May 30th 2023
The partnership between the CPBL and Perfect Game has experienced tremendous growth over the past year and we are pleased to see our players receive the exposure they deserve on Canadian soil while also getting the opportunity to compete in the most prestigious events held in the US.
In 2023, the CPBL will again form an All-Prospect team for the 2024 class and below called Canadian Premier. This team will compete in the PG World Wood Bat Association Championship in Jupiter, FL from October 5th-9th. Additionally, an Underclass team composed of the 2025 class and below will be formed to compete in the PG World Wood Bat Association Underclass Championship in Fort Myers, FL from September 28th-October 2nd. This team will be known as Canadian Premier Underclass.
Today, we are proud to announce the coaching staffs for these clubs.
Canadian Premier
GM/Coach Jamie Romak
Coach Corey Eckstein
Coach Adam Stern
Coach Mike Steed
Returning as General Manager for both teams will be Jamie Romak who works to coordinate between league executives, MLB scouts, the Toronto Blue Jays Academy and Perfect Game to help bring together the league All Star Game rosters and ultimately both Canadian Premier teams. Romak enters his second year in the CPBL after a professional baseball career that saw him play in the MLB, NPB, KBO and for the Canadian National team.
Corey Eckstein, the President and Director of Player Development with the Ontario Blue Jays, will be a coach on both teams. Upon finishing his playing career with Vernon College, Eckstein began what has been a long tenure in Canadian baseball including coaching with the Canadian Junior National Team, scouting for the Kansas City Royals and building the Abbotsford Cardinals organization from the ground up.
Adam Stern, Director of Player Development with the Great Lake Canadians, joins the coaching staff for Canadian Premier. Stern’s playing career saw him attend the University of Nebraska before beginning a professional career where he played in the MLB for three organizations. The former Olympian, WBC player and long time National team member also scouts for the Kansas City Royals.
Mike Steed, Atlanta Braves Minor League pitching coach, also joins the Canadian Premier staff. Steed has a long track record in Canadian amateur baseball working in various Player Development roles as well as College Placement. He is currently the Pitching Coach for the Rome Braves, the Atlanta Braves High A affiliate and continues to work with the Ontario Blue Jays during their winter training season.
Canadian Premier Underclass
GM Jamie Romak
Coach Chris Robinson
Coach Jimmy Richardson
Coach Corey Eckstein
Coach Rich Leitch
Leading the inaugural coaching staff for the Canadian Premier Underclass team will be former MLBer Chris Robinson. A 3rd round pick of the Detroit Tigers out of the University of Illinois, Robinson was a staple on the Canadian National Team during his career in addition to being a ‘AAA’ All Star prior to debuting with the San Diego Padres. The CPBL President and Great Lake Canadians Director has also coached with the Canadian Junior National Team.
Jimmy Richardson, Director of Baseball Operations for the Fieldhouse Pirates and CPBL executive, joins the Underclass staff. Richardson’s playing days were spent at Durham College as an infielder, where he was a part of two teams that competed in the National Championship. For over a decade he has led the Pirates program and its player development.
Rich Leitch, the Vice President and Director of Baseball with the Toronto Mets and Secretary with the CPBL, also joins the Underclass staff. The Whitby, Ont. native attended and pitched at Lake Michigan College and Salem University before starting his coaching career following his playing days at Salem. He eventually rose to the head coach role at his alma mater before concluding his college coaching days as an assistant coach at Elkins College.
“The CPBL and Perfect Game continue to pursue opportunities for our players to compete against the very best of their peer group. These coaching staffs care deeply for Canadian baseball and we look forward to supporting the players of these teams as they chase their dreams this upcoming fall”.
– Jamie Romak