Former Standout Player Returns to Keene as Eighth Manager in Team History
March 13, 2016 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Keene Swamp Bats News Release
KEENE - Jim Negrych certainly made his mark in his one year playing for the Keene Swamp Bats. Now he gets to do it as a manager
Negrych, 31, was named the eighth manager in team history today. He is currently a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh, his alma mater, after a decade of playing professional baseball.
Negrych replaces Dan Moylan, who steps down after three years to devote more time to his growing family and as a teacher and baseball coach at Keene High School.
Negrych was named co-MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-league player in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2004. He still holds the team record with 39 RBI.
"That was a memorable summer for me, a time of great growth as a player and a person," Negrych said. "I am grateful to be given the opportunity to return to Keene and be able to share what I have learned and reconnect with the many people who touched my life."
Negrych was a sixth round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 and spent 10 years playing professional baseball. He was a minor leaguer in the Pittsburgh, Miami, Washington and Toronto organizations, and was a two-time all-star in Triple-A. He spent the past two years playing the Chinese Professional baseball League with the Chinatrust Brothers Elephants of the Taichung City, Taiwan.
Swamp Bats President Kevin Watterson said he followed Negrych's career after his summer in Keene and sees the same traits in him as a coach as he showed as a player.
"Jim is a guy who works tirelessly and understands the game," Watterson said. "I am excited to see him work with our players."
Negrych will join Moylan and Mike Sweeney as the only men to have played and managed the Swamp Bats.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from March 13, 2016
- Former Standout Player Returns to Keene as Eighth Manager in Team History - Keene Swamp Bats
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