Victoria HarbourCats general manager Jim Swanson describes Josh Burgmann as the best pitching prospect from the Island since former major-leaguer Rich Harden.
That鈥檚 high praise.
HarbourCats fans will be able to judge for themselves when the touted Nanaimo Pirates graduate 鈥� who helped pitch sa国际传媒 to sixth place at the 2015 World U-18 Baseball Championship in Osaka, Japan 鈥� takes to the Royal Athletic Park mound this year in the West Coast League.
The six-foot-two, 200-pound Harbour City product has been with the national junior team the past three years, was a 2015 Baseball America All-American honourable mention and is headed in the fall to pitch in the NCAA Pac-12 for the University of Washington Huskies.
When told of Swanson鈥檚 comparison to Harden, Burgmann responded: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 humbling. But I don鈥檛 want to get bigger than I am. I just want to keep improving, be consistent and do the right things to reach my dreams, which include getting drafted this year and eventually playing pro ball.鈥�
UW is certainly high on this recruit.
鈥淚 think the Pac-12 is the best [baseball] conference in the NCAA. The Huskies said they are looking at me as their potential Sunday starter [in the weekend Friday-Saturday-Sunday game sets],鈥� said Burgmann, a former John Barsby student, who is currently attending the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball in Alberta.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to facing collegiate batters this summer with the HarbourCats. I attack by throwing strikes. My game is fastball command.鈥�
Burgmann got to know the Royal Athletic mound last August when he threw for the Pirates in the 2015 sa国际传媒 Premier League playoff tournament hosted there.
鈥淭he sa国际传媒 Premier League has produced MLB players and is one of the best high school-age leagues in the country. It was a great experience and I enjoyed every moment of it,鈥� he said.
Burgmann said he follows 鈥渢he usual teams鈥� for an Island-raised guy 鈥� 鈥淢ariners, Blue Jays, Seahawks, Canucks鈥� and that Felix Hernandez of the Mariners is his favourite pitcher.
Will McAffer is another six-foot-two, right-handed junior national team pitcher from the sa国际传媒 Premier League who was inked Monday by the HarbourCats. The North Shore Twins product was selected in the 32nd round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds but turned down a pro contract offer to go the NCAA route and is headed to his freshman season in the fall for the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.
鈥淲e look for impact Canadians who can help us reach the contender level,鈥� said Swanson.
鈥淭his helps soften the blow of losing Alex Rogers.鈥�
Rogers, also a Nanaimo hurler, is being assigned to another summer-ball team by North Dakota State after playing the last two years for the home-Island HarbourCats, last season as the ace of the staff.
The HarbourCats also announced four other signings Monday.
Right-handed pitcher Casey Costello from La Quinta, California, is a junior at Orange Coast College. Shortstop Cameron Cannon from Chandler is headed as a Pac-12 freshman this fall to his home-state University of Arizona Wildcats. Starting University of Hawaii Rainbows catcher Chayce Ka鈥檃ua is a junior and third-baseman Dakota Dean is from New Orleans.
The HarbourCats now have 27 players signed for 2016, including eight infielders, five outfielders, four catchers and 10 pitchers.
The Victoria season opener is June 3 in Walla Walla against the Sweets, and the home opener June 7 at Royal Athletic Park against the Wenatchee AppleSox.
