Big league vet hired as HarbourCats pitching coach
Mark Petkovsek a former first-round pick who pitched nine seasons at the MLB level, has been hired to be the Victoria HarbourCats’ new pitching coach. Photo: Victoria HarbourCats
Official Victoria HarbourCats Press Release
October 23, 2019
VICTORIA, B.C. -- Add it all up, and the Victoria HarbourCats coaching staff now has 14 years of MLB experience, along with a current MLB scout.
The HarbourCats are extremely excited to announce the addition of Mark Petkovsek (pet-KYE-zek) to the leadership group for the 2020 season. Petkovsek, 53, is a former first-round MLB draft pick out of the University of Texas who went on to pitch for Texas, Pittsburgh, Anaheim and St. Louis with 396 appearances, a 46-28 record, including two seasons of double-digit wins (11-2 in 1996 for the Cardinals, and 10-4 in 1999 for the Angels).
Petkovsek was selected 29th overall in 1987, the same first round that saw Ken Griffey Jr. and Craig Biggio enter pro baseball. HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney was taken in the 38th round that same year. His record over his three years at Texas, under head coach Cliff Gustafson, was an impressive 29-3.
Petkovsek also pitched in seven games in the post-season for the Cardinals in 1996. He threw summer collegiate ball for two summers for Chatham in the Cape Cod League and was inducted into the Cape Cod hall of fame. Petkovsek threw no-hitters at the NCAA and AAA pro levels. For the past four years, Petkovsek has been head coach and pitching coach at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School.
Petkovsek joins Haney, another former star at the University of Texas, who went on to play five seasons at baseball's highest level. Hitting coach Curtis Pelletier, from Victoria, is a scout for the Miami Marlins. Troy Birtwistle and John Schnaderbeck round out the coaching staff at this time, with one other addition likely.
“I know Mark well from playing with him at the University of Texas where he led us to the College World Series before his selection in the 1st round of the MLB draft,” said Haney, entering his second season as head coach of the HarbourCats. “Mark was a true pitcher and is a passionate teacher. Our pitchers will benefit greatly from his knowledge and experience in the game. This is a tremendous step in achieving our championship goals for the 2020 season.”
Petkovsek is from Beaumont, Texas, but lives most of his time now in Bradenton, Florida, with his wife Heather and youngest son Jack, a high school senior. Older son Mark Jr. is a junior outfielder playing baseball at Millsaps College in Mississippi.
The pitching coach role came open when Ian Sanderson, who was with the team for two seasons, was hired as head coach of the WCL's Wenatchee AppleSox.
"I am honoured to have been added to Todd Haney's staff for the HarbourCats 2020 season," said Petkovsek. “It will be exciting to work with young pitchers in the highly competitive West Coast League. I am looking forward to assisting them in reaching their full potential, both on and off the field. To be in the beautiful city of Victoria, coach baseball and see the beauty of Canada will be a tremendous experience."