IBL's London Majors re-sign Fernandez

The Intercounty Baseball League’s London Majors have re-signed left-hander Fernando Fernandez (Mercier, Que.). Photo: London Majors

April 21, 2023

Official London Majors News Release

The London Majors have re-signed 2022 Intercounty Baseball League playoff MVP Fernando Fernandez.

During the 2022 regular season, the veteran left-hander collected 21 strikeouts in 23 innings in 12 games (two starts). But once the playoffs began it was a new season for the Mercier, Que., native. For the Majors in the post-season, Fernandez logged 20 2/3 innings in seven games, appearing in five of the six final games in the championship round. He started in Game 5 and allowed just three hits in five innings to give the Majors a chance to win the championship two nights later in Toronto.

In the final game, an improbable come-from-behind win by the Majors in Toronto (Game 6), Fernandez entered the game to record the most memorable save of his IBL career.

“Being (down) 7-0 is quite a mountain to climb,” recalled Fernandez of Game 6 of last year’s championship series with the Maple Leafs, “but one thing I can say about last year's team is that we never gave up. We trusted one another to get the job done and always gave ourselves a chance to win the game. It’s that same trust that gave us the win that night. I knew we were one hit away, one defensive play away from getting a spark and making our way back.”

Fernandez pitched the ninth inning and shut down the Maple Leafs to secure their second consecutive IBL championship.

“Seeing Kieran [Bowles] run towards me was pretty special for me! My first appearance with the team I didn’t do too well and he was behind the plate, after that game he said, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll find your groove,’ to have him on the very last game behind the plate and closing the season with the Majors being champions, couldn’t have been written better,” said Fernandez.

Roop Chanderdat, the Majors field boss and co-owner, is looking forward to having Fernandez back in 2023.

“Fernando was dominant in the playoffs,” said Chanderdat. “He is a pitcher I have a lot of trust in using in any situation. Once Fernando found his form last year, he was one of the elite pitchers in the league.”