As always, it’s been a busy offseason for Roop Chanderdat, the London Majors’ co-owner, GM and field manager. He’s tasked each winter with building a roster, including recruiting new players and bringing back key ones from the previous season. This year, that previous season was a championship one – the first in 46 years for the Majors.
By early March, Chanderdat had already signed a handful of players he hopes will be key contributors during the 2022 season as the Majors look to repeat as Intercounty Baseball League champions. Some of those players include …
• Cleveland Brownlee (DH) – It’ll be Brownlee’s 12th season with the club … One of the most respected players with opponents, umpires and other fans around the league … With 7 home runs with 21 RBIs in 27 games in 2021, he was staple in the top half of the Majors lineup throughout the season.
• Bo Lewington (RHP) – A newcomer, the 6’3” righty has spent time in the Pecos League with the High Desert Yardbirds, and in the WMBL with the Okotoks Dawgs.
• Braeden Ferrington (RHP) – His 2021 season saw him have career-bests in ERA (0.86), innings pitched (31.1) and saves (4) as perhaps the IBL’s reliever of the year. Eleven of his 12 appearances came out of the bullpen.
• Keith Kandel (SS) – Returning for 7th year in the IBL (4th with the Majors). Quote from Kandel: “With the way the community supports us, and the successes we had as a team last year, it was a no brainer for me to want to be back in pinstripes for another run!”
• Pedro De Los Santos (LHP) – The league leader in ERA (2.19) in 2021. Trailed only teammate Owen Boon in strikeouts and wins. Was a key factor in the Majors winning the league pennant. Overall, pitched 90 innings in 12 games, giving manager Chanderdat quality outing after quality outing.
• Austin Wilkie (OF) – In his first season with the Majors, batted .303 in 27 regular season games – and .357 in the playoffs to help Majors’ championship run. Was an asset on the basepaths (9 stolen bases) and tracking down balls while patrolling centrefield.
• Taylor Wright (INF) – A newcomer, Wright started all 58 games as a senior for the Maryland Terrapins in 2019, batting .290 with 20 doubles (4th most in a single season in Maryland baseball history). Also stole 12 bases (on 14 attempts).
Submitted by London majors and photos by Matt Hiscox Photography
