Fitzpatrick: Eckstein returns to roots in Abbotsford
After spending six years with the Ontario Blue Jays as their president, Corey Eckstein is back with his hometown Abbotsford Cardinals, as the coach of their junior team. Corey Eckstein. Photo: Abbotsford Cardinals
March 13, 2026
By Trevor Fitzpatrick
Canadian Baseball Network
After spending six years with the Ontario Blue Jays as their president, Corey Eckstein is back in his hometown of Abbotsford.
The former Junior National Team member, Kansas City Royals scout and recent CBN Top 100 influential is back with the Abbotsford Cardinals as their junior team’s head coach.
“It’s nice to be back to my roots… our owner was pretty aggressive in terms of wanting me to come back (after parting ways with OBJ),” Eckstein explained with a chuckle.
His expertise returning to the club that he helped build from 2005 to 2020 comes when the team needs all the help that they can get.
The Cardinals find themselves in a tough situation – Delair Park and the team’s training facilities were heavily damaged by severe flooding in December, the second flood they’ve been hit with in the span of five years.
Delair Park, home of the Abbotsford Cardinals, was damaged severely in a flood in December. Photo: Abbotsford Cardinals
“We’re still dealing with that, it’s a different vibe out here for sure,” he said, “I lived here for 33 years and that’s never happened. We just can’t afford to have that happen again, we’re working with the city on a few different things.”
Despite the damages, Eckstein and the club are hoping to build off a very solid 2025 campaign. All three of the club’s levels (Bantam, Junior, and Premier) finished top three in their respective BCPBL standings.
Under Eckstein’s guidance, the junior squad will try to win their first BCJPBL title. Their season starts April 1 against the Whalley Chiefs.
“I’m at the point now where I’ve got people asking me, ‘how come you’re not coaching the senior team?’ I don’t mind the younger ages to be honest, they’re eager. They’ve got a lot to learn.”
Always an advocate for growth within Canadian baseball, Eckstein has also launched a new podcast called Eck Unfiltered this year. On it, he’ll be talking to coaches, players, and scouts about the landscape of Canadian baseball.
You can hear more about the podcast and his thoughts on Canadian high school baseball on the Canadian Baseball Network podcast, where Matt Betts recently chatted with him.
“Everything feels right,” Eckstein said, reflecting on the massive changes in his life recently. “I’d feel a lot better if my family was with me. They’re still in Toronto until the end of summer, so that’s been a challenge. My wife and I are making it work though, so all’s good on my end.”