The 2026 season marked a new chapter in London Majors history as the franchise transitioned from the Intercounty Baseball League to the new Canadian Baseball League (CBL).
The Majors adjusted to the new league with ease. They started off strong and stayed competitive throughout the season. The team finished with a record of 31-17, securing the second playoff seed and their third-best season record in their franchise 100-year history.
Evan Fredrickson, a news writer for the Majors, said, “When it comes to having a baseball team, you have to have pitching, good hitting, consistent hitting, playing good defence and having a good bullpen, and the Majors really had all of those.”
Over the 48-game season, the team was strong offensively. Majors led the league in batting average, on-base plus slugging percentage and home runs, hitting 58 over the season.
Roop Chanderdat, co-owner and field manager for the London Majors, said, “We’re playing in one of the biggest parks in the league, and we still put up good power numbers and home runs.”
Chanderdat expects the total would be higher if the team played their home games in some of the smaller ballparks in the CBL.
London Majors infielder Maikol Escotto had a record-breaking season.
Escotto was the main offensive force for the team, putting up numbers this organization had not seen in decades. He broke franchise records for most hits (82) and most home runs (16) in a season.
When asked about Escotto, Chanderdat said, “He had a phenomenal season, MVP-type season…I think he’s the MVP of the league.”
Chanderdat said Escotto excels both offensively and defensively and has shown growth as a leader both on and off the field. He feels he is one of the best players he has coached during his time with the Majors.
The Majors pitching staff posted strong numbers all season. The rotation finished second in the league with an earned-run average of 4.27 and walks-plus-hits-per-innings-pitched at 1.33.
The London Majors started strong in the semifinals winning their first two games against the Welland Jackfish 6-5 and 5-4. However, the Jackfish won the next four games of the series to eliminate the London Majors from the playoffs.
Fans across the Canadian Baseball League were part of the action. The CBL recorded attendance of over 290,000 fans. The Welland Jackfish, the London Majors, and Hamilton Cardinals were the top three teams drawing the most fans per game. This is great news for players, sponsors and the league itself. The strong attendance could be encouraging for future expansion.
The Majors organization have already began planning for the 2027 season. The team has started recruiting and scouting for next season. Chanderdat mentions that baseball talent is important, but that’s not the only quality he looks for. He knows things like leadership, fan engagement and community involvement are key factors when selecting the next London Major player.
As the ink dries on the record books, fans now look ahead to 2027 and can only hope for another successful season.
Want to hear more of the story, find the London Majors podcast on Almost 107: The London Majors have a record-breaking season in the new Canadian Baseball League
