Just wait five years.
That鈥檚 how long it took for 2010 Kelowna Falcons pitcher Tyler Wagner, after his West Coast League season, to make his MLB debut this week at Miller Park for the Milwaukee Brewers. He joined Ladner hurler James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners and slugger Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles as former Falcons in the majors.
What stories await to be written from the WCL Class of 2015?
We find out starting tonight, when the Victoria HarbourCats open the regular season against the Falcons at Royal Athletic Park.
If the recent past is any indication, fans will be watching some good players in the making this year. Of the 2014 HarbourCats, Gabe Clark from the Oregon State Beavers and Nathan Lukes from Sacramento State are likely to be selected in the 2015 MLB draft, while Island-raised catcher Kelly Norris-Jones is in the NCAA Sweet 16 this weekend with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. The 2013 HarbourCats starter on opening day, another home-Island product Nick Pivetta, was drafted and signed by the Washington Nationals while fellow 2013 Victoria player, infielder Tim Richards, is in the NCAA Sweet 16 this weekend with Cal State-Fullerton.
So the dream can start here. It is the likes of Wagner, Paxton and Pivetta who have forged a path to the WCL mound tonight for HarbourCats opening-game starter Alex Rogers, the Nanaimo product headed next season to pitch in the NCAA for the North Dakota State Bison.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting. It鈥檚 every pitcher鈥檚 dream to throw on opening day in front of a big crowd,鈥� said Rogers, of the large throng expected this evening at Royal Athletic Park.
鈥淭he biggest challenge will be to keep the emotions under control. But I had a lot of experience last year playing before good crowds here at the park,鈥� added the second-year HarbourCats fastballer.
HarbourCats GM Jim Swanson said the team has reached the 4,000 plateau in tickets sold for today鈥檚 game, with walk-ups likely to put Victoria over the top to set a new WCL opening-day attendance record, eclipsing the 4,212 established last year by the Bend Elks. Swanson added the strong fan support through ticket pre-sales has allowed the team to add a 17-minute fireworks displays after both tonight鈥檚 and Saturday night鈥檚 games against the Falcons.
鈥淧eople on the Island are eager to see baseball back,鈥� he said.
While Rogers is indicative of the talent level in this league, early-season WCL games come with a heavy dose of caution. With many top players just finishing off the NCAA playoffs and their academic school years, and yet to arrive at their respective teams, early WCL rosters are peppered with 10-day contract fill-in players until the regular roster players arrive over the next few weeks. A player such as Clark, for instance, will await the MLB draft next Monday through Wednesday to see if he signs a pro contract. If not, he will be back at first base for the HarbourCats.
Case in point, Rogers said he doesn鈥檛 recognize a single player in the Kelowna batting order he will face tonight. Yet, Rogers knows he made the Victoria team last year, and became a revelation as the HarbourCats鈥� best pitcher, through a 10-day trial. So who knows how good some of these players will turn out to be?
Among the 10-trialists on both the HarbourCats and Falcons looking to make the grade with their teams is Alex Rogers鈥� twin brother, Brady Rogers, with the HarbourCats.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens,鈥� said Brady Rogers, an infielder who played with fraternal twin Alex on the Nanaimo Pirates of the sa国际传媒 Premier League, and also in U.S. collegiate with Trinidad State of Colorado.
The twins, of course, had that classic Canadian sibling sports rivalry while growing up on the Island.
鈥淲e were very competitive. Whether it was table tennis or baseball, each wanted to be the better one,鈥� said Brady Rogers.
That turned out to be Alex Rogers. While Alex is set to be in the HarbourCats starting rotation, likely as the ace, Brady Rogers reflected on what it will take for him to stick and join his twin as a regular on the Victoria roster.
鈥淚 need to get more hits and make more plays and keep my game getting stronger . . . and have fun and relax out there,鈥� said Brady.
The siblings were coached at Nanaimo in the sa国际传媒 Premier League by father Doug Rogers.
鈥淗e was probably harder on us than on the other players,鈥� added Brady.
Alex鈥檚 position on the HarbourCats, beginning tonight in the marquee mound role, is secure. Brady鈥檚 slot on the team is not. But one thing is certain 鈥� there will be a lot of the Rogers twins鈥� family and friends in the stands tonight.
鈥淚t will be nice for our parents to see us play one last time,鈥� said Brady Rogers.
He meant not just tonight, but the entire season.
That is the hope of all players on WCL temporary contracts, who see a roster spot disappear every time another NCAA Div. 1 player swings into town over the next few weeks. The latest to arrive Thursday for Victoria was left-handed reliever Nick Wojtysiak from Pepperdine.
The HarbourCat franchise, in its third season, is looking to improve on its records of 25-29 and 22-32 from 2014 and 2013, respectively.
鈥淲e are going to be a very aggressive ball club,鈥� Tampa Bay Rays scout and HarbourCats rookie head coach Graig Merritt said of his approach.
Getting the start Saturday night for the HarbourCats will be returnee Mikey Wright, while Shawn Kennedy II gets the ball Sunday as the opening series against the Falcons concludes with a matin茅e.
