Press Releases

Kashirsky's #1 and Axelrod's #23 to be Retired

The Windy City ThunderBolts are proud to announce that they will retire the jersey numbers of long time field staff member #1 Mike "Kash" Kashirsky and current Chicago White Sox starter #23 Dylan Axelrod.  Both numbers will be retired at Standard Bank Stadium in a ceremony on Thursday, June 27th before the ThunderBolts take on the Normal CornBelters.

Axelrod was a standout pitcher for the Bolts during the 2009 season, making the Frontier League all-star game and helping to lead the team to the playoffs. He went 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA and six saves in eight starts and 14 relief appearances.

Kashirsky was a member of the Cook County/Windy City franchise as a player, coach and manager over nearly a decade in Crestwood. After briefly playing for the Cheetahs, “Kash” began his coaching career with the ThunderBolts as bench coach of the 2004 team, a position he retained until 2008, when he took over as Bolts manager mid-season. Under Kashirsky, the ThunderBolts went 37-14 to finish the regular season before going 6-1 through the playoffs to capture the Frontier League title.

After spending 2009 as bench coach, Kashirsky was given the manager’s job full-time in 2010, leading the team to another division title. Overall, in two-plus seasons as Windy City’s skipper, Kashirsky is the franchise’s all-time winningest manager with a 141-100 record.

In 2012, he joined Axelrod in the White Sox organization, taking over the role of left-handed batting practice pitcher for the big league squad. He is the second former ThunderBolts coach to join a big league staff, following Orioles bullpen catcher Ronny Deck.

Axelrod was signed by the White Sox on August 3, 2009 and rose quickly through their system. He topped out at high-A Winston-Salem in 2009 and reached Triple-A Charlotte by the end of 2010. The following season, after going 6-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 15 Charlotte starts, he was promoted to the White Sox and made his Major League debut on September 7, 2011.

Since then, he has become a mainstay in the White Sox pitching staff. He has been a regular member of the starting rotation in 2013.

Axelrod’s #23 and Kashirsky’s #1 are the first numbers to be retired in ThunderBolts history. Axelrod will join the proud tradition of Chicago sports legends to have the number 23 retired. The Bulls have retired Michael Jordan’s 23 as have the Cubs with Ryne Sandberg.

First pitch on Thursday, June 27 is scheduled for 7:05. The number retirement ceremony will take place before the game.



Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

February 2024
January 2024
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
September 2020
June 2020
April 2020
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
January 2018
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
November 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006