Program Overview
About our program
The Ontario Nationals Baseball Club is pleased to offer a highly competitive baseball program for our athletes which includes summer league and tournament play, fall baseball, and offseason training in the Winter and early Spring.
Program Overview
SUMMER: CPBL LEAGUE PLAY
Once diamonds reopen, usually in mid- to late-April, the Nationals head back outdoors and continue to prepare for the demands of the CPBL season which runs from the beginning of May to the beginning of August. CPBL players are the best of the best in Ontario baseball. The League is currently comprised of eleven organizations, most of which field teams in all divisions, 13U-18U.
Most league play takes place as double headers on Saturday and Sunday of each week through the summer season. There is usually one weeknight practice (and a possible second practice depending on game schedules) each week. There are also occasional weeknight games at the older age groups (16U-18U).
In addition to regular league play, Nationals teams travel to the US to compete in various top level tournaments, many hosted by D1 colleges at some of the most impressive baseball facilities around.
autumn: Fall BALL & Trips
Our fall baseball season runs from Labour Day to mid-October. Fall ball gives players an opportunity to get in some extra reps before the snow flies and allows new players to get to know their teammates for the upcoming summer season. It provides Ontario Nationals staff with the opportunity to observe and evaluate our players which allows them to identify player strengths and areas of opportunity for offseason training. The fall ball season is usually comprised of around 15 games (weather permitting), with all games being played in Ontario.
Our organization also offers two fall trips: One trip to Georgia for development work with our partners, Team Elite, and one US College Tour trip exclusively for our 17U and 18U players.
We also provide players opportunities to participate in Ontario Nationals showcase days and games through partnerships with organizations such as Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report. These showcases measure key baseball performance metrics to provide players with a baseline or update on their performance, as well as providing exposure to recruiting opportunities.
winter/spring: OFFSEASON & spring training
Beginning in November, Nationals players and staff begin our indoor offseason program which includes strength and conditioning, skills development, and position-specific training. Indoor instructor-led sessions take place three to four days per week. These sessions focus on group and individual instruction and aim to improve player performance through biomechanical refinements and repeated execution. As spring approaches, training focus shifts to get players game-ready in anticipation of the upcoming CPBL season. The highlight of our offseason training program is our March Break trip to the Southern US to participate in Spring Training programs.
year-round: Strength and Conditioning
We are proud to have world-class coordinators, coaches, and certified strength trainers guiding our baseball-specific strength and conditioning program. Strength and conditioning is a year-round activity for our athletes which varies in frequency and intensity to complement regular and fall baseball season activities.
athlete rest periods
While our program is structured to provide opportunities for development and game play throughout the year, we know rest is important for physical and mental health. We always ensure that athletes have brief rest periods in between seasons to offload, enjoy vacation or other activities, and spend time with friends and family. These rest periods typically take place after between the Summer and Fall seasons in August, between Fall Ball and Offseason training in late October/early November, and in late December during the holiday season.
sHOWCASES
In partnership with top showcase organizations such as Prep Baseball Report and Perfect Game, we hold and attend various showcases and tournaments throughout the year. These showcases provide our players with verified metrics using the latest technology, as well as provincial, national and international rankings and exposure to facilitate college recruitment and draft opportunities.
Provincial and National Teams
The Nationals program fully supports our athletes playing on both the Ontario Youth Team and the Junior National Team. We maintain great relationships with the management and coaching staff for both of these teams because we continue to produce athletes that meet the highest performance standards.
Scholarships and Drafts
The Nationals program has been extremely successful at producing quality players who have received scholarships (U.S. and Canadian) or have been drafted. While we don't "guarantee" that your athlete will receive a scholarship, we do whatever we can to provide our players with opportunities to develop and showcase their skills through training, tournaments, and showcases.
Scholarship or draft offers are based on a combination of skill/ability, projection, and fit for the College or the MLB team. It is not often communicated to parents, but most US colleges (i.e., 4-year schools) do not typically offer full scholarships for baseball. This means that even if a player is offered an athletic scholarship, it is usually a partial ride. Some US colleges are able to provide further financial support by way of academic scholarships which is part of the reason why we continue to put a strong emphasis on academic performance throughout high school for our athletes. For athletes who wish to play college ball but remain in Canada, there are also many great options to play in Canada at some universities with strong post-secondary programs.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQ page or use our Contact page to reach out.
