Summer Collegiate
Former impact player for HarbourCats and Dawgs calls it a career
Photography by Christian J. Stewart
***
It wasn’t one of those lightning-bolt moments.
Michael Gretler’s decision to retire from professional baseball was more of an ongoing process. The former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect, who spent two formative summers playing on Canadian soil, listened to what his mind and body were telling him.
As hard as it was, he listened.
“It was definitely a decision I did not take lightly,” the 25-year-old said from his home in Seattle, just a short, scenic ferry ride away from Victoria, where he spent the 2015 summer season as a gem of a third baseman for the HarbourCats of the West Coast League. The following year, he took his talents to the Western Canadian Baseball League, where he claimed the most outstanding player award with the Okotoks Dawgs.
Michael Gretler was a standout third baseman for the Victoria HarbourCats in the summer of 2015.
“Baseball has done so much for me and it’s going to continue to be a part of my life but there are things in the working world and business world that I want to do and want to put on my resume as time goes on,” Gretler added. “And then – really – playing in the minor leagues, it’s a grind, man. It’s not a lot of pay, long bus rides, being away from your family and friends for an extended period of time. All those factors played a role (in my decision to retire) and I think it kind of boils down to the fact that if you’re not fully committed to something, and your heart and your passion isn’t fully there… it’s a grind as it is but then you lay those factors on top of that grind and it becomes much more difficult.”
Gretler officially hung up his spikes on Feb. 11, 2020. As a member of the Pirates organization he played two seasons in the minors, his last team the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League. Gretler also toiled for the West Virginia Black Bears and Bradenton Marauders.
The Pirates thought so highly of Gretler that they chose him twice in the MLB draft – in the 39th round in 2017 and the 10th round in 2018. They gave him a spring training call-up in March of 2019.
A product of Bonney Lake High School in the Greater Seattle area, Gretler was such a sizzling baseball commodity that he was actually drafted three times. The Boston Red Sox were the first MLB team to lay claim when they picked him in the 39th round in 2014. Gretler deferred the first two times in favour of attending, and then remaining at, Oregon State University, where he was a beloved member of the OSU Beavers from 2014 to 2018.
During his time with Victoria, Gretler would appear in 32 games, hitting .236, with one home run and 12 RBI, but also walking 23 times and scoring 20 runs.
When Gretler reflects on his career, he has no trouble picking out his highlight: going out as a champion in his final game with the Beavers. In that 2018 NCAA Division 1 season, OSU advanced all the way to the College World Series in Nebraska and eventually defeated the University of Arkansas Razorbacks in a best-of-three final that went the distance. Arkansas prevailed 4-1 in the opener, Oregon State stayed alive with a 5-3 extra-innings victory in Game 2 and then won 5-0 in the clincher.
“Obviously the individual accolades of playing college baseball or being drafted are great but that team camaraderie – as much time as you spend with those guys, you form some really special bonds that are going to go on for the rest of our lives – and being able to experience winning the College World Series with them was kind of like the perfect mountaintop for my career,” said Gretler, who was OSU’s starter at third base. “And it happened to be the last game of my college career so it was the cherry on top of what’s been a really, really exciting career.”
Gretler made his playing debut with the Beavers in February of 2015 and, later that year, arrived in Victoria for his first crack at baseball north of the border. While he’d been to Victoria a couple times before, the notion of living and playing in Canada left him feeling a little uneasy. But joining the HarbourCats, he quickly discovered, was the closest thing to professional baseball he had yet tasted. His nervousness evaporated and he made the absolute most of his opportunity.
Gretler at OSU, with the HarbourCats in 2015 and with his last pro team, the Greensboro Grashoppers, in 2019
“I remember it being the first experience of that challenge of playing baseball every single day,” he said. “Because in college, you play a weekend series, you get a couple days off, you might have a midweek (game) and another day off, and you might practice here and there. But the game every single day is why baseball is such a grind and such a challenge – the mental side of that and the physical side of that where you’re playing 16 games in a row before you get an off-day and your body is hurting after Day 8 and you’ve still got eight more games to go. It was a great introduction. And what I think is so great about the league, it gives guys that experience at a younger age that can then prepare them for hopefully a career in the minor leagues.”
Playing with and against such high calibre players is another thing Gretler remembers about his stint with the HarbourCats. And then there was the buzz of home games, routinely held in front of packed stands at Royal Athletic Park.
A very popular HarbourCat, one of Gretler’s images has adorned the front windows of the HarbourCats offices since late 2015.
“You hear you’re going to British Columbia and you’re like, ‘They play baseball up there?’ It’s just not the first thing that comes to mind,” Gretler said with a grin. “Us dumb Americans think of the hockey and the other sports so I didn’t really know what to expect – if they were big baseball fans. I knew, growing up, when the Blue Jays would come to play the Mariners, there was always a big presence of Canadian fans that would come down for those games but I really didn’t know what to expect from a college baseball standpoint. But it was unbelievable.
“I think the first game that I showed up was a sellout and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is not really what I was expecting for college baseball in Victoria.’”
HarbourCats fans immediately loved Gretler for his honest, hardworking approach to the game. That – combined with his athleticism, skill and professional demeanour on and off the field – will undoubtedly leave him as one of the favourite HCats of all time.
“He was probably the nicest kid we’ve ever had play for us – just really personable, a really engaging young man,” said Jim Swanson, general manager of the HarbourCats. “He played almost all third base for us and he was outstanding. Glovework doesn’t go into slumps, right?
“At the plate, he struggled, and struggled in the fact that he was really a guy getting his first real solid look at college pitching. Our league is a pretty good league – guys are going from here to pro baseball. But he worked hard, he was a battler that way.”
The next summer, 2016, Gretler put it all together with Okotoks. As the team’s most valuable player, his defensive game was as spotless as ever. And, with a bat in his hands, he was a beast (34 games played, .331 average, 45 hits, 11 doubles, four home runs, 36 RBIs). He also picked up 18 walks and swiped two bases.
While Gretler is giving up the hot corner to focus on his career in the biopharmaceutical industry and to his upcoming wedding in October, he is thankful for his time in Victoria, Okotoks and the pros and hopes to give back to the game someday, perhaps at the coaching level.
For Gretler, the stops in Victoria and Okotoks were all part of the journey and he’s thankful for those experiences and memories. With professional baseball now behind him, he has turned his attention to building a career. He now works in the biopharmaceutical industry as a sales representative for AbbVie. On a more personal level, he got engaged to high school sweetheart Emily last July, with the wedding planned for October in Seattle.
“We’ve been dating since my senior year of high school,” Gretler said. “I was getting a lot of pressure – everyone that I knew was like, ‘When’re you gonna ask? When’re you gonna ask?’ So we’re excited. We’re hoping the pandemic is behind us. It’s going to be a big baseball reunion, that’s for sure.”
Gretler certainly isn’t done with the game that has given him so much. He plans to get into coaching, and he’ll always be a fan.
In the near future, hopefully this summer, he’ll head down to the Seattle waterfront and jump on the Victoria Clipper ferry for a ride north and a HarbourCats game.
If there’s ever a Michael Gretler bobblehead night at Royal Athletic Park, he’ll be there for sure.
“It would be the first time ever I’d have my own bobblehead,” he said with a chuckle. “I’d definitely have to make my way up there for that.”
Jason Peters is a freelance writer and editor based in Prince George, British Columbia. Visit his website at www.frontpagepublications.net.
For Immediate Release
August 27, 2026
VICTORIA, B.C. — Hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Mueller has used a summer with the Victoria HarbourCats to land an MLB contract.
The six-foot-five, 215-pound Fort Worth product, who was at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, has inked a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, after spending the summer in the West Coast League in Victoria.
Mueller, 22, joined the team for the second half and made five appearances, including a start. He had 14 strikeouts and just three walks in 9.2 innings, including six strikeouts in three innings of work on July 29 against Port Angeles. He topped 97mph as a HarbourCat.
“From day one, Nate arrived in Victoria to take full advantage of his summer baseball opportunity, and signing with the Brewers is a testament to his work ethic, professional mindset and competitive drive,” said Todd Haney, Head Coach of the Victoria HarbourCats.
The HarbourCats have had eight former players advance to play at the MLB level, including current stars Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays), Nick Pivetta (Padres), Cade Smith (Guardians), Andrew Vaughn (Brewers) and Chase Meidroth (White Sox), who all play prominent roles on their teams.
This past summer, six other former HarbourCats were drafted or signed after the MLB selection process in July – Cody Howard, Carson Cormier, Owen Clyne, Ryne Palmer, Cade Rusch, and Will Zielinski.
Season Ticket Memberships for the 2027 HarbourCats Season are now available for purchase or renewal. New members may order their seats on-line if desired at http://harbourcats.com/tickets (click the Memberships tab), or by calling the office at 778-265-0327.
Existing members who have accounts in good standing on SHOWPASS can simply log into their account to renew, or can also call the office or pop in to pay for their 2027 seats.
Renew or purchase your seats by September 30th to be eligible to win a round trip airfare on Harbour Air to Vancouver.
The HarbourCats 2027 schedule is expected to be announced in late October 2027, with single-game tickets expected be to available by December 1, 2027.
Renew or book new memberships by September 30, 2026 for your chance to win a return flight on HarbourAir to Vancouver.
August 25, 2026
Victoria, BC – Season Ticket Memberships and 12-Flex and 24-Flex Ticket packages are now available for purchase and renewal for the 2027 Victoria HarbourCats season.
All renewals and new memberships, as well as any purchasers of 24-Flex ticket packages that occur by September 30, 2026, will be entered into a draw to receive a return trip ticket to Vancouver courtesy of HarbourAir. Two such prizes will be awarded.
In addition, all renewals, new memberships and 24-Flex purchasers, will have first right to purchase 2027 West Coast League All-Star game and Home Run Derby Tickets once they are available later this fall.
New members may order their memberships on-line if desired at https://www.showpass.com/m/victoria-harbourcats-season-tickets/ or by calling the office at 778-265-0327.
Existing members who have accounts in good standing on SHOWPASS can simply log into their account to renew, or can also call the office or pop in to pay for their 2027 seats.
Season tickets offer the utmost in savings over single-game pricing and have the benefit of including all non-league and exhibition games (except All-Star events) as well as free playoff tickets should we qualify in 2027.
FULL-SEASON MEMBER PERKS
* Same seat every game!
* Free playoff tickets!
* Non-League games and special event games (except 2027 All-Star Game Events) included at no extra cost!
* First right of refusal for purchase of tickets to other special events when scheduled
* SHOWPASS Online Account Management
* No Ticket Wasted Program and On-Line Exchange
* Cat Shop Merchandise Discount (15%)
* No extra charges for Premium game pricing (Home Opener and Fireworks nights)
2027 MEMBERSHIP LEVELS
General Admission – $425 + GST – First-come, first-served rush seating in the silver bleachers behind Sections 6, 8,9 and 11 and in the soccer grandstand down the first baseline.
Premium Reserved – $525 + GST – Assigned seating along the first base line (Sections 6-9) and third baseline (Sections 11-12). Close to the action! Only 8 rows in each section.
ReMax Grandstand Reserved – $600 + GST – Assigned seating in Rows E-M in the covered grandstand directly behind home plate. Padded seats (bottom), and access to the mobile Fan Food in-seat food and beverage ordering system with in-seat delivery.
Peterbilt Pacific Club Seats – $725 + GST – Assigned seating in Rows A-D in the covered grandstand directly behind home plate. Close to the action! Padded seats (backs and bottom), and access to the mobile Fan Food in-seat food and beverage ordering system with in-seat delivery.
NEW FOR 2027! Nordic Fencing Dugout – $725 + GST – VIP on-field seating, right next to the HarbourCats dugout down the first base line. Comfy custom sling back style chairs. Access to the mobile Fan Food in-seat food and beverage ordering system with in-seat delivery.
Elements Casino Diamond Club – $850 + GST – (SOLD OUT, WAIT LIST) – VIP on-field seating, closer to home plate than the pitcher! Comfy custom sling back style chairs. Access to the mobile Fan Food in-seat food and beverage ordering system with in-seat delivery.
MILITARY 2 for 1 DISCOUNT
If you are an active or retired military member, we offer a 2 for 1 discount on season tickets. This is NOT available to book on-line, so if interested in this, please call our office at 778-265-0327, or stop in at the office at 1814 Vancouver Street and we will set this up for you.
2027 FLEX PACKS
12 and 24-game Flex Packs are also now available on-line or at the office and offer the utmost in flexibility for those who can’t make every game. Redeemable for any regular season games including opening night and fireworks night (not eligible for All-Star events or playoffs). Flex packs essentially serve as ticket credits that you apply to a purchase and come in both digital format (a single discount code that you use for every redemption), or hardcopy paper vouchers (each with a distinct discount code printed on them).
Digital vouchers are perfect if you will be using the vouchers just for yourself and redeeming all the tickets under your account. These can be purchased on-line at the appropriate links at HarbourCats.com/tickets
Hardcopy vouchers are better suited if you plan on distributing vouchers to family, friends, clients, etc. and then having them redeem using the voucher codes. Hardcopy vouchers are NOT available online but can be arranged by calling the office at 778-265-0327 or dropping in to set up.
2027 FLEX PACK PRICING
General Admission: 12-Game $225 + GST | 24-Game $399 + GST
Premium Reserved: 12-Game $280 + GST | 24-Game $499 + GST
ReMax Grandstand Reserved: 12-Game $340 + GST | 24-Game $575 + GST
Flex Packs are not available in Peterbilt Club, Nordic Fencing Dugout, or Elements Casino Diamond Club seating.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact the office at 778-265-0327 or e-mail Christian at chris@harbourcats.com.
August 24, 2026
Victoria, BC – The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce that Pitcher Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) has been honoured as the West Coast League Pitcher of the Year for 2026.
Arnett was simply outstanding all season and in his 10 appearances, all starts, he built a record of 5-2, an ERA of 2.15 and struck out 66 batters. He led the league in all three of those statistical categories (among eligible pitchers), ergo winning the league’s pitching Triple Crown.
“Jeremiah’s recognition as Pitcher of the Year is the ultimate reward for a young man who possesses an unwavering professionalism and a genuine passion for his craft,” said HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney.
“To secure the league’s triple crown and shatter our franchise strikeout record requires immense talent, dedication and discipline. Our entire organization is incredibly proud of Jeremiah.”
In addition to being the HarbourCats Pitcher of the Year, a 2026 North Division All-Star and a First Team All-WCL Selection, Arnett now adds the title of West Coast League Pitcher of the Year to his resume.
“Jeremiah is a phenomenal person and player, and I’m extremely proud of his selection as the WCL Pitcher of the Year,” added HarbourCats Pitching Coach Zach Swanson. “Every single day, on and off the field, he was relentlessly seeking to improve his process, knowing it would turn into desired results on the mound.”
Arnett, who will be entering his Senior year at Rice, becomes the second HarbourCat in franchise history to have received Pitcher of the Year honours, the other being Jack Owen (Auburn) in 2017. Owen was drafted in 2019 by St. Louis and then went on to have a four year minor league career in the Oakland A’s system.
“Jeremiah Arnett was every bit as dominant on the mound, and it’s fitting he joins Owen in Victoria’s history books,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer in a statement. “Both of these players represent exactly what makes summer collegiate baseball special.”
Season Ticket Memberships for the 2027 HarbourCats Season are now available for purchase or renewal. New members may order their seats on-line if desired at http://harbourcats.com/tickets (click the Memberships tab), or by calling the office at 778-265-0327. Existing members who have accounts in good standing on SHOWPASS can simply log into their account to renew, or can also call the office or pop in to pay for their 2027 seats.
The HarbourCats 2027 schedule is expected to be announced in late October 2027, with single-game tickets expected be to available by December 1, 2027.
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