The Barrie Baycats are now a professional team, but what's really different?

For years, rumours circulated about whether the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) would ever go pro, but now its a reality with a new name.

In May, the newly-rebranded Canadian Baseball League (CBL) will carry forward the 106-year history of the IBL as a professional league, bringing with it some extra logistics, but not much else, according to Barrie Baycats president Josh Matlow.

"They spoke about going professional for so many years, even when I was playing," he says "But it's always operated as a professional-level organization—not only the Baycats, but the league. Now we're just making it official."

Matlow entered the league in 2005 and helped the Baycats win their first IBL championship. He left the organization after the 2010 season before returning as a club volunteer in 2019, later being hired as manager and general manager, and eventually the team’s president.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, over half of the league's teams' ownerships changed, with those new governors holding plenty of ambition for growth of their product and Canadian baseball as a whole. Talks soon increased as the league grew in size, digital footprint, and most notably, attendance.

"[There] was kind of the misconception with the whole league: Are we semi-pro? Are we men's league? What are we?" Matlow says. "There was no real understanding of that because we couldn't be pro because we have collegiate players."

The league's nine ownerships voted unanimously to go pro, although some were more enthusiastic than others as their collective vision came together.

Matlow says it was the popularity of the American League title run and subsequent World Series appearance by the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada's only Major League Baseball (MLB) team, that catalyzed the decision.

While the CBL's full name translates to a more nationalized product, a fear echoed by many die-hard fans lamenting the changes, but that's not necessarily the case, for now.

"We're still going to have that community, local feel to it," Matlow explains. "The rebrand to the CBL is a little more fitting to the footprint and the growth we're going to to over time... Now it's going to expand, and it could expand outside of Ontario, and maybe turn it into a CFL kind of thing down the road."

Commisioner Ted Kalnins has already had formal inquiries from multiple communities regarding expansion across Ontario and beyond. Such a move would require a $1 million expansion fee. The realistic long-term goal is for a 12-team league.

Matlow agrees that adding a 10th team as soon as 2027 is realistic, but he's more ambitious.

"Expansion teams, television deals, the sky is really the limit," he says with cautious optimism.

The league describes itself as the “top independent professional baseball league in Canada,” a designation that reflects its current domestic standing. But any potential international club competition remains unconfirmed.

While the biggest changes to the product will likely be noticed more off the field with improvements in game broadcasts and digital presence among other things, Matlow hopes fans coming to the ballpark during the 2026 season will get more bang for their buck.

"You've got to engage the fans," he says. "The ticket prices are not going to change too much. There's three more home games, so [season tickets] will reflect that, but kids 12 and under are still going to be free. We still want kids and families coming out to make memories and be a part of things."

Matlow adds the team will likely have to increase staffing as it looks to hit a more professional standard with its product, and alludes to other bigger changes that are in the works.

When it comes to the players, the biggest and most difficult change is undoubtedly maneuvering a monthly hard salary cap of $30,000, with the maximum a player can receive per month maxing out at $4,000.

As the GM, Matlow realizes that some players have high expectations, but his message to potential signees hasn't changed.

"Some of these players here are pro and they think the moon and the stars are coming their way and you got to be realistic. So we got to find guys who have that happy balance... It's not so much about the money, but it's about the opportunity and the exposure and the brand awareness for themselves."

With just under four months until the team's first professional game, the team has already inked deals with 14 players from the 2025 team and four new additions. Many returnees signed relatively early since the end of last season, and some have even asked not to be paid in an effort to make the team more competitive, according to Matlow.

"It says a lot about what we're doing and our vision that the guys want to sign as soon as the season's done the year before," he says.

But while the pay may not be at the desired level for some, the expectation level has risen significantly.

"[The IBL] became not only a working man's league, but an 'I'll make it when I can' league," Matlow says "Going [professional], I think there's more expectation to be there more often, to be available, to have these imports come over and be full time guys. So it'll be fun on the coaching aspect of things... you can build a proper bench, you can build a proper bullpen."

First baseman Ryan Rijo, who said it was "surreal" to be the team and league's first signing since the status change, says nothing will really will really change for the players.

"My job doesn't change," the 27-year-old says. "The only kind of pressure would be [to] be the first team to win the inaugural season... you only get one chance to win the first."

Rijo's hot start to the 2025 season was cut short after eight games due to a myocarditis diagnosis. But, after being fully cleared by doctors in the fall, he's set to begin his first pro season on schedule.

"I'm going to start going in and practicing with my grandpa again, and then we're going to have winter workouts with the team... I'm excited to swing the bat again, it feels like its been forever."

While the team's goal hasn't changed, the Barrie native feels that the team has already gotten better even though many that have been signed as of Saturday are returnees. He also finds that the team will be better suited for the new playoff structure.

"Last year in the first round, it took everything and a couple bounces to beat Toronto," the eight-year veteran describes. "We have the arms to go the distance in a seven-game series, we just need ourselves in a good position come playoffs so that we can all be healthy."

In 2026, The top three teams will be guaranteed a semifinal berth, while the fourth and fifth-place teams will play a one-game playoff for the final spot. Barrie has not finished below fifth since 2003.

Among the star returnees for 2026 are starting pitchers Frank Garcés and Juan Benítez, first baseman Nolan Machibroda, utility-man Hayden Jaco, and infielder Adam Odd. Outfielder Canice Ejoh will also return after taking a year off baseball following the Baycats' 2024 IBL championship.

"The status is going to be good for guys who are on kind of on the bubble (of where to go)," he says. "It's going to attract a lot of attention from not only Canadian baseball players, but international baseball players to want to come and play at a high level."

The team has 10 more players to roster before the season starts, and while deals are constantly being negotiated, Matlow's not showing his hand by announcing his signings in clusters. Previously, many of the team's returnees would be announced for the next season before the calendar flipped.

Some have speculated that with the practice of paying players under the table gone, some teams might be saving money. The Baycats GM suggests he has the right approach while others are still figuring it out.

"There's a little more strategy behind that now to make sure that everyone can fit before you throw all the darts at the dartboard," he says.

"There's a lot more transparency, a lot more professionalism... This is pushing our 107-year-old league that had so many old school ways into the new era to do things properly... We're doing a lot better for the organization and for the league that we can do this for another 107 years."