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FRONTIER LEAGUE: A HIDDEN SUMMER DELIGHT
- Posted on
- By Carl Lemelin
- 2
RCGT Stadium in Ottawa is a great place to watch a ball game on a beautiful, lazy summer day!
The proverbial joys of summer have eluded us all these past few years. The pandemic (yeah, that word again) put a damper on family vacations, backyard BBQ’s, outdoor terraces, people watching… and yes, lazy days at the ballpark.
Here in the Ottawa region, we may not have immediate access to live MLB baseball (Toronto and Boston both a 5-hour drive away), but we do have independent league pro ball, courtesy of the Frontier League.
BENEFICIAL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PARTNERSHIP
This low-level pro league covers the northeastern and midwestern United States, as well as the eastern Canadian cities of Québec (Capitales), Trois-Rivières (Aigles) and Ottawa (Titans). As members of an independent league, Frontier League teams bear no affiliation to MLB organizations, which means their players are signed as free agents (tryout walk-ons or released MLB free agents).
Although there is no affiliation, the Big Leagues’ recent commitment to grow the game at a grassroots level has resulted in a partnership with the Frontier League, officialised on September 24, 2020.
This collaboration now makes it possible for the minor league circuit to use Major League Baseball properties in marketing initiatives, and to obtain pro and amateur player information from MLB sources, such as scouting reports and free agent/released player lists and contacts.
This makes for a much stronger foundation for success and growth for a league that already had gobbled up the old Can-Am League in a 2019 merger. The Frontier League now boasts two 8-team divisions (East and West) with rosters that are among the most skilled in all independent pro baseball.
NOT “THE SHOW”, BUT A VERY GOOD SHOW
If you’re like me and just love hanging around at the ballpark, watching quality baseball, the Frontier League definitely fits the bill. A day at the stadium is an old school baseball experience that attracts young families and gives small town folks a sense of community and belonging.
Although most players in the league aren’t household names, as the season wears on fans do identify to the local stars they cheer on. Then, occasionally you’ll get a few higher end players mixed in here and there, names that are more recognizable to knowledgeable baseball fans.
For example, the 10th overall player chosen in MLB’s 2021 draft, pitcher Kumar Rocker, played in the league during the first half of this season. The Mets’ first pick was considered by many a top 5 prospect, but uncertainty stemming from an arm injury made him slide to that 10th spot.
That was enough for him to elect not to sign with the Big Apple franchise. Not wanting to return to the NCAA, the 22-year-old college standout decided to sign on with the Frontier League’s Tri-City Valley Cats to showcase his talent and attempt to put to rest any concerns scouts may have raised about his health.
Maybe a 1.35 ERA and 32 SO in 20 IP will be enough to accomplish that. Now eligible for this year’s draft, Rocker is currently listed as the 38th ranked draft prospect by MLB.com. My guess is his play in the Frontier League will have him go a lot higher than that.
OTTAWA TITANS: IMMEDIATE EXPANSION SUCCESS
Being based in Ottawa, I am lucky enough to attend some Titans’ games this summer. The ballpark has always been a great venue, ever since it was built for the AAA Lynx of the International League, a Montreal Expos affiliate at its outset, way back in 1993.
I used to go watch Expos prospects like F.P. Santangelo (a Lynx legend), Cliff Floyd, Matt Stairs and Rondell White, sitting comfortably in the picnic area on the third base side of the outfield.
The now renamed RCGT (Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton) Park is as cozy and well manicured as it was back then, making the fan experience as good as it gets in the minors.
The Titans have partnered with local businesses to sponsor in-game contests and special events for their younger fans, making each game a fun family outing for parents and kids alike. Junior may even get to take the field with his favorite player before the game or run the bases like the pros.
The expansion franchise benefits from their majority owner’s experience and contacts. Sam Katz, ex-Winnipeg Mayor, also owned and run the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association of Professional Baseball (Short-A season) for many years.
That explains the team’s likelihood of success off the field, but how can we explain an expansion franchise getting off to a 35-20 record, good for second place in the East Division on July 14?
Titan’s Assistant General Manager Sébastien Boucher explains: “We were lucky, our manager has a lot of contacts (in minor ball) and convinced many good players he knew to follow him to Ottawa.”
Manager Bobby Brown has more than 20 years of pro experience as a player, coach, scout, and manager. He was the Pioneer League champs Missoula PaddleHeads’ hitting coach in 2021, so he knows how an independent league winner is built.
“Our rookies have really helped us and the fact we play in a bigger market like Ottawa has helped us attract players too”, Boucher added.
Most other teams in the league play in smaller towns, which makes it less attractive for players moving to a new summer home.
That rings true for most of the Titans’ core pieces, the 5 players named to the 2022 Frontier League All-Star Game in Washington, Pennsylvania. Two of them, Jake Sanford and Evan Grills, fall in the category of the hidden gems I mentioned when Kumar Rocker’s name came up - players well worth the price of admission.
A TOP PROSPECT AND A LOCAL HERO
Sanford is a 24-year-old native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia who was a third-round pick of the New York Yankees in the 2019 MLB draft. He was recently released on suspicion of stealing from teammates and scamming fans.
The 6’2”, 215lbs outfielder was listed among the Bronx Bombers’ top prospects upon his release, slashing .385/.356/.467 in A-Ball last season.
“We new we were taking a risk, but we talked to Jake to get his side of the story and he assured us things didn’t go exactly as reported in the media”, Boucher told us.
“So far, he’s been great for us, no issues!”
On the field, his stats undoubtedly support that claim. Sanford leads the league in RBI with 57, while hitting .325 and ranking T8th with his 14 HR.
Grills is a local product from Whitby, Ontario. A career minor league veteran, the 30-year-old southpaw played as high as AAA. He gave Japan a try last year but decided to come back home when the Titans finally became a member of the Frontier League.
Grills had previous ties to owner Sam Katz, having played for the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 2020. That familiarity seems to have agreed with the tall lefty, who notched the win in the Titans first ever home opener, and hasn’t looked back, ranking 4th in Frontier League ERA (2,67), posting 62 SO in 54 IP.
So, if you haven’t been to a live ball game in a while, I can assure you that MLB is far from the only option. Minor league baseball gets you even closer to the action and the players. There’s also a lot more for kids enjoy while the grown ups keep their eyes on the game.
Oh, and if you happen to be in the Ottawa area August 12-14, the Titans and their biggest rivals, the Québec Capitales, will be duking it out in a series that could determine the East Division championship. Come and renew with that summertime magic only a ballpark can create!
For more on the Frontier League, visit their website.
I wanna play.
I wanna play .