hawes (Barrie)

When it comes to shutting games down, look no further than Santiago, DR’s own Pichardo. A San Francisco Giants prospect recorded 46 strikeouts over 22.2 innings of work closing down the house.

Who is the Fastest Player in the IBL?

Winner: Ryan Santos (Toronto)

Next Three: Ryan Spataro (Barrie), Justin Gideon (Hamilton), DeAndre Asbury-Heath (Welland)

Those base paths get some use in the IBL and no one is quicker going 90 feet then Toronto’s Ryan Santos. The king of stolen bases with 24 bags in 2019, I would not want to be behind the dish when this guy takes off. In 2019, Santos was only caught stealing four times (must have been tired).

Who was last season's Top Import Player?

Winner: Euclides Leyer (Welland)

Next Three: Starlin Rodriguez (Barrie), Yorbis Borrato (Kitchener), Adrian Salcedo (Barrie)

Again, what more can we say about this guy that hasn’t been already said. Imports makeup only 18% of IBL rosters and are typically some of the top talent in the IBL. We would tend to agree that Euclides is at the top of the list.

Who was the Top Field Manager?

Winner: Angus Roy (Barrie)

Next Three: Luke Baker (Kitchener), Dean Castelli (Hamilton), Brian Essery (Welland)

No surprise here. This guy has led the Baycats to six straight championships, really what more do you need to say? Angus knows how to get the most out of his players and more importantly how to keep the core of your team together year after year. I am sure he will be missed in Barrie but new horizons bloom for that franchise.