northyorkbaseballassociation

Baseball: The Universal Language

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:37:55 GMT

Coach Lia Roque introduced her passion to players and parents at the 7U and 8U levels. Coach Lia's legacy will stay with North York for generations.

An important fixture on Diamond Five, Coach Lia will be fondly remembered and deeply missed. We asked her to share her thoughts before she leaves.

I remember the first time I went to Bond park for my interview for the head coach position for the 7U developmental team like it was yesterday. It was my first time to see Bond park and the moment I walked through the path between baseball fields I thought to myself this is like a secret garden for baseball lovers. I met up with Jeff and Coach Steve and they explained that NYBA wanted to start a 7U developmental team. I think the interview went well because I was not only given the chance to coach the 7U team but asked to coach the 8UAAA team as well and I was so happy to say yes to both roles.

I was nervous during our interview because as an Asian woman from the GenX generation, I thought I wouldn’t get the position but as we were going through the interview, I felt that we shared the same language: a deep passion for baseball. We talked about player development and team dynamics. I soon found out that coach Steve was looking for a replacement. He is a legend in North York and loved his role and made sure he was passing it on to someone with the same enthusiasm. I knew exactly what they were saying and they knew I understood what they wanted. A language only baseball lovers can understand. Coaching in North York was the perfect baseball organization for me as we have the same philosophy of focusing on the player’s experience in the team, emphasizing on fun and to develop the love for baseball.

Coaching the 7U developmental team and 8UAAA team for 3 years was a wonderful and unforgettable experience for me. I had very good players, wonderful parents and most importantly the best volunteer coach and parent coaches. The players were enthusiastically listening and participating and the parents were my extra coaches as they made sure the players came on time and encouraged them to go to each practice. Seeing the players learn to catch and field properly from not hitting any balls from the pitching machine to being confident on contact and hitting their first homer off the fence has been the most fulfilling experience. Winning was a bonus but seeing them loving the sport and still joining the next year was the ultimate win for me. When parents tell me that baseball now ranks number 1 on the sports they play through out the year, definitely melted my heart.

North York Baseball Assoc. does not only make the experience unforgettable for the players but they make sure the coaches are supported and the parents are considered on the organization’s decision making. I would like to say thank you for Coach Steve for trusting me for the coaching role and to support me through the transition to coach for NYBA. Thank you North York Blues for always reminding the coaches that you are always available for any concern that comes up. Thank you to the grounds crew on making the playing field always ready for games. Thank you so much for developing our umpires on having professional demeanour on every game.

I have decided to end my journey as head coach for the North York Blues for now because I was inspired by the player’s eagerness to play. I will be going back to playing softball. This is not a goodbye to baseball because I will still be doing private training and help players’ develop individually. I am just going back to playing while my body is still allowing me to play. A tough decision for me but I know NYBA understands my love language for baseball and softball.

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing baseball to boys and girls
between the ages of 6-17 at the recreational and competitive levels.

NYBA provides high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size);
two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens
and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

North York Blues 12UAA Shows Early Promise

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:16:02 GMT

The North York Blues 12UAA will have a new look in 2027 - and a much a faster one!

The North Y ork Blues 12U AA will have a new look in 2027 — and a much faster one.

With the club moving its home games to the larger Diamond 4, the Blues have shaped the roster with speed and power in mind. The idea is simple: use the extra space, put pressure on opposing defences and build a team capable of creating runs in more than one way.

So far, the early returns have been encouraging.

North York opened the fall with an exhibition win over East York, last year’s first-place team.

The Blues followed that up with a strong showing at the Toronto Playgrounds Fall Tournament, advancing all the way to the semifinals before falling to Toronto Playgrounds AA, who went on to capture the tournament championship.

There is still plenty of work ahead. Fortunately, the team will have a new home for that development at the NYBA Indoor Performance Centre, where players can spend the offseason building strength, refining skills and developing the speed-focused style the coaching staff hopes to bring to Diamond 4 next spring.

After a promising fall season, the 12U AA 2027 Blues have something to build on.

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing baseball to boys and girls
between the ages of 6-17 at the recreational and competitive levels.

NYBA provides high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

2026 18UAA Team Final Season

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 20:05:38 GMT

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At the close of every season, NYBA reaches out to our 18U coaches for a final comment.

This year, Daniel Iny, 18UAA coach retired from coaching baseball after 11 seasons. This is what he shared.

I am so grateful to have been able to coach within the NYBA for 11 seasons. Every year since 2014 – save and except for coaching one year with another association (which shall remain nameless) and the loss of my team’s 2020 season because of Covid – has been spent at Bond, coaching my son, Jake, and so many other wonderful kids, beginning in house league as an assistant coach and then head coach, followed by assistant coach of 13U(2) select, and then head coach of 15U select, 16UA rep (two seasons), 17UAA, and, finally, this year’s 18UAA team. Up until the very final few days of this season, coaching was one of my life’s great joys.

Thank you to my wife and life partner, Megan, and our two amazing daughters (Shoshana and Tasha) for letting Jake and me do what we love all these years and for your love and support along the way.

Thank you to everyone within NYBA and at Bond for your tireless work and support over the years. Matthew, Jeff, Rand, Heather, Tracey, Chris, Ben and I know so many others – thank you for all that you do and for welcoming me into the NYBA family.

To everyone I had the privilege of coaching select and rep baseball with over the years, thank you. Ross Lapointe, Heather Wilson, Dave Kroetch, Jennifer Smith, Albert Lai, Hayden Taylor, and Warren Doner – you are all superb, engaged people with wonderful baseball minds. I learned so much from all of you along the way.

But in terms of co-coaches, my biggest shout out goes to Danny Weill, my brother, with whom I had the pleasure and privilege of coaching Gavin and Jake (and so many others) for the last 5 seasons. Danny has always been, and will always be, my guy. I would not, and could not have, done this without him.

Most of all, I want to thank all the players (and their families) I had the pleasure of coaching all of these years. My goal as a coach was always simple, and that was to do what I could to help my players be the best versions of themselves – as baseball players and, more importantly to me, as teammates and people. Thank you, players, for buying into my “system” and believing in me. I hope your years at Bond brought you good memories, life skills that transcend baseball, and friendships that will outlast your playing days. They did for me.

And, in particular, to my 18UAA players: Adam C., Dylan I., Dylan R., Gavin W., Jackson G., Jake I., Kenneth L., Marc C., Michael P., Nolan S., Nolan W., Tali B., and Thomas G. – I could not be prouder of, and more grateful for, all of you. It was joyful baseball, which was the goal, until the final days. The memory of your resiliency and the way you carried yourselves with grace and thoughtfulness and supported each another in the final days of our season when, as a baseball family, we mourned the loss of one of our own, will never leave me. It was an honour to be your coach and just being around all of you. Please remember, as I have already told you, that your other coaches and I will always be there for you, even after baseball.

2012AA North York Blues | TBA Finalists and OBA Qualifiers

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 19:50:15 GMT

They aren't done yet!

Over six days, the 2012AA North York Blues played six games and dispatched four opponents to earn a spot as a TBA Finalist.

But the story of the 2012AA Blues’ TBA tournament was about more than wins. Throughout the tournament, the boys played as a team in every sense of the word.

They celebrated big moments and also picked each other up. Every teammate who stepped up to the plate, took to the mound, or made a play on the field was greeted with loud and enthusiastic cheers. Diamond 3 echoed with Blues cheers, and so did the bleachers.

Parents, siblings, grandparents and friends filled Bond Park throughout the tournament. Head Coach Eric guided the U14 team to ultimately finish as TBA Finalists and OBA Qualifiers.

So after six games and countless cheers from the dugout and bleachers, surrounded by family and teammates, the 2012 Blues left Bond Park with medals around their necks…and we are not yet done.

Next stop: The 2026 Ontario Baseball Association Championships!

Former MLB All-Star Ron Davis Works with NYBA 11UAA

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 19:37:10 GMT

An experience our 11UAA will never forget!

The NYBA 11U AA team had a rare opportunity this week to learn from former Major League Baseball All-Star and world series pitcher Ron Davis, whose career in professional baseball spans more than four decades as both a player and coach.

Davis pitched 11 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1978 to 1988. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs and making his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 1978, the hard-throwing right-hander went on to pitch for the Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.

Over his career, Davis appeared in 481 Major League games, recorded 130 saves and was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1981. His career included seasons with 30 saves, more than 60 appearances and ERAs below 3.00. Perhaps most remarkable by today's standards, Davis once threw 131 innings in a single regular season working primarily out of the bullpen — a workload almost unimaginable for a modern relief pitcher.

Following his playing career, Davis turned his attention to coaching and player development. Now working as a pitching instructor out of Arizona, Davis has spent decades developing players at virtually every level of the game. He has helped develop more than 25 players who eventually reached Major League Baseball and more than 100 players who were selected in the professional draft.

His coaching experience has also included working with Major League stars, including Bryce Harper.

This week, he brought that experience directly to our NYBA 11U AA players at Bond Park.

Ron generously donated his time, while the Silver family graciously sponsored his travel expenses, making what truly became a once-in-a-lifetime baseball experience possible for the team.

Adding to the experience, former MLB draft pick and Team Canada player Tim Smith also dropped by to lend a hand, giving the players another opportunity to learn from someone with extensive experience at the professional and international levels.

Davis was also assisted throughout the sessions by members of the 15U Elite team — Luca Ninopoulos, Caleb Myrehaug and Drew Kotick — who helped the younger players work through the drills and reinforce the lessons being taught.

Ron's approach was also something a little different for the team.

His direct, demanding and no-nonsense coaching style represented a change of pace for many of the players. There wasn't much standing around and there weren't many wasted words. He expected players to listen, make adjustments and compete.

The group quickly adapted.

As the sessions progressed, players began incorporating Ron's advice into their mechanics, approach and understanding of pitching. Beyond simply teaching drills, he shared the small details and lessons accumulated through thousands of innings of professional baseball and decades of coaching.

For 11-year-old players, there is something special about hearing those lessons directly from someone who stood on a Major League mound, pitched in an All-Star Game and competed against the best players in the world — while also getting the chance to interact with accomplished players like Tim Smith and members of the 15U Elite team.

The players walked away better baseball players, with plenty to continue working on — and more than a few stories they will probably be telling for years.

A huge thank you to Ron Davis for donating his time, the Silver family for making the visit possible, Tim Smith for dropping by to help, and Luca, Caleb and Drew for giving back to the younger players.

It was an experience our 11U AA players won't soon forget..

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing baseball to boys and girls between the ages of
6-17 at the recreational and competitive levels. NYBA provides high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size); two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

NYBA 14UAA Silver Bracket Champs

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:26:09 GMT

The North York Blues 2012AA team are the Silver Bracket Champions at the Mississauga North 2026 baseball tournament.

The North York Blues needed everyone to step up and the boys delivered, going 4-1 July 4th weekend. with a big come-from-behind win in the semi-finals and a big championship win, holding off a strong opponent, to claim the championship rings.

Big plays in the field supported by big mound and plate appearances resulted in an exhilarating tournament.

A huge thank you to all of our families and supporters for making sure the boys were ready to play, fed, and hydrated all weekend long.

And a special thank you to our manager and coaches for their leadership and for giving our boys every opportunity to succeed!

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing baseball to boys and girls between the ages of 6-17 at the recreational and competitive levels.

NYBA provides high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size); two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

NYBA.ca

13UA COMEBACK WIN

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:23:35 GMT

⚾NYBA 13UA Come Back To Defeat Martingrove White Sox and win the Martingrove Summer Slam Tournament

Despite trailing by as many as eight runs, NYBA 13UA rallied to defeat Martingrove White Sox 19-18 on Sunday at Carmen Bush Baseball Diamond. The team went 4-1 for the weekend racking up an impressive 63 runs scored over the weekend.After battling to a 4-4 tie at end of time in the semifinal and needing 2 extra innings to decide the winner. NYBA 13UA immediately moved in to the final.

NYBA and Martingrove were tied at 12 apiece at the end of the seventh and moved into extra innings in the final. NYBA built a 4-run lead in the eighth inning and then held off Martingrove White Sox’s charge as they tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. NYBA 13UA captured the lead, 19-16, in the top of the ninth and held on in the bottom to win the tournament.

Congratulations to the Coaches, players and parents for a great weekend!

NYBA.ca

Baseball at Bond Park, 7 days a week!

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing baseball to boys and girls between the ages of 6-17 at the recreational and competitive levels.

NYBA provides high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size); two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

NYBA.ca

NYBA Annual Second-Hand Equipment Sale – June 15-17

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:19:27 GMT

Second-Hand Equipment Sale
June 15-17 | 6:30PM-8:30PM
Bond Park Clubhouse

NYBA WILL BE SELLING used items which include (but not limited to):

Gently used and outdated Rep shirts
Gently used Rep /Select pants
Gently used Rep Hats
Cleats
Gloves
Socks, belts
Catcher’s equipment
Bats
Fan-wear (used) older logo’s.
Miscellaneous equipment and nets, if available.

ANY DONATIONS for the sale can be dropped off at Bond Park Clubhouse during the following times:

Monday June 15 – Wednesday, June 17
6:30-8:30PM

ALL gently used baseball items and apparel will be accepted, regardless of branding.

All proceeds to NYBA. | CASH ONLY . Please bring small bills and change.

North York 11UAA Starts Season in Style

Tue, 05 May 2026 13:17:41 GMT

The North York Blues 11U AA team had yet to practice outside, but they found their groove quickly with two strong games against rival Leaside the first weekend in May.

On Friday, the Blues opened their season with a dramatic 10–9 walk-off win. With two outs and a full count in the bottom of the sixth, Jason Liang delivered the game-winning single.

The runners were moving on the pitch, helping the Blues beat the throw home and seal the victory. Jonah Silver led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 at the plate, while also allowing just two runs over two innings on the mound.

Sunday’s game was a very different affair.

Jason Liang took the mound and delivered one of the most dominant performances in recent memory.

His final line: 5 innings, no hits, no walks, and faced only one batter over the minimum in a near-perfect game that was broken up on the final out. Jason threw an efficient 62 pitches, 42 of them for strikes.

The Blues backed him up with 12 runs, led offensively by Andrew Loyola who went 3 for 3, completing an impressive opening weekend.

Congratulations to the 11UAA Blues with this spectacular Walk-Off and No-hitter start to the season! Hats off to the parents and coaches for their support!

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing baseball to boys and girls between the ages of 6-17 at the recreational and competitive levels.

NYBA provides high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size); two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

NYBA.ca

Sam Plourde: A Tribute

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:10:34 GMT

“Those we love never leave us, they become our guardian angels in the outfield.”

The North York Baseball was saddened by the news of the untimely passing of Sam Plourde.

Described as an avid sports fan and longtime sports player particularly in hockey and baseball, Sam was the ultimate teammate.

Haedan Schneider, one of Sam’s NYBA teammates wrote, ”I was fortunate to be on Sam’s baseball teammate for many years. He was an incredible teammate, a true friend, and someone who left a lasting impression on those around him. He will be deeply missed.”

Not just a ball player, Sam was a Level 2 umpire for North York and other GTA baseball associations. After completing his baseball career with the 18UAA team, he joined the NYBA field maintenance staff. He was also very popular with families when attending to Bond Park snack bar.

Sam followed his older brother, Joey to North York with both brothers having started at a very young age and graduating at 18UAA. Before becoming the NYBA maintenance manager, their Dad, Paul, coached both boys. Sam’s mother, Louise was often at Bond Park cheering the boys and working magic behind the scenes organizing schedules and meals.

Sam’s family will remember how “He filled our lives with laughter, energy and love. He loved all sports, music, games, camping, … we will forever remember Sam’s warmth, kindness, sense of humor, his hugs and his ability to find joy in so many things.”

His North York Baseball family couldn’t agree more.

SAM PLOURDE– Gone but not forgotten
May 26, 2005 – February 25, 2026
20 years old .

Kevin Kingsley: A legacy coaching career

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:02:50 GMT

At the close of every season, NYBA reaches out to our 18U coaches for a final comment.

This year, Kevin Kingsley, 18U Elite coach, retired from coaching baseball. North York Baseball has benefited from Kevin’s involvement in the association, and wanted to share his story.

NYBA: When did you first join NYBA?

KEVIN: I first joined NYBA during the Minor Rookie/8u season with the 2004-year group and my older son Aidan. Cole joined the organization a few years later playing up a year with the Minor Rookie/8u team during what would have been his 7u year.

NYBA: Did you have coaching experience before you came, or was NYBA your first foray into the coaching world? Did you coach under Steve Davis? He used to call your team – ‘one of his’.

KEVIN: I was coaching hockey with the North York Knights organization at the time, so I’d had some coaching experience before but not in baseball. This was my first baseball coaching role. In my first season with NYBA I was an Assistant Coach on the Minor Rookie/8u team for the 2004-year group that my older son Aidan played with. Steve Davis was the Head Coach of that team and he served as a terrific mentor to see how he handled the players, managed the roster and developed their skills. It was a strong team that won the OBAs in our very first year. I spent 4 seasons as a part of that staff before moving over to the 2007 group where my younger son was playing.

NYBA: Jeevan, Matt and the two Matteos, say that they have been together for 7 summers – is that the year that the team really coalesced?

KEVIN: We have a number of players who were a part of our team for quite a long time – even a few that have been here since the Rookieball/Mosquito seasons. Over half of our team has been with us since the Peewee/12u season. When you can have that kind of roster consistency it helps you to better establish the right type of team culture, and of course the friendships between the players become quite strong.

NYBA: What kept that core group together? Was it the wins? The camaraderie? The sport itself?

KEVIN: It was a close-knit group that became even closer over the years. They rooted for each other and wanted nothing more than for each other to be successful. There were also a lot of complementary skillsets among the various players so that they were each able to establish a role for themselves and a means of making themselves valuable contributors to the team.

NYBA: Is there one year that stands out more than the others? Or better, is there one funny story that the team never forgets? What do you think the players will remember most fondly about the team?

KEVIN: I think as a group one of the aspects the team will remember most fondly are the tournaments we travelled to the US to play in. We had an opportunity to play at some amazing baseball facilities including Ray Fisher Stadium at the University of Michigan, Frank Eck Stadium at Notre Dame University, Hayden Park at Miami University (Ohio) and Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State University (New Jersey). In addition to having some success going deep into a couple of these tournaments, the team also had some great off-the-field experiences including going to MLB games in Cincinnati, Detroit, and New York, as well as a minor league game at Sound Bend, Indiana. I suspect some of these off-the-field experiences will be remembered by the players just as much as the on-field successes will be. These proved to be great bonding experiences which were of great benefit to the team, and played a key role in the success we had over the years.

NYBA : If there is one piece of wisdom that you would share with new coaches, what would it be?

KEVIN: I would say a few things on this…..firstly, too often as a coach we assess our success by the team’s win-loss record whereas I think we need to take a step back at times and remind ourselves that the biggest learnings often come following an important loss or mistake. Making mistakes is part of the game but the key is how we deal with them, learn from them, and ultimately move forward as a team.

Secondly, I think it’s extremely important to make sure all players get sufficient opportunities, especially at the younger age groups. It’s really easy for a coach to play his top players all the time at the expense of the others but we need to recognize that it’s not uncommon for weaker players to evolve over time to actually become one of the stronger players, and vice versa. Yet we as coaches can have a big impact on this if we fail to provide those players with sufficient opportunity early on. Separately, a good coach will know when to push their players and when to be more forgiving – but not to shy away from challenging them and creating a demanding environment in order to get the most out of them.

Finally, I think its worth highlighting that there are a lot of resources out there for coaches to fine-tune their knowledge of the sport and how it can be coached, and would encourage everyone to take advantage of these resources.

NYBA: And if you could impart some wisdom on parents and players on how to best support coaches, what would it be?

KEVIN: The relationship between parents and coaches can be a tricky thing but the key is to establish early-on how this is expected to work. Parents have become more ‘hands-on’ and involved in youth sports than ever before. I would suggest that if a parent has a concern they should first talk to their player about the situation because often the player can be more understanding and knowledgeable about why something is occurring than the parents might appreciate. Allow the player the opportunity to be the first point of communication with the coach whenever possible.

NYBA: What’s next for Kevin Kingsley? And what about the team? I see that Matt has gone to play at McGill — any one else?

KEVIN: We’ve got a number of players from our team that have moved on to play baseball at the university/collegiate level including Cole Kingsley, Matthew McKay, Mattheo Tsebelis, Zavier Zografos, and Paul Verman. There are a couple of others who are hoping to start playing the following year too. I’m proud of what this group has accomplished and in particular that they’ve all grown into intelligent, respectful young men. They represent our team exceedingly well.

At this point I get to kick back and simply be a supportive cheerleader.

Thank you Kevin!

Photos courtesy of Jag Photography . Jag Gundu’s son Jeevan, played for Kevin for many years. Jag generously shared his photos with NYBA.

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size); two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

NYBA.ca

NYBA 14UAAAA Blues celebrate outstanding season.

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 12:57:56 GMT

The NYBA 14UAAAA completed their 2025 season with a bang!

After winning the division title, the 14UAAAA Blues went on to finish first in the Toronto Baseball Association finals. That win, gave them a berth in the Ontario Baseball Association finals.

The team played a record 7 games during the OBA weekend.

An incredible team effort on the final day, led to a game 6 win, pushing them into the 7th game.

Unfortunately, the win wasn’t for them. and the NYBA 14UAAAA blues brought home the Silver.

It was an outstanding season for the players and coaches.

Tremendous growth and development for the team, many of whom will become our 15U Elite team in 2026!

Huge congratulations and a salute to all parents, who helped make it happen.

North York Baseball Association is committed to providing high-quality training facilities and tools for its players and teams.

Located at Bond Park, NYBA professionally maintains 5 baseball diamonds (1 is full MLB regulation size); two full-size professionally turfed batting cages; multiple pitching machines; professional L/screens and an accessible club house with a fully-equipped weight training room, wash/change rooms.

NYBA.ca

NYBA Blues Alumni And Their Pro Ball careers

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:39:36 GMT

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It was a lucky day for Matthew Clarke [North York Blues Minor Peewee AAA] who was attending a ‘Train Like A Pro Clinic’. Not only was it hosted by pro ball player Connor Panas (L) but his long-time teammate Jordan Romano (R) was one of the trainers.

What’s so special about Jordan and Connor?

They were both Blues as well, having played on one of the rep teams of the North York Baseball Association.

Jordan Romano has been quickly working his way up through the MLB minors and today is on the Texas Rangers MLB Roster.

Jordan – [Pitcher, Bat/Throw Right] – was first selected in the 10 th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. After two appearances, he advanced and finished his 2014 season with the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Rookie-Advanced Appalachian League.

Jordan missed the entire 2015 season due to an injury, but recovered in June 2016 to make his first start as a professional ball player. He spent the entire 2017 minor league season with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Advanced-A Florida State League.

In 2018, the Blue Jays invited Jordan to spring training where he began the season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Double-A Eastern League. On May 16, Jordan pitched six no-hit innings against the Hartford Yard Goats, and became the first pitcher in the minors to reach seven wins. After reaching an 8-0 record with a 2.04 ERA, Jordan was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on May 27.

In December however, he was picked up by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft and was quickly traded to the Texas Rangers, where he is officially on the MLB roster.

Connor Panas, another North York Blues alumni is currently playing RF with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Connor [Bats L/Throws R] was first selected in the 9 th round, 272nd overall by the Blue Jays out of college in Buffalo in 2014.

In 2015, Connor played 51 games (Vancouver 45, GCL Blue Jays 6) with a respectable .270/.356/.433 line with 5 home runs. Connor made the jump to Single-A, playing the entire season with the Lansing Lugnuts.

2016 has been described as a breakout year for Connor when he played 114 games with the Dunedin Blue Jays and was an integral part of their Championship season.

In 2017, Connor hit .276/.364/.475 with 18 home runs and a better strikeout rate than the previous campaign. Defensively he played 54 games in right field, 34 games in left and 13 games at first base throughout the course of the season.

He finished the 2018 season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Eastern League having played 105 games, .232/.296/359 and 9 home runs.

On December 30, 2018, the Blues Jay announced that Connor had been traded to the San Diego Padres for left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard and cash consideration.

The North York Baseball Association congratulates both Jordan and Connor on their career highlights – and thanks Matthew for sharing his story.

Sources: Wikipedia, FanSided, MLB.com

northyorkbaseballassociation

Baseball: The Universal Language

Coach Lia Roque introduced her passion to players and parents at the 7U and 8U levels. Coach Lia's legacy will stay with North York for generations.

North York Blues 12UAA Shows Early Promise

The North York Blues 12UAA will have a new look in 2027 - and a much a faster one!

2026 18UAA Team Final Season

This is a subtitle for your new post

2012AA North York Blues | TBA Finalists and OBA Qualifiers

They aren't done yet!

Former MLB All-Star Ron Davis Works with NYBA 11UAA

An experience our 11UAA will never forget!

NYBA 14UAA Silver Bracket Champs

13UA COMEBACK WIN

NYBA Annual Second-Hand Equipment Sale – June 15-17

Second-Hand Equipment Sale June 15-17 | 6:30PM-8:30PM Bond Park Clubhouse

North York 11UAA Starts Season in Style

Sam Plourde: A Tribute

“Those we love never leave us, they become our guardian angels in the outfield.”

SAM PLOURDE– Gone but not forgotten May 26, 2005 – February 25, 2026 20 years old .

Kevin Kingsley: A legacy coaching career

NYBA 14UAAAA Blues celebrate outstanding season.

NYBA Blues Alumni And Their Pro Ball careers

This is a subtitle for your new post

Second-Hand Equipment Sale
June 15-17 | 6:30PM-8:30PM
Bond Park Clubhouse

SAM PLOURDE– Gone but not forgotten
May 26, 2005 – February 25, 2026
20 years old .