WAVERLEY Baseball Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Brad Harman as its senior coach of the Blackcats in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League.
Brad, a former professional who reached the Major League level with the Philadelphia Phillies, takes over from Luke Hughes, who has returned to Perth after coaching the Blackcats the past three season.
Brad brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, understanding and care to the Blackcats, quite part from his playing prowess.
During the 2021 season, Brad imparted much of his expertise and mentorship to the Blackcats’ playing group in his first season at the Club.
As well as reaching the pinnacle of the sport when he played for the Phillies in 2008, Brad represented Australia multiple times and played extensively for the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League.
Brad is excited at the prospect of taking charge of the Blackcats with its emphasis on providing young players with opportunities, personal development and enjoyment.
“It is always quite humbling to be selected to lead a group or organization and this opportunity I have been given is no different,” Brad said.
“I take great pride in the responsibility I am accepting and endeavor to be a leader of the club who is committed to assisting all those involved at the club reach their goals, whatever they may be, however I can.
“My expectations for the club are really quite simple – we continue to build on the great work of ‘Hughesy’ before me in adopting that growth mindset and further teaching, developing or refreshing the nuance of what success looks like within the sport and also off the field.
“(While) we all strive to win and we expect to be successful, what’s more important within that pursuit for success however is ‘how we win’ and the behaviours we demonstrate throughout our journey.
“This club has a rich history and the hopes are the Winter sector of the club can align with the amazing strengths and success of the Summer sector.
“And the exciting part for myself is what’s already cemented within the walls of the Winter club.
“The off-field support is incredible having witnessed it first hand last year and the youth which are continuing to develop on the field leads me to believe a really exciting future is ahead of the group and the club.
“As I say again, I am unbelievably excited to be a part of and assist in any way I can.
“Enjoy the remainder of your summer season if you are participating, look after one another through these continuously challenging times and I look forward to meeting or re-uniting with you down at Napier Park in the coming months.”
The Blackcats’ season in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League season starts in late April.
