Normal CornBelters Bring Back Carey
Published on September 24, 2013 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
Normal, IL - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, have re-signed Field Manager Brooks Carey to a contract for the 2014 season. In his first season at the helm (2013), the team tied the CornBelters record for most wins in a season (46). They also had four active player contracts purchased by Major League Baseball organizations, raising the CornBelters total to seven in the organization's four-year history. The CornBelters will play their first home game of the 2014 regular season at The Corn Crib in early May.
"I'm eager to get started again right away," said Carey, who had four players selected to play in the 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game (Patrick McKenna, Mike Schwartz, Ryan Demmin and Drew Provence), and one player selected as a 2013 post-season All-Star (McKenna). "The CornBelters organization has been great to work with, and a Frontier League championship is what we all want to bring to the Bloomington-Normal community."
Carey served as the Pitching Coach for the Evansville Otters in 2012. The team finished the season with an improved 45-50 record, and his pitching staff boasted a 3.96 ERA. The previous year, they posted a 39-57 record with a 5.20 ERA. Two of his pitchers, Dan Blewett and Eric Massignham, were named to the East Division roster for the Frontier League All-Star Game. Blewett, a former CornBelter, was the leading vote recipient among pitchers.
He served as the CornBelters Pitching Coach in 2010 and 2011 under former Field Manager Hal Lanier. The team posted a 96-102 record during that time, and Carey's pitching staff tallied a 4.10 ERA (2010) and 3.92 ERA (2011). Also, current CornBelters pitcher Tyler Lavigne had his contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox, and former CornBelters pitchers Ryan Sheldon, Bobby Pritchett and Marshall Shuler were named to the Baseball America Top 10 Independent Prospects List. Sheldon and Pritchett were selected in consecutive years, and Shuler was ranked No. 1 in 2011. Last but not least, Lavigne and Sheldon were named to the West Division roster for the 2010 and 2011 Frontier League All-Star Games respectively.
Prior to his first stint with the CornBelters, Carey won the 2008 Can-Am League Championship as Pitching Coach for the Sussex Skyhawks. He was a starting pitcher in his playing days, and he reached AAA with both the Rochester Red Wings and Indianapolis Indians in 1985.
"Both on and off the field, Brooks has been a real positive for our organization," said General Manager Kyle Kreger. "Our team has things heading in the right direction, and we're confident they can improve upon last season and contend for a Frontier League championship in 2014."
THE NIBLET : Full season tickets for the 2014 season are on sale now for only $9 per-seat, per-game! Current full season ticket holders have until Monday, September 30 to secure their same seats. For more information, please visit: http://www.normalbaseball.com/full-season-tickets/. To purchase full season tickets, simply contact the CornBelters at (309) 454-2255 (BALL), or stop by The Mid-Illini Credit Union Box Office at The Corn Crib during normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.).
Frontier League Stories from September 24, 2013
- Beach Bums Trade Burch to Fargo-Moorhead - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Otters, Manager Andy McCauley Agree to Terms for 2014 Season - Evansville Otters
- Normal CornBelters Bring Back Carey - Normal CornBelters
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