The Barrie Baycats added right-handed-hitting outfielder Darlin Moquete in a one year deal on Wednesday ahead of the 2027 season.
The 27-year-old Dominican came recommended to Baycats general manager Josh Matlow by infielders Brandon and Francisco Hernandez, who each played with him at various levels of the St. Louis Cardinals farm system.
Brandon Hernandez exercised a player option to return to the Baycats for 2027 on Oct. 22, while Francisco Hernandez was re-signed by the team on Oct. 29.
Moquete was described as a five-tool player. He played seven years in the Cardinals organization, reaching double-A in 2025. There, in Springfield, Miss., he hit .245 in 78 games with six home runs, 36 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.
Across his full minor-league career, he hit .260 with 43 home runs, 187 RBI, and 95 stolen bases in 431 games.
After electing free agency following the 2025 season, Moquete did not play affiliated baseball in 2026 and returned for his second season with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (LIDOM). Through five games, he's 0-for-1 with two stolen bases.
Moquete is Barrie's third import signing of the offseason, after catcher Wandy Ciprian and right-handed pitcher Oscar Moreta were signed on Oct. 21.
His arrival comes as the Baycats ranked third among CBL teams with 68 home runs, the most in a single season in franchise history. That was despite being one of just two teams that didn't have a player reach double digits in that category (Guelph).
Barrie also eclipsed 100 stolen bases for the first time in franchise history in 2026, finishing with 104, the second most to Welland's 152.
Whether Moquete will be able to last the full season on Barrie's active roster will remain a big question. In some extent, the team has released, traded, or walked away from at least one international outfielder each season since 2023. The most recent casualty was Dominican Edgar Figueroa, who was placed on the Baycats' inactive list on July 21.
In other moves on Wednesday, the Baycats released utility player Branfy Infante and right-handed pitchers Naswell Paulino and Ronny Rosario.
The team also placed first baseman Nolan Machibroda, outfielder Canice Ejoh, and right-handed pitchers Boris Večerka and Carlos Sano on its inactive list.
