2022 Fan Favourite Jesse Brown returns for the HarbourCats 2023 season

April 14, 2023

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — He’s from UC Santa Barbara, he can catch, play the outfield, steal bases, drive the ball for extra base hits — and he’s back for another season as a Victoria HarbourCat.

Todd Haney, the Head Coach of the HarbourCats, is pleased to announce the next group of players locked in for the 2023 summer, headlined by returning catcher/outfielder Jessada Brown (UC Santa Barbara), who stole 18 bases in 2022, while hitting .286 with five doubles, a triple and four long balls, which tied for second on the team. He also led the team with eight hit-by-pitch.

“Jesse was a key player for us last year and it’s great to have him back,” said Haney, who led the team to its fourth playoff appearance in the last five seasons played. “He was a presence and made people around him better, got guys better pitches to hit. This is great news to have him back, and to announce him as part of a very athletic group of position players.”

Brown isn’t the only big bat now on the roster — stocky infielder Shay Kubo is hitting .313 (33 hits in 25 games) in the top third of the order for Illinois State, and Dallas Macias, versatile enough to play shortstop or centre field, was a two-sport star (baseball, football) in high school who will be a key player at Oregon State for four years. The lefty hitter’s first college hit was a triple.

Outfielder Lane Brewster of Sam Houston State was leading off and starting in right field as a freshman, following up this spring with four home runs and 10 stolen bases, starting every game for the Bearkats.

The signings today:

• C/OF Jessada Brown, UC-Santa Barbara, 5-11/200, sophomore from Seattle
• IF/OF Dallas Macias, Oregon State, 5-11/192, freshman from Parker, Colorado
• IF Shay Kubo, Illinois State, 5-8/165, junior from Waipuha, Hawaii
• OF Lane Brewster, Sam Houston State, 5-11/170, sophomore from League City, Texas

Jesse Brown takes a moment to admire one of his four home runs he hit in 2023 (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

The HarbourCats celebrate their 10th Anniversary in 2023 and the season kicks off with the home opener against the Kamloops NorthPaws on Friday June 2, 2023.  Single game tickets for that game, all four fireworks nights, and the remainder of our 31 HarbourCats home games in 2023 are now on sale and can be purchased on-line through our one-and-only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets.  They can also be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the Select Your Tickets box office at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.  Fans can also call 778-265-0327 to order over the phone.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale.  For details on all ticketing options, including our special $10.00 Tuesdays, Forces Fridays and Save-on-Food Vouchers, please visit harbourcats.com/ticketinfo.

HOST FAMILIES!  The HarbourCats are in need of host families for 2023!  If you are interested, you can find more details HERE, or contact Cindy Kent, our Host Family Coordinator by e-mail at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.

ATTENTION 2022 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS!  If you have not yet renewed and paid in full for your seats for the 2023 season, they have now been released and are now available for sale to the general public.  Chances are good that they are still available, so if you would like to renew, contact chris@harbourcats.com or call 778-265-0327 ASAP to have the best chance to grab the same seats as last year.