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Ryan Newman to Lead Barons in 2016

January 19, 2016 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


Ryan Newman with the Charlotte Knights
Ryan Newman with the Charlotte Knights
(Birmingham Barons)

Birmingham, AL - The Chicago White Sox announced Tuesday morning Ryan Newman has been named the 68th manager in Birmingham Barons history. Joining Newman on the staff is 2015 hitting coach Jamie Dismuke, and returning to Birmingham after a three-year absence is pitching coach J.R. Perdew. New to the Barons this year is head athletic trainer James Kruk and rounding out the field staff is returning strength and conditioning coach Tim Rodmaker.

Newman spent the past two seasons as a coach with Triple-A Charlotte and prior to that was the manager of Class-A Winston-Salem Dash in 2013 where he led them to a 71-69 record. Previously, Newman was the manager of Short Season Great Falls from 2011-12 and Short Season Bristol from 2009-10. He guided Great Falls to a Pioneer League Championship in 2011. Before joining the White Sox organization, he spent time coaching in the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations.

A native of Hayward, CA., and a resident of Scottsdale, AZ., Newman was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round of the 2000 free-agent draft, but did not sign. He later enjoyed a three-year Minor League playing career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Newman is the son of former Major League catcher Jeff Newman, who spent a total of nine-years with the Oakland A's and Boston Red Sox.

"The Birmingham Barons are excited to have Ryan Newman as our manager for the 2016 season," said Barons General Manager Jonathan Nelson. "He is an outstanding leader both on and off the field, and he is an aggressive competitor. His management style will make Barons baseball so much fun to watch."

The Barons pitching staff will be led by J.R. Perdew, who enters his 20th season of coaching with the Chicago White Sox organization and his second stint with the Barons. He was the Barons pitching coach from 2009-11 before spending the 2012-15 seasons with Class-A Winston-Salem. Prior to that, he had stints Class-A Kannapolis and Short Season Bristol. Under his guidance in 2011, the Barons pitching staff led the Southern League in shutouts and fewest hits and home runs.

Perdew, 50, played baseball at George Mason University from 1986-87. He obtained a Master's degree from Frostburg College in Maryland. He spent seven seasons from 1990-96 as the pitching coach at Alleghany (Md.) College. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and his father Russell is a WWII veteran who received two purple hearts and a bronze star.

Jamie Dismuke returns for his second season as the Barons hitting coach in 2016. Dismuke spent the 2004-08 seasons as the hitting coach for Double-A Chattanooga before serving as hitting coach for Triple-A Gwinnett from 2009-2013. He spent one season with Double-A Mississippi in 2014.

The former first baseman was drafted out of Corcoran High School in Syracuse, N.Y., by the Cincinnati Reds in 1989 in the 12th round and spent nine seasons in the minors. Dismuke spent the majority of his playing career as a part of the Reds system, while spending time with both Toronto and Detroit.

"Bringing Dismuke back and the addition of Perdew is going to give us one of the best coaching staffs in the Southern League," Nelson added. "Both are extremely experienced baseball guys who know what it takes to win."

James Kruk, 32, enters his eighth season in the White Sox system and his first as head athletic trainer with the Barons. Previously, Kruk served four years as the head trainer for Short Season Great Falls from 2009-12 before spending the 2013 season with Short Season Bristol. He spent the 2014-15 seasons as head athletic trainer with Class-A Kannapolis.

Tim Rodmaker also returns to Birmingham for his second season as the team's strength and conditioning coach. He has been a member of the White Sox organization since 2006 with stops in Single-A Kannapolis and Short Season Great Falls.

Birmingham opens the 2016 season Thursday, April 7 on the road against the Jacksonville Suns, Double-A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Barons open the home portion of their 2016 season at Regions Field on Tuesday, April 12 against the Tennessee Smokies, Double-A Affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, with first pitch at 7:05pm. For tickets and more information, please call (205) 988-3200 or visit us at www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.

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Ryan Newman with the Charlotte Knights
Ryan Newman with the Charlotte Knights
   

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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