The Intercountry Baseball League (IBL) has officially announced the league will become a professional league next season.
The league will also be rebranding to the Canadian Baseball League (CBL) other the many changes.
The regular season has been extended by six games, from 42 to 48. The playoff format has also been changed as now only the top five teams will qualify for the postseason, rather than eight.
The league said in a statement that the change comes after “Fan interest in our league has exploded to historic levels.” This year the league broke it’s
The scoreboard sign at Labatt Park (Logan Libiec/XFM News)
attendance record with over 240,000 fans at games this past season.
The league also credits the quality of baseball for the need to change, as 64 players with experience in the MLB or Minor League Baseball played in the final season under the IBL name.
Justin Koehler, a broadcast host with the London Majors and reporter and anchor for 570 NewsRadio, says that the transition to a professional league will change the way teams sign players to contracts.
“Because they go pro, they actually have to offer more standardized contracts to these players, where in years prior, it was kind of more either flat rates or this much per game, yada, yada, yada. They actually have to have set length contracts that they’re offering these players now, and they have to offer full medical supports now on top of an actual structured contract,” Koehler said.
Another factor that’s become more of a part of the league over time has been international signings. Koehler also said that the change to pro will add opportunities for international players.
“I know a few teams were starting to hit a wall on just not having enough roster space for these international players. And with them going pro, I believe it actually gives them more roster space, I think up to eight players for international signings,” Koehler said.
The now CBL has been running since 1919, while the Majors have been competing since 1925. The league said in their statement that despite this new direction “The history of the Intercounty Baseball League will continue to be carried forward in every respect.”
Update: As of Nov. 27 the Guelph Royals have officially been put up for sale by owner Shawn Fuller with a price tag of 750,000 dollars. Koehler told XFM News the team were likely one of the voices against the move to professional baseball.
