Former Windy City ThunderBolts field manager and Dubois County Dragons hitting coach Andy Haines will be returning to manage the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Florida Marlins’ affiliate in the South Atlantic League.
Haines led the Grasshoppers to a 66-74 record in 2010. Greensboro featured five of the Marlins’ top 10 prospects as determined by Baseball America, and Haines was voted Best Manager Prospect by the other South Atlantic League managers. Prior to Greensboro, he served as field manager for the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League in 2009 and the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast Marlins in 2008.
With the ThunderBolts in 2007, Haines led the team to a Frontier League record 68 wins en route to their first Frontier League championship. Eight Windy City players were selected to the All-Star Game, and the team led the Frontier League in ERA, saves, and stolen bases.
Haines first professional experience came as hitting coach in Dubois County in 2002. The Dragons won the West Division title and finished with the third highest team batting average.
The Windy City ThunderBolts are a member of the twelve-team Frontier League, the oldest professional independent baseball league in the nation. The ThunderBolts open the 2011 season at Standard Bank Stadium on Thursday, May 19th. Season tickets, flex plans, and all group tickets (including suites, picnics, party box, & spa) are on sale now! Single-game tickets for the 2011 season go on sale Saturday, April 30th. For more information please call 708.489.BALL or visit wcthunderbolts.com.
