May 22, 2019

Official Victoria HarbourCats Press Release

Two impact Canadian pitchers sign for 2019

VICTORIA, B.C. -- There's a term that refers to the top starter for a college baseball team -- Friday Night Starter.

The Victoria HarbourCats have added two legitimate aces in right-handers Garrett Goodall, of Embry-Riddle in Florida, and University of Hawaii ace Cade Smith for the 2019 season. Both are B.C. products -- Goodall from Nanaimo, and Smith from Abbotsford.

The team is also announcing the signing of junior infielder Joe Butler from Illinois State and Channahon, Ill., who is hitting .324 with three home runs and 36 RBIs, along with 11 stolen bases from a guy who is 6-3/195.

Goodall was co-pitcher of the year last summer for the HarbourCats, a dependable starter named to the WCL all-star game in Port Angeles, and was recently named first-team All-Conference in the Sunshine State. He is closing in on a civil engineering degree at Embry-Riddle, a very highly regarded school in that discipline. Goodall is 6-1/200 and continues to add velocity while posting an 8-2 record and 3.11 ERA this spring.

Smith, imposing at 6-5/225, was a 17th round draft choice by the Minnesota Twins out of high school in 2017, but chose to take a scholarship at the University of Hawaii. He has a 2-1 record and 4.86 ERA.

"These are key signings during an important time when we solidify the roster," said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner and GM. "These players will be looked to for leadership by our head coach, Todd Haney, and his staff. Getting Garrett back, and adding Cade, are huge for what our pitching staff needs for anchors. With Butler, we think he'll provide a plus bat and defense for us and give us many options as we go through the day-to-day grind that is our season in the West Coast League."

In an interesting part of the summer plans, Goodall will play for the HarbourCats while also doing an internship with great local partner Herold Engineering, which has offices in Victoria and Nanaimo.