Majors gear up for 2026 with new team – in new league

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The London Majors have undergone a massive facelift over the offseason, welcoming scores of new players for the 2026 season – the first in the new Canadian Baseball League, which ushers in a new era of professional baseball in Ontario.

It’s been eight months since the London Majors were swept in the first round of last year’s IBL playoffs by the Guelph Royals, further removing themselves from their championship seasons of 2021 and 2022.

Roop Chanderdat, the team’s GM and field manager, wants to bring back that winning pedigree in 2026, the first year of the new Canadian Baseball League, now officially a pro circuit.

“You always want to be remembered for a championship,” he said. “First and foremost, that’s what we play for in London. Our goal is always a championship.” 

Getting back to the championship and winning a title in 2026, though, will require doing so with essentially a brand new squad. The Majors’ roster has a vastly new look with only six players returning from last year’s team, including starting pitchers Travis Keys and Victor Payano, reliever Skylar Janisse, catcher Eduardo De Oleo, infielder Kyle Maves, and outfielder Tucker Zdunich. 

The rest of the roster is new. 

What’s also new this year is the number of import players teams are allowed. In previous seasons, the maximum was five. With the birth of the CBL, that number has increased to eight. London currently has seven. Payano and De Oleo account for two. The others include pitchers Luis Perez and Cesilio Pimentel, outfielder Roberto Caro, shortstop Maikol Escotto, and infielder Jarrett Burney. And there’s a good chance they’ll sign an eighth.

Just because of the new rule change, the Majors weren’t dead set on signing the max, Chanderdat says. Rather, they went out looking for players who were good fits for the team.

“We knew we were allowed eight, but it wasn’t a matter of, ‘Let’s go get eight.’ It was a matter of, let’s see how we can best piece this together. If (a position) needs an import, we will. If it doesn’t, we want to go local Canadian.” 

* * *

It was a busy offseason for Chanderdat, recruiting and building his roster for the 2026 season. The search started with filling out the bullpen and the rest of the pitching staff before tackling position players. Chanderdat rounded out the bullpen with Canadian arm talent, while he leaned towards imports for the starting rotation.

In no particular order, the Majors’ starters include returnees Payano and local arm Keys, as well as two new imports – Perez and Pimentel. Janisse headlines the bullpen, which also includes Kade Douglas, Caleb Cassie, Dustin Davidson, Zac Laird and Alex Springer.

“The bullpen was first and foremost. Then go to the starting pitching, and then to the position players,” Chanderdat said. 

Among position players, the Majors have an abundance of versatility, with players who can handle multiple positions. While not set in stone, an infield will likely feature Escotto at shortstop, with Luis Jean and Burney playing third base and second base, respectively. Trent Lenihan, who hails from BC, will cover first base.

An outfield will likely feature import Caro in centrefield, with returnee Zdunich and newcomer Ryder Hancock handling the corner spots. Others in the mix for playing time – either in the infield or outfield – include Maves, David Draayers, Jaden Babiuk (also the backup catcher to De Oleo), Adam Thuss and Xavier Whittle.

In building the roster, Chanderdat, who has been at the helm since 2006, tapped into his many connections within the game, both within Canada and internationally. Over the years, he’s been able to grow a good network, which has allowed him to consistently find talent and connect with players who show an interest in joining the Majors. 

* * *

With the roster filled to his liking, the next question was cohesion and how a team with so many new players would be able to mesh well together. 

For Chanderdat, that meant re-stating Majors values. 

“The Majors have always had a good clubhouse,” he said. “It’s been a tight clubhouse. So, this year I’ve found I’ve had to just go back and reinforce my principles to the guys – hard work, dedication, respect. And we let that filter out from the returning guys.”

Janisse — who is the most tenured Major, along with De Oleo — has been instrumental in building that cohesion with the team, often taking up the task on his own without being asked. 

“I don’t want to say I lean on one (player) more than another, but Skylar is vocal, and he’s been around me. He’s been a good leader for the overall group.”

Chanderdat also notes that other returning players who have been key in getting the team ready for the year ahead include Payano and Zdunich, the latter in his second season with the Majors. Both have taken on a bit of a leadership role to help get the principles the skipper wants installed within the team.

So far, it’s worked, as Chanderdat feels there’s a sense of belonging within the team.

“You walk in the locker room, or on the field, and there aren’t little pockets of guys. It’s always different guys with each other, and they’re all together.”

* * *

The Majors played a pair of pre-season games the week of May 4, dropping both contests – first, a 7-5 decision against the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, and then a 9-7 defeat at the hands of the Kitchener Panthers. The results matter less than the preparation for the real games, although Chanderdat notes there are things the team needs to work on.

That includes mental “mistakes,” as Chanderdat refers to them, rather than errors.

“The last game, we had a couple of baserunning mistakes. So, we’re trying to minimize those.”

Newcomer Trent Lenihan — from White Rock, BC — has been a highlight for the team so far, doing what he was brought in to do: be an impact hitter.

Lenihan established himself as one of the greatest UBC Thunderbirds of all time over his collegiate career. In 198 contests, he totalled 33 home runs, 59 doubles, nine triples and 185 RBIs. In the game against the Barnstormers last week, he hit two home runs, highlighting that power.

“He’s got a big bat, I knew that coming in,” Chanderdat said. “But then you see it firsthand. And on top of that, he’s a super kid. And that’s probably the common denominator. He’s just a good guy.”

* * *

With more import players being allowed on each team this season, the maximum total will increase from 45 to 72 across the league.

The import rule followed a league overhaul that saw the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) come to an end and the Canadian Baseball League begin. It’s the same league, with a history dating back to 1919, but with a new name and a new status: the CBL no longer considers itself semi-professional but fully professional now.

With the CBL going fully pro, it means stricter rules and regulations around the league. That likely won’t affect the product that fans see on the field, but it’ll impact team owners and general managers, as there is now an official salary cap of $30,000 per month that teams need to adhere to.

The playoffs will also have a new format with only five teams making it rather than eight. The postseason will feature a one-game wild-card between the number four and five seeds to determine who gets the last spot. The first round will head straight into a best-of-seven series, which was previously reserved only for the championship final. 

Another change is the number of games, which will increase from 42 to 48 this year. All of these changes were done with the hope of making the league more attractive to more players, thus increasing the talent and skill level in the CBL. 

For his part, Chanderdat has already seen an increased interest in the league. 

“The quantity has definitely increased, the number of players that want to come,” the manager said. “Not just the overseas players, but the Canadian players.  Whether it’s eastern or western Canada, or in Ontario. They want to come here and play and see what it’s all about.” 

With the team put together, and spring training and exhibition games nearly wrapped up, the Majors can now focus on the season ahead as they look to reclaim the Jack & Lynne Dominico Cup. 

“In London, the goal is a championship,” Chanderdat said. “That’s what you always want to be remembered for.”