Left-handed pitcher Jacob Popadynec eyeing success with the Victoria Golden Tide
VICTORIA, British Columbia — Jacob Popadynec, 19, is a left-handed pitcher signed to the Victoria Golden Tide (the University of Victoria鈥檚 (UVic) collegiate team), and the Victoria HarbourCats (of the West Coast League (WCL)). A first-year UVic engineering student with classes and practice each weekday and four games every weekend, he also participates in the UVic Rocketry club. Though, Jacob said, 鈥渂aseball is my number-one passion.鈥�
Growing up in a 鈥渟porty family,鈥� Jacob played both baseball and hockey competitively, but baseball was the sport he 鈥渆njoyed the most, and what I felt like I was best at.鈥� So, he focused on baseball, and then on pitching, as he enjoyed it, and because 鈥渂eing a left-handed thrower is somewhat rare, and left-handed pitchers are always needed.鈥� Left-handed pitchers are an asset against left-handed batters, who usually face right-handed pitchers: 鈥淏ut it doesn鈥檛 make [pitching] any easier.鈥�
In grade eight, Jacob made the Bantam Premier Eagles team, of the Victoria Eagles Baseball Club (a baseball program for young athletes, with three high-performance teams). 鈥淭hat was huge for me,鈥� Jacob said. His first year with Bantam went well; but during a game in his second year, he injured his shoulder, requiring surgery and a long recovery: 鈥淚 was out for basically six months鈥擨 missed the end of the season.鈥� In tenth grade, he joined the Junior Premier Eagles team. 鈥淲e had a really good year鈥攚e ended up winning Provincials,鈥� Jacob recalled, attributing the win to the connection the team shared: 鈥渋t was a really special thing.鈥� And though COVID wreaked havoc on the following two seasons, Jacob kept pitching.
In 2021, Jacob signed with the Golden Tide. Staying local offered him a unique opportunity: 鈥淏eing able to play at Royal Athletic Park is pretty cool 鈥� I watched a lot of games there growing up.鈥� While playing at the university level is 鈥渁n adjustment 鈥� it鈥檚 a good adjustment.鈥� Instead of pitching for kids his own age, he now faces older, more experienced players. Jacob explained: 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 make it to college without being a good ballplayer.”
At the beginning of 2022, the HarbourCats also signed Jacob. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very talented league,鈥� Jacob said, noting that many WCL players are signed from Division I teams in the US. 鈥淚’m really looking forward to competing at such a high level.鈥�
But before the summer season starts, Jacob is focused on the Golden Tide. He appreciates his coaches and teammates: 鈥淲e鈥檙e on the right track,鈥� Jacob said, 鈥淲e have a really good group of guys and can definitely feel that bond which I think is really important for championship teams.鈥�
Of his goals for this season, Jacob said, 鈥淚 want to be a starter 鈥� I want to earn that starter spot, and I want to maintain it.鈥� (Though there are 16 Golden Tide pitchers, there will only be four or five starters.) Jacob added that he would also be happy in the bullpen: 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 going to contribute in the end鈥攚e鈥檙e going to need every arm.鈥�
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