Baycats Re-Sign Outfielder Justin Groves for 2026

Barrie, ON – The Barrie Baycats are pleased to announce the re-signing of outfielder Justin Groves for the 2026 Canadian Baseball League season.

A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Groves returns to Barrie after first joining the club during the 2025 season. After beginning that summer with the Hamilton Cardinals, he was picked up by the Baycats and saw game action with Barrie during the 2025 campaign, including an appearance in the postseason.

Groves has a pretty decorated collegiate career with the Humber Hawks (Humber Polytechnic), where he established himself as one of the top players in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. He was named the 2024 OCAA Player of the Year – becoming just the fourth player in program history to earn the honour – and was a two-time OCAA First-Team All-Star (2023, 2024). He also received the 2025 Humber Baseball MVP, Doug Fox Award of Distinction, and the Humber Leadership Award, highlighting both his on-field performance and impact in the clubhouse.

Over four collegiate seasons, Groves compiled a .354 career batting average with 62 RBI and 24 stolen bases, finishing his career ranked among Humber’s all-time leaders in RBI and stolen bases. His 2024 season was particularly historic, as he posted a .472 batting average, the fourth-highest single-season mark in program history.

A two-time OCAA silver medallist (2022, 2023), Groves built a reputation as a dynamic offensive contributor and high-energy presence, with the ability to impact the game both at the plate and on the basepaths.

Groves’ return to Barrie also reflects a significant recent development for the league. The Canadian Baseball League, in partnership with Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), now allows student-athletes to compete in the CBL without impacting their remaining collegiate eligibility in Canada. The agreement — similar to the models used by the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and Canadian Premier League (CPL) — creates new opportunities for players to continue their academic careers while playing professional baseball during the summer.

The Baycats open up their 2026 Canadian Baseball League campaign on May 14th at 7:38 pm at Athletic Kulture Stadium against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Get your tickets here