CBL's Barrie Baycats re-sign Garcés
The Canadian Baseball League’s Barrie Baycats have re-signed ace left-hander Frank Garcés. Photo: Barrie Baycats
December 23, 2025
Official Barrie Baycats News Release
Barrie, Ont. — The Barrie Baycats are proud to announce the return of veteran left-handed pitcher Frank Garcés, one of the most accomplished and decorated arms in recent franchise history.
A native of San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic, Garcés brings elite international and professional experience back to Barrie. He has pitched parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres in 2014 and 2015, while also spending more than a decade competing in elite winter leagues across Latin America. Garcés has appeared in eight of the past nine seasons in the Dominican Winter League, including the last three seasons with the Gigantes del Cibao, with an additional season in the Venezuelan Winter League. He has also pitched multiple seasons in the Mexican League in 2019 and 2021.
Garcés’ impact in Barrie is historic. During his first stint with the Baycats in 2018, he delivered one of the most dominant pitching seasons the league has ever seen, posting a 0.38 ERA — the second-lowest in league history and the lowest since Bob Bodden in 1975 with the Brantford Red Sox. That season, Garcés went 7-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs, helping power Barrie to the 2018 championship during the club’s six-title run from 2014–2019.
Since returning to Barrie in 2022, Garcés has continued to anchor the Baycats’ rotation. In 2023, he emerged once again as the team’s ace, leading Barrie to the Intercounty Baseball League Finals. In 2024, he was a key part of the league’s best rotation as the Baycats went a perfect 10-0 in the postseason to capture the club’s eighth championship.
The 2025 season further cemented Garcés’ reputation as one of the league’s premier pitchers. He appeared in 14 regular-season games, finishing 5-3 with a 2.22 ERA and a league-leading 116 strikeouts, passing Victor Payano on the final day of the season. Garcés earned notable All-Star selections in both 2024 and 2025. In the 2025 showcase, he tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
When the stakes were highest, Garcés once again delivered. He went 2-1 in the 2025 playoffs, recording 44 strikeouts across five postseason appearances with a 3.00 ERA, helping guide the Baycats to a third straight Finals appearance and reinforcing his status as Barrie’s go-to big-game arm.
With his return, the Baycats add proven leadership, championship pedigree, and one of the most reliable left-handed pitchers in league history as they continue their pursuit of another title.
The Baycats open up their 2026 Canadian Baseball League campaign on May 14 at Athletic Kulture Stadium against the Toronto Maple Leafs.