The Barrie Baycats will have international representation once again, with Andrew Johnston set to suit up for the Great Britain national baseball team at the 2025 European Championship.
Its the first time the 21-year-old catcher will play for the senior national team. On three previous occasions, he was on the U-23 national team with whom he played at the 2023 and 2025 U-23 European Championships and the 2024 U-23 Baseball World Cup.
Johnston missed seven IBL games in 2025 to play in the most recent U-23 European Championships in the Czech Republic. There, he hit two-for-10 with an RBI, and helped the country claim it's first title at the tournament.
His mother, Karen, was born in the United Kingdom, which made Johnston eligible for a British passport.
Barrie acquired the Toronto-native in early June from Hamilton, and hit .176 with four RBI in 14 games as a Baycat. Including his three games with the Cardinals earlier in the season, his season average was .162.
He won't be the only IBL player on the British national team, however. Guelph Royals star Matthew Ward was also named to the roster for the first time. Both Johnston and Ward are catchers predominantly, and are perhaps replacing top prospect Harry Ford, who played in the 2023 World Baseball Classic with Great Britain and made his major league debut with Seattle on September 5.
In 2023, Great Britain was the runner-up in the European Championship to Spain, and is still pursuing its first title.
This will be the first such tournament managed by Bradley Marcelino, a former British national team member who took the helm in April.
The 2025 tournament begins Saturday with Great Britain slotted in group B and opening the tournament against the Netherlands, the host nation.
