TORONTO, ON. – As we say goodbye to 2018, you can’t help but sense the sounds and smells of another Toronto Mets baseball season. One of the major signs that the baseball season is not that far away is the sighting of Hall of Fame writer Bob Elliott’s Top 100 Most Influential Canadians in baseball. 

Toronto Mets President, Ryan McBride has been a mainstay on the list for the last several years with 2018 being no different coming in at #87. 

87. Ryan McBride, Toronto Mets (87). 

Two ex-Mets were drafted in June: OF Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) who went in the third round from Kentucky to the Marlins and signed for $645,000 and OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) the 36th round to the New York Mets. Clarke didn’t sign and headed west to play for the Cal State Northridge Matadors. 

OF Zach Gardiner (Oakville, Ont.) and C-1B Ryan Leitch (Whitby, Ont.) are off the Marshall Thundering Herd, while OF Matt Turino (Toronto, Ont.) has transferred to Tennessee and OF-C Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) to Arkansas State. 

The 2018 season was a very successful one for the Toronto Mets on the field. The 14u Team led by Head coach Hugh Walters captured the Kent State Pastime Tournament Championship. Rich Leitch and his 17u Orange Team claimed the Platinum Bracket Championship at the Tournament of Champions Cincy Flames event. They were also able to capture the programs first CPBL Playoff Championship for the 17u Division. Less than 24 hours later Head Coach Darryl Reid and the 16u Orange team capped off an unbelievable season by winning the CPBL Championship with a remarkable 29-2 CPBL regular season and playoff record. 

The Toronto Mets continue to grow into one of Canada’s Premier baseball programs. McBride is quick to share the secret to the success of the program. “We have reached the level we have because of our people. That means everyone, coaches, staff, and of course our families.”  

The success of the Mets goes well beyond the wins and losses on the field. The development of the complete student athlete remains the top priority in the development plans. “We put together a complete program for our players, focusing on the development on and off the field,” says Darryl Reid, the programs Academic Coordinator. Reid goes on to add that, “We recognize that the importance of the athlete’s ability in the classroom is equally important to their success on the field.” 

In over a decade of accomplishments, it is hard to pick one moment or achievement that stands out above the rest. McBride states, “the most satisfying and gratifying part of this is watching our players move on to the next level and have continued success both on and off the field.” Moving on to the next level is an area in which the Mets have been extremely successful. Since 2004, there have been more than 150 student athletes placed at various Colleges and Universities across the United States. 

It is a tremendous honour for a Canadian baseball player to be named to the National Junior Team. Over the years there have been 41 players to get the call from Junior National Team Head Coach Greg Hamilton. Most recently, Daniel Carinci, Denzel Clarke, and Keegan Pulford-Thorpe helped Canada bring home a Bronze medal in the World Championship Qualifier in Panama.

The success for Toronto Met players does not stop at the Junior National Team. Every June, Major League Baseball holds their annual draft and the Mets Organization have been honoured to have 23 players selected in the MLB draft. In 2018, Tristan Pompey was selected by the Miami Marlins, and Denzel Clarke was taken by the New York Mets. 

The dream for the next crop of Toronto Mets continue into the New Year. Baseball Activities ramp up starting in January. Rich Leitch, the programs Director of Baseball Operations, puts together the complete Development program for all the Mets Athletes. “Our Program Coordinators are outstanding,” says Leitch, “the amount of planning and organizing that goes into each practice is second to none.”  This is evident by the successes that the Toronto Mets continue to have on the field. “We work on the things that happen in a baseball game the most,” adds Leitch. The plans seem to be working for the Toronto Mets players.

Like every successful organization, the planning never stops for McBride and his staff. Most notably, Out of the Parks Sports, the Mets Indoor Training Facility, has seen a significant progress to accommodate the growing program. Since their opening in 2012, OPS have grown to six batting cages, a 3600 sq ft pitching room, and a full-sized weight room. “I am really excited about the immediate changes we have made and for the ones to come in the months and years ahead,” says McBride. Most recently, OPS have seen construction of a new parent lounge, offices, and front entrance reception.  

With the 2019 CPBL season just four months away, the Mets are excited to see what the new year will have in store for them. Four months of planning from our coaches, four months of dedication from our athletes, and four months of driving from our parents, the 2019 season is sure to be another successful year for the Toronto Mets.

PreGame Athletics