Roop Chanderdat, co-owner, general manager and field manager of the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) announced this spring the signing of the team’s first import player of the season: Oscar Perez.
The Venezuelan-born right-handed pitcher was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2008 as a catcher and spent six seasons within their organization. After four years as a catcher, he was converted to a pitcher in 2013.
The 23 year-old Perez, who currently resides in Miami, FL, appeared in 33 games over two seasons as a pitcher and hurled 70 innings in the minor leagues.
Chanderdat has high praise for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound pitcher, who is expected to join the club in the coming weeks.
“Perez is coming to the Majors to be one of our starting pitchers,” said Chanderdat. “He has a very live arm and I’m expecting him to be a top end guy in the IBL this summer.”
Fan favourites Cleveland Brownlee (1B/DH) and Paul Lytwynec (SS) also agreed to contracts for the upcoming season.
Brownlee enters his sixth season in Majors pinstripes. He hit .257 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 2014. The perennial home run leader and fan favourite is now residing and working full-time in London.
“It’s great to have Cleveland back for another summer,” Chanderdat said. “He’s one of the top power hitters in the league, and he has developed into a good all-around hitter during his years with me.”
Lytwynec returns to the shortstop position for the Majors in what is hoped will be a strong defensive infield. A local player who grew up playing minor, university and now college baseball in London, Lytwynec hit .279 in 2014 with 34 hits and 20 RBIs.
With the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) season just around the corner, Chanderdat is approaching the 200-win plateau for his career at the helm of the London Majors.
This will be Chanderdat’s 10th year as bench boss of the club. In nine seasons to date, he has amassed 193 wins and a winning percentage of nearly .600 while taking the Majors to the IBL finals three times during that span.
Including winning the league pennant in 2008, Chanderdat has finished either first or second in five of the nine seasons he has managed the team.
Returning to the Majors in an assistant coaching capacity will be Casey Pulham, as third base coach, and Max Escrogin as first base and pitching coach.
The London Majors’ home opener is set for Friday, May 15 at 7:35pm when they will host the Hamilton Cardinals at historic Labatt Memorial Park.
Roop Chanderdat coaching record
YEAR RECORD WIN % FINISH
2006 21-15 .583 4th
2007 15-21 .417 7th
2008 27-9 .750 1st
2009 21-15 .583 5th
2010 18-18 .500 5th
2011 22-13 .629 2nd
2012 21-15 .583 2nd
2013 26-16 .619 2nd
2014 23-13 .639 2nd
Overall 194-135 .590
Key Majors Home Dates
Home Opener – May 15
Canada Day – July 1
Siftons ‘Pack the Park’ – June 21
Purple in the Park – June 10
– Story and photos submitted by the London Majors
