The IBL’s most valuable player three years ago is bringing his talents to Hastings Stadium.
And by the end of 2024, another recent IBL MVP could be back in the fold with the Guelph Royals.
Garrett Takamatsu has signed with the Royals, after playing the last five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
“I coached him with the Ontario Blue Jays a few years ago,” Royals manager Dino Roumel said. “Always one of my favourite guys. We got along very well, we have a great relationship, had one when he was with Toronto. We always talked, not about playing here but just about life and things like that.
“We’ve always been close.”
In his MVP year, Takamatsu had a .419 batting average, including 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 38 RBI.
He also posted a .256 average in the 2021 playoffs, helping the Leafs to their first of two consecutive IBL Finals appearances.
Takamatsu left the Leafs in May 2022, and played 40 games with the Quebec Capitales in the Frontier League. He returned to the Leafs that season in a managerial role.
He returned to the Leafs lineup in mid-June last season, playing in 24 regular season games, but came up big in a four-game series win over Guelph – he was six-for-16 in the series, including a home run – before being eliminated in the second round by Welland.
Takamatsu asked and got his release from the Leafs after the 2023 run. Now, Roumel and the gang hope Takamatsu can translate his success to the Royals lineup.
“He’s one of the best hitters in the league,” Roumel said. “He automatically jumps into the cleanup spot for us, big RBI opportunities for the guys ahead of him and protects Josh Garton a little bit.”
On top of that, Roumel said he is another good character guy to add to the clubhouse.
“He’s friends with a lot of guys on the team, and it’s a good situation for him,” he said. “We’re so excited about it.”
As for where he’ll play, Roumel sees him either at first or second base, but not behind the dish as a catcher.
As for the team around him? The focus, at the moment, has been on the pitching staff, and has put some feelers into the fire for quality Canadian arms with plenty of velocity.
An area of need will be at catcher, and anticipates the four import signings will be “a last minute thing.”
“We’ve been in contact with a lot of guys. (Team owner) Shawn Fuller and I went to Japan for a tryout camp there. I’m going to head down to the Dominican over the course of the next couple weeks to look at some kids down there.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that are working with us, and we’re going to get some dynamic import players.”
He anticipates Japanese right-hander Yuki Narita will return, and is eyeing a couple options for the rest.
It could be a catcher and two pitchers, or three pitchers if the team can land a couple Canadian catchers.
Other returnees confirmed include Garton, Conner Morro and Brandon Deans.
JD Williams, he anticipates will be signed by the end of the week, and Darren Shred has a contract in hand.
Claudio Custodio, who won the league MVP in 2022, will not return.
“He’s in his early 30’s now, and you have an opportunity to make $15,000 or $20,000 a month (in Venezuela), and you have a young family at home,” Roumel said of his all-star ace. “It’s hard to turn down, even though he loves being up here.”
Guelph finished 19-23 last season, good for fifth in the league.
The Royals season starts May 17 on the road in Hamilton.
Guelph’s home opener will be the following night against Toronto.
