CBL's Guelph Royals re-sign Leader

The Canadian Baseball League’s Guelph Royals have re-signed outfielder Andy Leader (Kitchener, Ont.). Photo: Guelph Royals

March 27, 2026

Official Guelph Royals News Release

GUELPH - The Guelph Royals have re-signed outfielder Andy Leader for the 2026 season.

Leader, 28, returns for his third season with the team and for his ninth in the IBL/CBL.

Throughout his first eight seasons in the league, the Kitchener, Ont., native has been selected to the All-IBL Team three times (2021, 2022, and 2023) and has a lifetime average of .284 with 26 home runs and 33 stolen bases.

The Canisius alum joined the Royals during the 2024 season and made an immediate impact, hitting the biggest home run in two decades for the team in game five of the 2024 semifinals against the Welland Jackfish, when he hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the winner-take-all game.

Royals assistant general manager Ryan Eakin said he expects Leader to have a big year.

"What I love about Andy is no matter what was happening at the plate, he remained a great teammate throughout and gave us a ton of value defensively. It allows him to have such a high floor. This sport is a cruel game of failure at the plate, but the best part is he has the same batting average as everyone else in the league in 2026. I'm excited for Andy and the fresh start he'll have at the plate."