By IAN WILSON

It was a smashing success.

No records were safe in the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) this summer.

Indeed, more records were blown up in the WCBL in 2026 than at Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1979.

Well, maybe not THAT many records, but there were several significant milestones achieved in a number of statistical categories this year.

New single-season benchmarks were established for individual home runs, runs batted in (RBI), stolen bases, runs, doubles and strikeouts.

Here’s a closer look at the record-smashing performances and the statistical leaders from around the league during the regular season.

HOMER HIRO

Third baseman Jake Hiromoto put his power on full display for the Swift Current 57’s. The hammerin’ Hawaiian’s 22 long balls made him the league’s new home run king, with his tater total eclipsing that of Riley MacDonald, who knocked out 20 round trippers with the Brooks Bombers in 2018.

Hiromoto finished well ahead of the pack when it came to the long ball. Frankie Giacolone of the Medicine Hat Mavericks launched 14 bombs, while Ethan Murdoch (Saskatoon Berries) and Erick Ballenilla (Brooks Bombers) also had 14 homers to finish in a three-way tie for second place in that category.

Hiromoto was about way more than the home runs though. The University of San Francisco sophomore established a new high in RBI in the WCBL by driving in 77 runs over 56 games played. That RBI production blew past the previous record of 66, set by Kaleb Warden of the Lethbridge Bulls in 2019 and later tied by William Edwards of the Moose Jaw Miller Express in 2025. Brady Bye, third baseman with the Regina Red Sox, was the RBI runner up this season, with 67 runs produced.

Hiromoto also fell one hit shy of the single-season high by getting 89 knocks. Tristan Peters of the Okotoks Dawgs set the record of 90 hits in 2019 and Dawson Tweet – aided by a 36-game hitting streak with the Miller Express – equaled that number in 2023.

The Mitchell Field masher inserted his name all over the offensive leaderboards of the WCBL. Hiromoto’s on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) was tops on the circuit at 1.227, and he was among the best hitters for batting average (.394), runs (65), and doubles (17). In addition, Hiromoto registered a .457 on-base percentage, 20 walks and 11 stolen bases in 226 at bats for Swift Current.

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SWIPING SOTO

Thomas Soto also etched his name in the record books in a couple of different places.

The veteran shortstop and leadoff hitter with the Moose Jaw Miller Express has been a bag-swiping bandit and a run-scoring rascal.

Soto easily raced past the stolen base record of 42, which was set by Braden DeSonia of the Medicine Hat Mavericks in 2022. The switch hitter from Round Rock, Texas pushed that mark to 49 steals in his 56 games atop the Moose Jaw lineup. Soto and his teammate, Ben Waliczek, formed a one-two punch on the base paths for the Miller Express, with Waliczek finishing in second spot in stolen bases with 34.

The middle infielder also added to his WCBL legend status by besting his own record for runs scored. Soto registered 70 runs last year and he touched home plate another 75 times in 2026.

It was all part of a highly productive campaign for Soto, who led the league in plate appearances (278) while drawing 41 walks, manufacturing 47 RBI, smacking 17 doubles, recording 80 hits and getting on base at a .469 clip.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

He’s been pacing the offence in Medicine Hat all year, and now Carter Roth has a record to prove it.

The 2026 WCBL All-Star Game MVP smacked 24 doubles this season to overtake Aidan Stinnett and his 23 doubles with the Miller Express from 2014.

Roth has been magnificent with the Mavs through his two seasons with the club. In 56 games this summer, the infielder turned in a .359 batting average, .402 on-base percentage, 49 runs, 46 RBI, seven home runs and five stolen bases over his 245 at bats. The Ontario native also finished with 88 hits, one less than Hiromoto.

Roth’s teammate, Johnny Vulcano, set a couple of career franchise records for the Mavericks this year, including games played (188) and doubles (47). Vulcano sits second all-time in team hits (197) and runs (130).

BERRIES BATTING CHAMP

Gael Salinas had to fend off a pair of Okotoks Dawgs for the title of 2026 WCBL batting champion, but the infielder from Mexico came through with an unbeatable .419 batting average.

In his 54 games with the Saskatoon Berries, Salinas had a .523 on-base percentage, 69 runs, 88 hits, 60 RBI, 18 doubles, six home runs and six stolen bases. The Frontier Community College student was also hit by pitches 29 times in 2026. The record for being struck by the most pitches in a single WCBL season belongs to Matt Wolff of the Brooks Bombers, who was plunked 33 times in 2022.

Just behind Salinas in the batting average race were Cal Gates, who hit .407 with 33 stolen bases this year for the Dawgs. Connor Crowson out of Okotoks posted a .400 batting average while scoring 51 runs, producing 33 RBI and stealing 11 bases. The 2025 Most Outstanding Canadian in the WCBL had the highest on-base percentage (.539) in the league and finished second in OPS (1.139) behind Hiromoto.

WALK THIS WAY

Kalem Haney, an outfielder and infielder with the Lethbridge Bulls, displayed tremendous patience at the plate this year.

The senior with the University of Mary Marauders drew a league-best 45 walks while batting .333 with a .476 on-base percentage. The lefty batter also led the Bulls in runs (51), hits (61), RBI (41) and stolen bases (20).

Evan Morrison of the Mavs was issued 42 bases on balls this summer, followed by Soto, who got 41 free passes.

TRIPLE THREAT

Hudson Unger led the circuit in triples, collecting six during the season. In 44 games with the 57’s, Unger batted .379 with 44 runs, 38 RBI, nine homers, 22 walks and seven stolen bases.

Three players finished tied behind Unger with four triples, including Lance Anderson (Regina Red Sox), Chris Franks (Moose Jaw Miller Express) and Carson Young (Fort McMurray Giants).

LIKE RIDING A BIKE

Three batters hit for the cycle this year, achieving the feat of collecting a single, double, triple and home run in the same game.

Aidan Dougherty hit a natural cycle – collecting all four different hits in order – during a 14-3 win for the Dawgs over the Giants on June 26th in Fort McMurray. Dougherty went 4-for-5 with five RBI and a stolen base in that matchup.

Robert Gurney recorded a cycle for the Weyburn Beavers during a visit to Mitchell Field in Swift Current on July 21st. During that outing, Gurney went 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs in a 21-2 romp over the 57’s. That was the first cycle in franchise history.

The third cycle of the season took place at Spitz Stadium in Lethbridge on Aug. 1st when Charlie Collins of the Sylvan Lake Gulls went off with a 4-for-4 performance that included three runs scored and a pair of RBI. The big day for the Melbourne, Australia native provided the Gulls with their first cycle in team history.

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TEXAS-SIZED 10-4

It’s been all systems go for 6-foot-5 righthander Westin Walls this summer.

The towering Texan was an absolute workhorse for the Moose Jaw Miller Express and that showed in the results, which included a 6-1 record during the season.

Walls led the WCBL in innings pitched (82.1) and he also set a new single-season record in strikeouts, with 92. The previous high of 91 Ks was set by Sylvan Lake Gulls pitcher Josh Tucker in 2022.

Southpaw Jacob Glazener, also a member of the Miller Express rotation, led the league in wins after going 8-2 in 60 innings, and he finished second in strikeouts with 72 punchouts.

BULLPEN BEASTS

The saves leader in the WCBL was Nathan Pisio, a Moose Jaw product who took the bump for his hometown Miller Express.

In his second season with the Millers, the right-handed closer went 3-0 with seven saves, a 2.08 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 21.2 innings.

Brayden Stewart of the Gulls finished in second in the league with five saves. He posted a 2.32 ERA and racked up 55 strikeouts in his 31 innings on the mound.

Lucas Huynh also picked up five saves in just 10.1 innings of work. The reliever with the Lethbridge Bulls went 2-0 with nine strikeouts and did not allow a run this season.