Baycats Sign Aquino for 2021 Season

BARRIE - The Barrie Baycats Baseball Club announced today that we have signed starting pitcher Jayson Aquino for the 2021 season.

Aquino, 28, joins the Baycats after an eight-year pro career that saw him reach the majors in 2016 and 2017 for the Baltimore Orioles. 

In a combined seven major league appearances, Aquino started in two games, going 1-2 with an earned run average of 6.32.

Aquino -- who was ranked as the Colorado Rockies ninth-best prospect in 2013 -- made the DSL All-Star Team in 2010 as a member of the Rockies organization before making the Double-A All-Star Team in 2016 as a member of the Orioles organization. 

Having also spent time in the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations, the San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic native has a fastball that touches as high 96 mph and a slider that averages out at 85 mph, to go along with a curveball and changeup that averages out at 77 and 81 mph respectively.

An owner of a perfect game in 2010 while pitching for the DSL Rockies, the southpaw has appeared in a lifetime 157 games in the minors, rocking a career earned run average of 3.36 in 150 starts.

Aquino -- who was recruited by Baycats Director of Player Procurement Dante DeCaria -- most recently pitched for the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association in 2018 before signing with the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League in 2019.

The owner of a stellar 2.86 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his minor league career, Aquino will become the fourth major leaguer to suit up for the Baycats when he makes his debut this spring, joining former Blue Jay Paul Spoljaric, former Houston Astro and Cincinnati Red Enerio Del Rosario, and former San Diego Padre Frank Garces.

Baycats manager Josh Matlow said he is thrilled to have locked down his ace for the 2021 season.

"Jayson is as big of a signing as we can get. With Major league experience he will not only be an instant ace and impactful piece on the mound, but a mentor to our younger arms. With Andres Sotillo catching, we feel this could be the best battery in the IBL, arguably of all time. We are excited for what Jayson brings to the organization and look like forward to seeing him pitch in 2021.”

Below, you can watch highlights from Aquino's first major league win in 2016 against the Boston Red Sox.

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