The revamped, renewed and rejuvenated Guelph Royals are also rearmed.
The Royals, who return to the Intercounty Baseball League this season after folding early last season, are planning to bring in five players from the Dominican Republic as the team completely rebuilds its roster.
Four of them are pitchers: Edwin Adon Javier, Jorge Luis De La Cruz Paez, Yomar Flande Conception and Yunior Juan Yambatis. All right handers. Shortstop Narciso Avila Padilla is the fifth Dominican player.
New manager Dave teBoekhorst visited the Dominican Republic and conducted a tryout for about 20 players.
“Fingers crossed,” said teBoekhorst on the arrival of the five imports.
“We’re just going through the visa process right now. They (Canadian immigration) just need a little bit more info. We sent it all two days ago and I’m hoping to hear something the beginning of next week.”
Four of the five players played for the Dominican Republic military team. They’re all in their mid-to-late 20s.
TeBoekhorst said the players are eager to come to Guelph.
“They’re so pumped. They text me everyday, super excited,” he said.
“A lot of these guys have never been outside their own town other than to play baseball so they’re really, really eager to come see a new country.”
They don’t speak much English and teBoekhorst doesn’t speak much Spanish.
“My daughter used to watch Dora the Explorer and that’s as much Spanish as I’ve ever had,” teBoekhorst said.
He said that he doesn’t really get people who criticize teams in the IBL for bringing in imports.
“You can’t tell me that imports don’t make this league better. They’re so good for the league,” he said.
“I know people want to see home-grown talent, but the honest-to-goodness truth is that some of the Canadians are just not as good as the Dominican players.”
The Royals pitching needed to be addressed, teBoekhorst said.
“Pitching is always the thing in every league. Every single great team, whether it be the major leagues or the Intercounty league, it always takes dynamite pitching to win championships,” teBoekhorst said.
The Royals have also announced the home opener has been pushed back.
They were supposed to play at Hastings Stadium on May 12 but poor field conditions have caused that game to be rescheduled.
They now open on the road in Toronto on May 13 and play their home opener on May 26th against London.
The team is looking to be a contender this season after finishing in last place in three of the past four seasons prior to the year off.
The Royals haven’t been above .500 since 2012 and havent won a league title since 2004.
Only two teams - Barrie and Brantford - have won the championship over the last nine years.
The batting lineup was boosted earlier this year by the signing of three players, with all-time Inter County home run leader Sean Reilly, slugging first baseman Justin Interisano and former all-star Josh Garton all returning to the team.
David Hatt, a one-time Royal who played in Brantford the past few years, is also back in Guelph.
