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Victoria HarbourCats – Busy day for former HarbourCats as MLB draft concludes

Published

4 months ago

on

July 16, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a full handful of Victoria HarbourCats turning pro as the Major League Baseball draft wrapped up on Tuesday.

Four players were drafted and one signed a free-agent contract — two of those players off the current WCL team roster.

Highlighting the group is outfielder Lucas Ramirez, selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 17th round. The son of perennial all-star and World Series MVP Manny Ramirez, who has been living in Victoria all summer with his family, had a scholarship to attend powerhouse Tennessee this fall but is expected to sign and head to Tempe, AZ, and the Angels team in the Arizona Complex League as the 18-year-old starts his pro journey.

Lucas Ramirez in action for the HarbourCats against the Redmond Dudes (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Memorable left-handed pitcher Ryan Magdic, a real fan favourite in 2023, was picked by the Oakland A’s in the 14th round — a power pitcher with tremendous upside. At 6-5/240, the Ontario product will get a strong look from that organization.

Also selected was right-handed pitcher Sean Heppner of UBC, who starred for the HarbourCats in 2023 as a powerful starting pitcher, tabbed by the Cleveland Guardians in the 12th round — where he will be an organizational teammate of former HarbourCats right-hander Cade Smith, who is one of the top rookie bullpen arms in the game. Smith was the opening day starter for the HarbourCats in 2019.

Pitcher Hunter Omlid, remembered for his stellar work in the 2019 WCL playoff run to the final game, was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th and final round.

Catcher Connor Dykstra, a product of Chilliwack and George Mason University, agreed to a free-agent deal moments after the draft, inked by the Seattle Mariners.

Connor Dykstra showed off his rocket of an arm on a consistent basis for the HarbourCats this season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“We are immensely proud of these players, their hard work and dedication to the game and to our program when they were wearing our uniform,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “These are tremendous young men, each has their own story and it’s one of excellence and high achievement. We hope they all make the steps to reach the MLB level and join the six players we have already produced since the HarbourCats landed in 2013.”

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – You’re Invited! Christmas Open House, November 28-29

Published

1 day ago

on

November 19, 2024

By

Please join us as we usher in the Holiday Season with our annual Christmas Open House!

When:  Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29
Time: 12 Noon to 7 PM each day
Where: HarbourCats office 101-1814 Vancouver Street. 

Come by to say hello and enjoy some hot cider and other beverages and snacks and talk about our upcoming 2025 season!

Plenty of merchandise on hand for the HarbourCats fan on your Christmas list – all at 20% off for the month of November!  Plus plenty of HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide items available on our special $10.00 clearance rack!

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs will also be available for sale and as a special BLACK FRIDAY bonus, we will throw in a free-gift with the purchase of any 10-pack or season ticket package.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

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Summer Collegiate

A top-end catcher and four arms to throw strikes to him make up the latest signings for the Nanaimo NightOwls.

Published

2 days ago

on

November 19, 2024

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Wirthgen has MLB bloodlines as the nephew of former MLB slugger and manager Phil Nevin, the first overall pick in the 1992 draft who played for six teams and hit 41 home runs for the Padres in 2001 as part of a 1,200-game career. A strong defensive catcher with power potential, Wirthgen played in the Alaska summer league in 2024.

 

Teper, also from D1 powerhouse Cal Baptist, is an aviation major who plans to fly planes once his days in pro baseball are over. The lefty will be counted on in key situations this summer, and made 11 appearances, including three starts, in the Alaska league in 2024.

 

Three players will arrive from the University of Pikeville, where they play for new NightOwls coach Cody Andreychuk — including returning lefty Richtter Castillo, a Venezuelan fan favorite who pitches with a lot of emotion and did strong work out of the bullpen for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller in 2024. Castillo was 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings.

 

Shaye McTavish, a Canadian addition from Lethbridge, has been a starter at UPike and in the Western Canada summer league. Schultz, another power arm from Lethbridge, has summer experience in the WCBL in Swift Current and is developing into a high leverage righty for Andreychuk.

 

Season tickets and 10packs are available for 2025 and information can be found by emailing GM Tina Cornett — tina@nanaimonightowls.com

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The Cody Andreychuk era of the Nanaimo NightOwls now has a schedule to work with

Published

7 days ago

on

November 14, 2024

By

The West Coast League’s 2025 regular season schedule has been announced, and the new Head Coach, a product of the Nanaimo system, can start to plan all the details needed to make the playoffs and a run at the WCL championship.

The NightOwls will open at home in 2025, on Friday, May 30, vs. the Bellingham Bells, the start of a three-game series at historic Serauxmen Stadium that continues with games Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

 

The team again plans a Canada Day fireworks show on the evening of July 1, with the arch rival Victoria HarbourCats as the opposition.

 

General Manager Tina Cornett and staff are already working on promotional dates that will span the entire season, giving extra reasons for fans to enjoy the sunshine, the down-home concessions and the outstanding baseball played in the WCL.

 

The NightOwls will play 27 road games, 27 regular season home games, and no fewer than five additional home games against non-league opponents, including the Caged Athletics Selects — a home city series that has been popular since the start of the NightOwls, with games on either side of the WCL all-star game.

 

Nanaimo’s fabled park will see visits from Bellingham, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, Port Angeles, Wenatchee, and the first-ever visit by the South Division powerhouse Corvallis Knights.

 

The regionalized WCL schedule NightOwls will make road trips to division rivals Victoria, Bellingham, Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee and Port Angeles.

May 30th: Bellingham Bells – HOME
May 31st: Bellingham Bells – HOME
June 1st: Bellingham Bells – HOME
June 3rd: Port Angeles Lefties – AWAY
June 4th: Port Angeles Lefties – AWAY
June 5th: Port Angeles Lefties – AWAY
June 6th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME
June 7th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME
June 8th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME
June 10th: Victoria HarbourCats – HOME
June 11th: Victoria HarbourCats – HOME
June 12th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY
June 13th: Kelowna Falcons – AWAY
June 14th: Kelowna Falcons – AWAY
June 15th: Kelowna Falcons – AWAY
June 17th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY
June 18th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY
June 19th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY
June 20th: Port Angeles Lefties – HOME
June 21st: Port Angeles Lefties – HOME
June 22nd: Port Angeles Lefties – HOME
June 27th: Edmonton Riverhawks – HOME
June 28th: Edmonton Riverhawks – HOME
June 29th: Edmonton Riverhawks – HOME
July 1st: Victoria HarbourCats – HOME
July 2nd: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY
July 3rd: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY
July 4th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY
July 5th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY
July 6th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY
July 8th: Kelowna Falcons – HOME
July 9th: Kelowna Falcons – HOME
July 10th: Kelowna Falcons – HOME
July 11th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME
July 12th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME
July 13th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME
July 18th: Wenatchee AppleSox – AWAY
July 19th: Wenatchee AppleSox – AWAY
July 20th: Wenatchee AppleSox – AWAY
July 22nd: Corvallis Knights – HOME
July 23rd: Corvallis Knights – HOME
July 24th: Corvallis Knights – HOME
July 25th: Kamloops NorthPaws – AWAY
July 26th: Kamloops NorthPaws – AWAY
July 27th: Kamloops NorthPaws – AWAY
July 29th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY
July 30th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY
July 31st: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY
Aug 1st: Kamloops NorthPaws – HOME
Aug 2nd: Kamloops NorthPaws – HOME
Aug 3rd: Kamloops NorthPaws – HOME
Aug 4th: Bellingham Bells – AWAY
Aug 5th: Bellingham Bells – AWAY
Aug 6th: Bellingham Bells – AWAY

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