In the team's first new signing since its league shifted pro, the Barrie Baycats have brought in right-handed pitcher Breidy Encarnacion.
The six-foot-three 25-year-old comes to Barrie after not playing professionally in 2025. However, from 2019 to 2024, made 80 appearances (178.1 innings) through various levels of the Miami Marlins (NL) farm organization, including one at triple-A. At one point, he was ranked as high as the no. 22 prospect in the system by MLB.com.
He was shut down for most of 2024 due to shoulder pain. He then missed a 2023 Arizona Fall League stint, and was held to just three appearances in August that season on a rehab assignment.
Nonetheless, Encarnación proved himself to be effective at the Low-A and High-A levels as a reliever, with his change-up standing out in an arsenal that includes a fastball and cutter.
Eventually, he was released by the Marlins on March 11. However, in the time since, his fastball velocity has reportedly climbed back up to the 92-93 mile-per-hour range.
Baycats manager Josh Matlow says he plans to prepare Encarnacion as a starter, but will have some flexibility in his usage. While in the Marlins system, one analyst claimed he "has the ceiling of a multiple-inning reliever at the next level."
His best season, 2023, featured 41 appearances across various minor league levels. Through those games, Encarnacion went 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA, and a 2.49 strikeout to walk ratio in 75.1 innings.
As of Friday, the Tamayo, Dominican Republic-native is the third import player signed by Barrie, leaving 5 more spots available since the limit was increased to eight players for the 2026 season.
On Wednesday, the CBL officially released the dates of each team's home opener, with Barrie's set to occur on May 14 against Toronto. The full 2026 schedules will be released by the league Monday.
SIGNINGS TO DATE
- Nov. 6: Ryan Rijo
- Dec. 3: Hayden Jaco, Adam Odd, Noah Hull, Braeden Pakkala
- Dec. 5: Frank Garcés, Carlos Sano
- Dec. 8: Francisco Hernandez
- Dec. 16: Juan Benítez
- Dec. 18: Nolan Machibroda
