News: Former Ace Jose Arias returning to London for 2024

The London Majors are pleased to announce the signing of veteran starting pitcher Jose Arias, who starred for the team in 2022 before giving pro ball another shot last season.

Two seasons ago, Arias went 10-2 with a pristine 1.56 ERA for the Majors in his London debut. In 15 games (14 starts), he struck out a league-leading 132 batters in 97 2/3 innings, setting a Majors franchise mark in the process. Arias and Owen Boon made up the league’s best 1-2 punch that season, which ended in a London championship.

That offseason, the 6-foot-5 right-hander from Santiago, Dominican Republic played in the Nicaraguan Winter League, where he went 3-1 in seven starts and struck out 33 in 34 2/3 innings for the Gigantes de Rivas. In 2023, he played in Venezuela for Marineros de Carabobo, and in Columbia for Tigres de Cartagena.

“Jose is a professional pitcher with lots of experience that will be a great addition to our starting rotation,” said Roop Chanderdat, the Majors’ GM and field manager. “He works hard on and off the field to be ready to compete at a high level, and his work ethic is contagious. He’s a leader with the way he goes about his craft.”

In his earlier days, Arias was a prospect in the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins systems, pitching parts of six seasons from 2010 to 2015 – serving both as a starter and as a reliever. In 241 1/3 career innings in affiliated ball, the right-hander produced 244 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA.

In his first stint in London, two summers ago, he was crucial to the team winning its second straight pennant – and defending its IBL title from a year earlier. Arias was named top right-hander on the IBL’s second all-star team that season.

“It’s an honour for me to play again with the Majors,” Arias said about his decision to return to the Forest City. “This is a great place for me, and I want to help this team win another championship.”

About the London Majors

The London Majors are a proud member of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), the top-level summer league in Canada. Established in 1919, the IBL boasts ex-professional and elite NCAA college baseball players. The Majors’ most recent success was winning back-to-back league titles in 2021 and 2022. The team plays at historic Labatt Memorial Park, the world’s oldest continually operating baseball grounds. For more information, visit www.londonmajors.com or follow the Majors on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok at @Londonmajors

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