More than most sports, bloodlines seem to matter in baseball.
Nobody knows this more than Victoria HarbourCats head coach Brian McRae, a 10-season major-leaguer and son of three-time MLB all-star and two-time World Series champion Hal McRae.
So maybe McRae is on to something with his latest HarbourCats signings from the NCAA for the 2018 West Coast League season.
They include catcher Ty Haselman of the UCLA Bruins, son of former Montreal Expos catcher Bill Haselman, and inbound Texas Longhorns infielder Tanner Haney, son of Royals assistant coach and former major-leaguer Todd Haney.
“You don’t have to look any further than our own team to see how much family connections matter in baseball,” said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the HarbourCats.
“These kids have lived the baseball life within their families, so nothing comes as a major shock to them in this game.”
Swanson noted the Expos were beloved across Canada and many fans will recall Bill Haselman, so it’s cool to have his son Ty play at Royal Athletic Park this summer.
The Brian McRae and Todd Haney connection goes back a long way. They played together on the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets and will be reunited this summer as coaches on the bench of the HarbourCats.
Swanson said landing Haney’s son Tanner was a major coup for the HarbourCats: “Texas is one of the best NCAA baseball programs and they don’t sign anybody because of a name. Tanner Haney is a top-end recruit.”
Also signed Wednesday were outfielder Cole Roederer from UCLA, infielder Rowdey Jordan of Mississippi State and pitchers Connor Nantkes from the Washington State Cougars and Cade Brown and Nate Walker from the University of San Diego.
“These are great schools, and they recruit great players,” said Victoria GM Brad Norris-Jones.
The HarbourCats open the 2018 WCL season June 1 at Royal Athletic against Wenatchee.
