Victoria Golden Tide shortstop Brandon Green (5)  highlights list of six local players announced today for the HarbourCats 2023 roster. 

May 17, 2023

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The addition of local players who can contribute is a key part to contending as a West Coast League team and the latest confirmed signings by the Victoria HarbourCats is intended to do just that.

Three members of the CCBC’s Victoria Golden Tide, another from TRU in the CCBC, and two players developing stateside highlight the latest group, adding depth:

• IF/RHP Brandon Green, Victoria Golden Tide CCBC (Sundre, Alta.)
• RHP Darius Opdam Bak, Victoria Golden Tide CCBC (White Rock, BC)
• RHP Tristan Bolger, Victoria Golden Tide CCBC (Victoria)
• RHP Sam Jordan, TRU Wolfpack (Victoria)
• OF Kai Gray, Trinidad State (Victoria)
• OF Rei Kimura, College of Idaho (Victoria, international student from Japan)

Green is the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Tide, who have come on strong in the second half of the CCBC season, while Bolger, who saw some time with the HarbourCats in 2022, is showing promise as he transitions to full-time pitching duties under Head Coach Ethan Fox. Opdam Bak has earned opportunities as the Golden Tide closer in the second half of the season.

Golden Tide pitcher Tristan Bolger, a 2022 HarbourCat, returns in 2023 to provide support out of the bullpen (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Jordan is 5-1 in five starts with 36 strikeouts in 34 innings for TRU, graduating from the Victoria Eagles program. Kimura, a first-year player at College of Idaho, is a former Lambrick Park High School student who played PBL in Victoria, a Japanese exchange student who fell in love with the B.C. capital.

Gray, an ex-Eagle, is tearing it up at Trinidad State in Colorado, hitting .338 with 17 doubles and 11 home runs.

“We’re proud of the opportunities we’ve given to so many local players since 2013, and these guys add to others such as Ryder Green, Dawson Hurford, Owen Luchies and Ty Hall as island products who get to prove they can contribute for Todd Haney’s 2023 team,” said GM Christian Stewart.

SEE FULL 2023 (ANNOUNCED) ROSTER HERE

RHP Noah Takacs of Sacramento State, previously announced, won’t be joining the team due to an injury, and RHP/IF Brady Wilson of the Victoria Golden Tide has been released to play in the WCBL.

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.

2023 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.