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Victoria HarbourCats | HarbourCats send six to pro ranks via 2021 MLB Entry Draft

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2017 Player of the Year Shane McGuire (above) heads up 2021 MLB Draft class

For Immediate Release

July 13, 2021

Victoria, BC – The Victoria HarbourCats are very proud to announce today that six former Victoria HarbourCats have been selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) entry draft.

Today’s draft result is a direct testimony to the quality of player development that the HarbourCats have emphasized over the years and along with the other players drafted from the West Coast League (40 overall), is a testament to the quality of baseball that the league provides for its fans.

Leading the way in the 2021 draft was 2017 Player of the Year Shane McGuire (San Diego), who was selected in the 9th round of the MLB Draft (278th overall) by the Oakland Athletics. McGuire came to the HarbourCats as an incoming freshman and simply dominated, hitting .451 with four home runs and 32 RBI in 26 games. He was perhaps the best catcher and one of the most well-rounded players in HarbourCats team history.

Rowdey Jordan

Other HarbourCats drafted this year include:

  • 2018 HarbourCat Rowdey Jordan, OF (Mississippi State) who was drafted by the New York Mets in the 11th round (322nd overall);
  • 2019 HarbourCat Jack Neely, RHP (Ohio State) who was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 11th round (333rd overall);
  • 2018 HarbourCat Owen Sharts, RHP (Nevada) selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round (373rd overall);
  • Former HarbourCat Wyatt Young, IF (Pepperdine) who was selected by the New York Mets in the 15th round (442nd overall); and
  • 2017 HarbourCat Luke Boyd, RHP (Baylor) who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 17th round (520th overall).

Jack Neely

Also selected in the draft were three players who were signed to play for the HarbourCats, but for various reasons, COVID included, did not make their way to Victoria. These include:

  • Aaron Davenport, RHP (Hawaii), 6th round (186th overall) by Cleveland Indians;
  • Marcos Castanon, IF (UCSB), 12th round (370th overall) by San Diego Padres; and
  • Damiano Palmegiani, OF (Southern Nevada), 14th round (422nd overall) by Toronto Blue Jays.

“With only 20 rounds in this draft, down from 40 in 2019, this is a tremendous draft for so many in our organization,” said HarbourCats Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “These young men are tremendous ambassadors for their schools, their families, and our organization, and they have worked very hard to earn a pro opportunity like this. The HarbourCats program is second to none on Vancouver Island for development of top athletes and people.”

Owen Sharts

The Victoria HarbourCats will continue their quest to develop more MLB draft picks in 2022 when they resume play in the West Coast League following two years off due to the COVID pandemic. Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are now on sale. The 2022 schedule is anticipated to be released in October at which time single-game tickets will go on sale.

Full details on all West Coast League players drafted in 2021 can be found at https://westcoastleague.com/

Wyatt Young

Luke Boyd

SUPPORT YOUR HARBOURCATS! WE NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER!

Two summers in a row without baseball has been simply devastating for us, but we are confident that there will be a celebratory return to the diamond and the ballpark in 2022. To help us get there, we need your support. If you have been doing well throughout this pandemic, please consider supporting us in any of the following ways:

2022 Season tickets — “We’re Brand New in 2022!” Or as the saying goes, “What’s old is new again!” New players, some new coaches, some new seating changes, new promotions! Come and jump on the HarbourCats bandwagon and see the “new” team in town! Purchasing season tickets is the best way to help, one that guarantees you seats to all our games (usually 35 per year or so) plus other season ticket holder perks. Contact chris@harbourcats.com for details.

10-Game Flex Packs / Vouchers — Don’t want to commit, or can’t commit to season tickets? Consider 10-game flex packs – anytime vouchers that can be used in any combination…10 tickets at one game, 1 ticket at 10 games or anything in between. For you, for your friends, for your staff. Season ticket voucher equivalents are also available. Flex Packs can be purchased at the office and are also available on-line at THE CAT SHOP.

Corporate Partnerships – Want to put your company name or brand in front of our 80,000-100,000 fans we anticipate in 2022? Or know someone who does? Consider joining us as a partner. From a simple program ad, to the most complex of game day sponsorship, complete with signage and tickets, we will customize any campaign to suit your needs and budget. And with our new HCATS.TV platform and our ownership group’s expansion of a new team in Nanaimo in 2022, the opportunities are now Island wide! Contact john@harbourcats.com for details.

Fundraising / 50-50 – Have an organization that needs to raise funds now? A $1000 investment buys you 100 anytime 2022 game vouchers for our Premium Reserved seats that you can then turn around and sell NOW for $20 each, earning you your investment back, plus another $1000 in return. We will then hold a 50-50 date for you in 2022 and you can bring your group to the park to sell that game, taking home 50% of the proceeds. Contact chris@harbourcats.com for details.

Merchandise – Consider a HarbourCats merchandise purchase from our store at 1814 Vancouver Street, or from our on-line store, THE CAT SHOP. We have lots of stock that needs to go!

OFFICE HOURS

We are officially open Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, but may be away at meetings, or dealing with other issues. Best to call 778-265-0327 before venturing over to make sure. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

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Son of former MLB star part of latest NightOwls signing group

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Todd Hollandsworth was a third round pick of the Dodgers after a stellar high school showing in the Seattle area — he would go on to win the World Series with the 2003 Florida Marlins and play 12 MLB seasons and more than 1,100 games, with the Dodgers, Indians, Marlins, Rockies, Rangers, Cubs, Braves and Reds. He was the 1996 National League rookie of the year with the Dodgers, batting .291 with 26 doubles and 21 stolen bases.

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Tugg bats and throws left like his dad, and is now a prized developing freshman at Illinois State. His teammate Minshew is a valued 90mph-plus power arm out of the bullpen who is already being used as a freshman.

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Felix, a physical player with power, is being watched closely this spring by NightOwls pitching coach Gorm Heimueller, and projects as a star catcher at the baseball factory at Cal Poly — where Heimueller was a pitcher many decades ago on a team that featured Ozzie Smith.

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Hadley is a power lefty bat, a former Langley Blaze star, who was going to join the NightOwls in 2023 until he was injured. He’s second in at-bats with Barton this spring, batting .355 with five doubles and a home run, and 16 RBIs.

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Noonan is at Grossmont College but is making the jump to SDSU, a slick shortstop who smashed eight home runs as a freshman.

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Welter, a valuable lefty for deployment out of the bullpen at Serauxmen Stadium, is filling a key role for the Trojans this spring.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Arms from Oz, Hawaii and Golden Tide added for 2024 summer

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For immediate release

March 13, 2024

VICTORIA, B.C. — The reigning CCAA player of the week, San Marcos infielder Garrett Teunissen (pictured above), leads the latest signees for the Victoria HarbourCats for the 2024 season.

SEE FULL 2024 ROSTER TO DATE HERE

Teunissen, a junior from Corona, CA, stole three bases, had two doubles, a triple and a home run among a 9-15 weekend against San Bernardino, leading his team to three wins in four games. He’s leading the league in stolen bases and sac bunts, a year after a .352 season with seven bombs and 16 stolen bases at Mt. San Jacinto.

The HarbourCats are excited with the mix of elite bats and top arms, including local product Brett Paterson of the Victoria Golden Tide, announced today.

  • IF Garrett Teunissen, Cal State-San Marcos, 5-9/185, Corona, CA
  • C Cam Macleod, Cloud County, 5-11/195, Vancouver
  • RHP Luke Hayhow, Hawaii, 6-2/235, Sydney, Australia
  • C Griffen Sotomayor, Washington State, 6-1/215, Turlock, CA 
  • RHP Shea Lake, Hawaii Pacific, 6-3/180, Temecula, CA
  • RHP Ryne Palmer, Cal Baptist, 6-4/200, Peoria, AZ
  • RHP Brett Paterson, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-2/220, Victoria

Hayhow is a highly regarded Hawaii recruit from Sydney, Australia, a monster at 6-2/235 with immense potential and a fastball up to 93.

Local Golden Tide product Brett Paterson will bring an extra arm and some character to the HarbourCats bullpen in 2024 (Photo: Christian Stewart)

Sotomayor is a sophomore with the Cougars and was rated the third best catcher in California in his senior year, after being team captain for two seasons at Turlock High School.

Macleod is a product of the North Shore Twins who has three home runs and 18 driven in while batting .333 in 19 games for Cloud County so far this spring.

Palmer is a big righthander who touches 90 and is used out of the pen by Cal Baptist. Lake is 3-0 with a 4.32 ERA so far this season, mostly used as a starter.

Paterson is a local baseball product who has grown into his own with the CCBC Victoria Golden Tide, and was a workhorse for the Weyburn Beavers of the WCBL last summer. Known for his hard work and positive leadership with the Golden Tide, uses a funky delivery to be effective as a starter.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

REMINDERS!

 

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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats load up on top-school bats with latest signings, Crossland returns

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Above:  Returning outfielder Michael Crossland highlights the latest six HarbourCats signings for 2024 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

March 7, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, B.C. — All Michael Crossland did last summer was hit, and hit a lot — including a league-best 19-game hitting streak. The outfielder from Seattle and UC-San Diego returns for a second season as a Victoria HarbourCat, and is off to a strong start for the Tritons in San Diego. He’ll be joined by versatile teammate Kerim Orucevic, recruited from the Chicago area.

Also added today are top TCU hitters Camdon Sos, who hails from the San Diego region but was lured to Texas, and infielder Ryder Robinson from TCU, a Utah native.

Others signed are Floridian Jake Haggard, a big bat at Louisiana-Monroe, along with Cal State-Fullerton speedster Ny’Zaiah Thompson, who is originally from Oakland.

“This is a deep group of bats who will be expected to develop fast in our pro environment at Wilson’s Group Stadium,” said Head Coach Todd Haney, who recruited these players. “We all know what Michael can do, and this group is going to be right there with him, I’m excited to coach them all and our fans are going to like this group.”

  • OF Michael Crossland, UC-San Diego, 6-0/210, Seattle, WA
  • IF/OF Kerim Orucevic, UC-San Diego, 6-1/205, Park Ridge, Illinois
  • IF Ryder Robinson, TCU, 6-2/185, Cedar Hills, Utah
  • IF Camdon Sos, TCU, 6-3/200, Alpine, CA
  • IF/OF Jake Haggard, Louisiana-Monroe, 6-3/230, West Palm Beach, Florida
  • OF Ny’Zaiah Thompson, Cal State-Fullerton, 5-11/170, Oakland, CA

TCU’s Ryder Robinson in action against Washington State earlier this spring (Photo: TCU Athletics)

Crossland had 40 hits in the summer of 2023 in as many games, a .290 average with two home runs, 30 driven in and 18 stolen bases. He scored 24 runs and drew more walks (19) than he struck out (18) and somehow didn’t make the WCL all-star team. Crossland is batting .386 through a dozen games with five doubles and a home run this spring.

Orucevic, whose family is Bosnian, is a lefty hitter known for his all out style of play and his versatility — shortstop, outfield, any corner, he can handle it.

Sos is a top end recruit for TCU after a stellar high school career at Granite Hills. Robinson is batting .355 through his first nine collegiate games, showing extra-base power.

Haggard is all power — he hit five home runs as a true freshman at ULM while making 46 starts and tied for the team lead in walks, too. He already has four home runs in 12 games this spring, batting .293.

Louisiana Monroe’s Jake Haggard (14) celebrates a home run hit earlier this spring against Grambling (Photo: Luke Richard)

Thompson, who is related to former Seahawks star Marshawn Lynch, stole 35 bases as a senior in high school to set an all-time record, part of three championships for Mountain House High School.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

REMINDERS!

 

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