Victoria hosts Nanaimo on Thursday morning
The first time Hudson Shupe played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park in 2022, he was a hesitant rookie soaking in the summer-collegiate baseball experience for the Victoria HarbourCats.
He returns to the HarbourCats as a 2025 Major League Baseball draft prospect.
The rise has been steady and sure. By the 2023 West Coast League season, Shupe had matured into an infield and batting whirlwind in leading Victoria to the WCL final. The Gonzaga University junior, who is helping give the NCAA basketball powerhouse school some notice in baseball, returned this week for his third season with the HarbourCats after playing summer-collegiate ball last season in the Cape Cod League.
“I’ve learned a lot of things since 2022 and am more prepared than a lot of players who are just starting out in summer-collegiate ball,” said the six-foot, 180-pound infielder from West Richland, Washington.
He certainly has as the 21-year-old is in his draft year as he looks to potentially join the burgeoning list of WCL players who have gone on to pro ball, including right to the top, with 40 alumni on opening-day MLB rosters this year. That group included former HarbourCats Nathan Lukes with the Toronto Blue Jays, Cade Smith with the Cleveland Guardians, Andrew Vaughn with the Chicago White Sox (since traded to Milwaukee Brewers), Chase Meidroth with the Chicago White Sox and home-Island product Nick Pivetta with the San Diego Padres.
It’s a long way yet to that heady level for the Class of 2025 players, but the dream starts here, as they anticipate the MLB draft July 13-14 in Atlanta.
“I’ve talked to about half of the [MLB] teams,” said Shupe.
“I’m not worried about it. What happens, happens.”
Just to be in the conversation and mix for the draft is a victory at this stage in a budding baseball career. Shupe’s greatest asset is his versatility as attested by his ability to play short-stop and second and third base. As well has his vacuuming abilities defensively, he is also a factor at the plate, and has hit .320 over three NCAA Div. 1 seasons, beginning as a freshman at Seattle University, and continuing as a sophomore and junior at Gonzaga.
Shupe hit .310 last summer in 39 games for the Orleans, Massachusetts, Firebirds of the Cape Cod League and it’s that sort of production the HarbourCats are expecting this year in his return to the WCL.
“I would be lying if I said there weren’t some nerves [on Tuesday night] in my first game back in Victoria because people are expecting me to play well,” said Shupe.
Shupe started as short-stop in his return Tuesday night with a hit, two walks and a run scored in three at-bats as the HarbourCats defeated the Nanaimo NightOwls 9-0 to tie the Island rivalry series 2-2 on the season as both teams are 8-8 overall. The ’Cats/’Owls series continued Wednesday night at Royal Athletic Park in a game that was in progress at press time and concludes Thursday with the school-special 11 a.m. game before the HarbourCats head to the Interior for a three-game set in Kamloops against the NorthPaws.
“I still had a relationship and kept in touch with the HarbourCats and it was a no-brainer to return to the team this season,” said Shupe, whose energy and hustle defensively in the infield, and around the bases on offence, won over Victoria fans in his two previous stints with the club.
“The fans here are super supportive,” said Shupe.
He previously played 84 regular-season and playoff games for the HarbourCats, with a .270 batting average and 13 stolen bases as a rookie in 2022, and .353 average and 10 stolen bases as a major factor on the 2023 WCL-finalist Victoria team.
This is a key summer for his development and Shupe is aware of that: “I need to get stronger with more power and more consistency, and continue to play well defensively, while keeping up a good average at the plate and not striking out.”
The HarbourCats, for their part, are happy to give Shupe that opportunity in his third go-round with the club. It’s one that is mutually beneficial and should help lift a team that has started mid-pack at .500.
“The 2023 season here in Victoria was special as we went to the league championship game,” recalled Shupe.
“I would love to do that again.”
It would be a most welcome reprise for the HarbourCats.
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