EL1 Chesapeake Baysox

Komminsk Returns To Lead Baysox

January 7, 2010 - Eastern League (EL1)
Chesapeake Baysox News Release


BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie Baysox, in conjunction with the Baltimore Orioles, announce today the return of Field Manager Brad Komminsk to lead the Baysox for a third consecutive season. Komminsk will become the second person to manage the Baysox for three consecutive seasons, joining Joe Ferguson. The Baysox have won at least 72 games in each of the last three seasons and have won 229 games over that span, the best three-year span in team history. Joining Komminsk on the bench will be the familiar faces of Field Coach Moe Hill and Athletic Trainer Joe Benge, as well as newcomer Pitching Coach Kennie Steenstra.

Komminsk has a history of success in the Eastern League. After leading the Baysox to the playoffs with a franchise-best record of 84-58 in 2008, Komminsk was named Eastern League Manager of the year for the second time in his career. Komminsk also received the award in 2002 with the Akron Aeros. In 2003, Komminsk's Aeros won the Eastern League championship and USA Today Sports Weekly named Komminsk Minor League Manager of the Year. Over his managerial career, Komminsk has compiled a record of 629-497 (.559) and his teams have appeared in the playoffs in five of his eight seasons at the helm. Prior to joining the Orioles organization, Komminsk spent a year in the Phillies organization and eight years in the Indians organization. He has managed in Columbus (1999), Kinston (2000-2001) and Akron (2002-2004).

As with most managers, Komminsk began his career on the diamond. The Atlanta Braves selected Komminsk with the fourth overall pick in the 1979 Amateur Entry Draft. Komminsk made his Major League debut for the Braves on Aug. 14, 1983. He was traded to the Brewers organization in 1987, and in 1990 the Baltimore Orioles claimed him on waivers. Komminsk played in 46 games for the Orioles. He retired with a Major League batting average of .218 in 376 games, compiling 37 doubles, 5 triples, 23 homeruns and 105 RBI across eight Major League seasons.

Joining Komminsk in the dugout is Moe Hill. Hill will begin his eighth year in the Orioles organization and his fifth consecutive season with the Baysox as field coach. In 2010, Hill will become the longest-tenured coach in Baysox history. Hill spent the 2003-2005 seasons in Single-A Frederick, serving as the Keys field coach and helping lead them to the Carolina League championship in 2005. Prior to joining the Orioles, Hill spent the 1999-2002 seasons as field coach at Double-A Tulsa in the Texas Rangers organization. Hill began his coaching career in the Kansas City Royals organization in 1980, spending three seasons at their Gulf Coast affiliate before becoming the Royals roving minor league hitting instructor for the next three seasons. His playing career began with four years in the Orioles organization after signing out of high school, and he finished his 15-year career in the Minnesota and Kansas City organizations. Hill won the Midwest League Triple Crown in 1974 and in 1999 was named the top player in the history of the Midwest League by Baseball America.

New Pitching Coach Kennie Steenstra becomes the fourth Baysox pitching coach in the last four years. Steenstra spent 2009 as the pitching coach for the Frederick Keys after spending the previous four years in the same capacity with the Delmarva Shorebirds. Steenstra was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the 1992 First Year Player Draft and made his major league debut in Chicago on May 21, 1998. He pitched 11 years professionally, spending seven years in the Cubs organization before playing for the Orioles, Royals, Mariners, Braves, Cardinals and Diamondback organizations. In 2002, he pitched in six games for the Orioles class Triple-A affiliate in Rochester.

Rounding out the Baysox 2009 coaching staff is Athletic Trainer Joe Benge. The Baltimore native returns to the Baysox for the fourth consecutive season and his ninth season in the organization. Benge was an intern for the Orioles training staff for two months in the summer of 1999 and served as the athletic training intern for the Red Sox Class A Lowell Spinners in 2000. In 2001, Benge joined the Orioles organization as the trainer for the Gulf Coast League Orioles before moving on to Aberdeen (2002-2003) and Delmarva (2004-2006).

Think Outside The Box with the Baysox in 2010. The Baysox open their 18th season as the class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles at Prince George's Stadium on Thursday, April 8, at 7:05 p.m. against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Baysox full-season and partial-season ticket packages are available now at www.baysox.com or by calling the group sales department at (301) 464-4880.

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Eastern League Stories from January 7, 2010


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