DeLong returns to IBL's London Majors
The London Majors have signed right-handed pitcher Mike DeLong. Photo: London Majors
June 11, 2021
Official London Majors News Release
London, Ontario - The London Majors have signed right-handed pitcher Mike DeLong.
The Windsor, Ont., native returns to the Majors after being a part of their 2009 to 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018 rosters. The soon-to-be 33-year-old will bring veteran leadership to the Majors’ pitching staff this season.
In 2014 and 2015, Delong toed the rubber in 25 games in the PECOS, Frontier and PCAC pro leagues and accumulated 68 strikeouts in 61 innings. During his time with the Majors, he was just under a strikeout per inning having fanned 17 in 19 1/3 innings.
He has recently been in the news with the success of his good friend and Chicago White Sox MLB player Yermin Mercedes.
"I'm honoured and blessed to be given the opportunity to continue pitching at a high competitive level,” said DeLong of returning to the Majors. “Looking forward to pitching for Coach Roop [Chanderdat], who has been like a father figure to me over the years, and looking forward to giving the city of London everything I have in the tank."
And Majors co-owner, manager and general manager Roop Chanderdat is looking forward to having him back.
“Mike DeLong is a fierce competitor and his presence will be good for the Majors,“ said Chanderdat. “He is a power pitcher that goes at the hitters and he attacks the strike zone.”
The London Majors are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. The 100-year old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world, with the league established in 1919, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind.