HCats pitcher Erb drafted by MLB’s Padres
Seattle Mariners select Sooke teen sensation Tyler Duncan
The Victoria HarbourCats were rained out Saturday in Kelowna, but the sun shone on Dalton Erb’s career. The massive six-foot-eight, 250-pound HarbourCats pitcher was selected 894th overall in the 30th round of the 2016 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres. “It’s a dream come true,” said Erb. “My HarbourCats roommates were watching with me online and they all went crazy. I am going to be a pro. I am going to wake up each day, train, and play ball. Now, the real work starts.”
Erb said he will sign with the Padres and not return to Chico State for his senior season. It also means his time in Victoria is done, since the WCL is a summer collegiate circuit. His HarbourCats’ tenure was brief, but brilliant — the home opener at Royal Athletic Park with a one-hit victory with 13 strikeouts over eight innings.
Erb flies back to Victoria today to collect his stuff, and then is on to physicals with the Padres.
“He was a pleasure to have and brought us a magical night to start our fourth season, one that crowd will never forget,” said HarbourCats president Jim Swanson.
Meanwhile, shortstop Alex DeGoti, who played the previous three seasons in Victoria and became perhaps the most popular HarbourCat in team history, was selected 457th in the 15th round by the Houston Astros.
“Alex [had] intangibles you can’t measure, and a way with people that helped us reach into the community from the beginning,” said Swanson.
“He chased his dream in Victoria. He flourished here and got noticed.”
Meanwhile, six-foot-three outfielder Tyler Duncan of the Victoria Eagles went 897th in the 30th round to the Seattle Mariners. He leaves with the Canadian junior team for Cuba on June 30.
“When it actually happened, it was like: ‘Oh my gosh, this is unreal.’ It happened out of high school [Edward Milne], which is crazy,” said the rising 17-year-old. “I did really well [at a pre-draft workout at Safeco Field] and was hoping it would pay off. I’ve been getting text messages all day. I leave my phone for a bit and it blows up again.”
Junior national team pitcher and Nanaimo Pirates product Josh Burgmann, a WCL signee of the HarbourCats, was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals 916th in the 30th round.