Although his new position as general manager of baseball’s Victoria HarbourCats will see Curtis Pelletier in civilian clothes during games, the former assistant coach promises he’ll “still be around the batting cage” during practices.
Pelletier, 40, appears well positioned for the promotion from assistant coach to GM.
He has played for the Canadian junior national team and in junior college in Texas. He also knows the local scene in-depth as GM and head coach of the Victoria Golden Tide, the HarbourCats’ affiliated development program.
So he has a good handle on where to get the players for his club in the West Coast League, which produced 59 alumni who appeared in MLB games in 2021 and 305 in affiliated pro ball.
Pelletier was assistant coach for the past three seasons to HarbourCats head coach and former major-leaguer Todd Haney and one season before that with former major-leaguer Brian McRae. The 2020 and 2021 WCL seasons were dark due to the pandemic.
“Victoria is known as a great destination within the WCL and we have such good relationships with coaches, from NCAA Div. 1 to junior college, who we talk to on a daily basis,” said Pelletier, an associate scout for the MLB Miami Marlins.
“I know the WCL and I know the Victoria market. I’m really excited to help this organization grow even more.”
A lot of players just put their heads down and do their jobs and play. But all through his playing days, Pelletier said, he was attuned to how teams were put together and how they functioned on the diamond.
“I always watched and learned and was a student of the game, and the Xs and Os behind the game, from the boardroom to the field,” he said.
Former GM Jim Swanson will remain as managing partner of the HarbourCats. Swanson is also now GM of the WCL expansion franchise Nanaimo NightOwls, which begin play in 2022. Swanson is part of the group that owns both the HarbourCats and NightOwls.
“I am looking forward to that rivalry,” said Pelletier.
There are 16 teams in the WCL, five in Canada and 11 in Oregon and Washington state. The 2022 regular season runs May 31 to Aug. 7.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
