Chicago Cubs take Victoria pitcher Hambley in MLB draft
A dream, held since T-ball at Triangle Park, came true for Dominic Hambley when the right-handed pitcher was selected in the 18th round (544th overall) Tuesday of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago Cubs.
“It’s exciting. I’ve dreamed of pro ball since I was a kid,” said Hambley, who graduated from Grade 12 last month from Belmont Secondary.
The six-foot-three, 230-pound hurler has it all, from a 95 milesper-hour fastball with also a slider, curve and change-up. He can also hit and bats third in the Victoria Mariners order in the B.C.Premier Baseball League.
“I like hitting, but at heart, I love pitching the most,” said Hambley.
The Islander can either sign with the Cubs or go the U.S. collegiate NCAA route and re-enter the draft in his junior season. He has been recruited by the highlytouted Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12.
“We’ll discuss it over the next couple of days,” said Hambley.
“There are no guarantees in life. Sometimes you have to take a chance.”
It could be one well worth taking, according to his Mariners coach.
“I believe Dom will be in the big leagues in four or five years,” predicted Mike Chewpoy, who is Hambley’s coach on the Mariners in the BCPBL.
If Hambley does make it, he will follow into MLB former Victoria Mariners pitcher Rich Harden, outfielder Michael Saunders and current Boston Red Sox hurler Nick Pivetta, out of the Victoria Eagles of the BCPBL.
“Dom has the best arm of any high school pitcher I’ve seen [locally],” said Chewpoy.
“He is a man among boys. He conducts himself as a pro. He is one of our Mariners captains for a reason.”
As with many Canadians, Hambley said he grew up cheering for the Blue Jays. But he now has a new favourite team in blue.
Meanwhile, six former Victoria HarbourCats were selected in the 2021 MLB draft, led by 2017 Cats’ player of the year Shane McGuire, who went 278th overall in the ninth round to the Oakland Athletics. McGuire came to Victoria of the summer collegiate West Coast League as a just-graduated Grade 12 player, headed as a freshman to the University of San Diego, and made an immediate impression with a soaring .451 batting average with four home runs and 32 RBI in 26 games for the HarbourCats.
“[McGuire] was perhaps the best catcher and one of the most well-rounded players in HarbourCats team history,” said GM Jim Swanson.
The other former HarbourCats players drafted this year include Mississippi State outfielder Rowdey Jordan (322nd overall in the 11th round by the Mets), pitcher Jack Neely from Ohio State (333rd overall in the 11th round by the Yankees), pitcher Owen Sharts of Nevada (373rd overall in the 13th round by the Pirates), infielder Wyatt Young from Pepperdine (442nd in the 15th round by the Mets) and pitcher Luke Boyd from Baylor (520th overall in the 17th round by the Padres).