Crestwood, IL – The Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team, 2007 and 2008 Frontier League champions have announced the hiring of Tommy Thompson as field manager for the 2009 season. Thompson replaces interim field manager Mike Kashirsky, who took over for Brian Nelson midway through the 2008 season. Kashirsky, who is the head baseball coach for Robert Morris College, removed his name for consideration for the 2009 season in order to devote his efforts to the Robert Morris program.
Thompson served as field manager for the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League, class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, for the 2007 and beginning of the 2008 seasons. Thompson led the Keys to the Carolina League’s 2007 North Division first-half title en route to the Carolina League championship. He was the recipient of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Award in 2007, given to the minor league staff member who best exemplifies “The Oriole Way” along with being honored by Baseball America as the High-A Manager of the Year.
Prior to joining the Orioles organization, Thompson spent 20 seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization, including serving as field manager for the Utica Blue Sox of the New York-Penn League in 1990 and the South Bend White Sox of the Midwest League in 1991 before serving as the White Sox’ catching coordinator from 1992 through 2005.
Thompson was drafted in the 27th round by the Atlanta Braves in 1977 and spent nine years as a catcher in the minor leagues, advancing as high as Triple-A. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.
“I’m very excited about an opportunity to manage in Windy City and look forward to the challenges of working with new players in a new league,” said Thompson. “I hope to continue the string of championships that the ThunderBolts have put together the past two seasons.”
The Windy City ThunderBolts open the 2009 season on Thursday, May 21 at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. For more information, please visit us online at www.wcthunderbolts.com or contact the ThunderBolts at 708-489-BALL or [email protected] 
