The Rochester Honkers have tapped California once again for their new field manager for the 2015 Northwoods League summer college baseball season.
The Honkers have named Trevor Hairgrove, an undergraduate assistant from the University of California Riverside, to guide the team next summer.
Hairgrove, 28, is the second UC Riverside coach to manage the team, following Rusty McNamara who guided the Honkers to their fifth league championship in 2009 and was named the NWL Manager of the Year.
"Last time a Riverside coach was here, that year ended in a championship, I want to keep that tradition going," Hairgrove said in a press release. "Asking for anything less is just asking for failure."
Hairgrove will be the Honkers' 15th field manager since their inaugural season in 1994. He takes over for Matt Bowman who led the team to a 37-35 record in 2014. It was the team's first winning record since 2010 when it last made the playoffs.
ADVERTISEMENT
"UC Riverside has treated us very well over the years," said Honkers general manager Dan Litzinger. "With Trevor now coaching under Tory Percival, a 2002 World Series Champion with the Angels and head coach at Riverside, we are excited to see what Trevor will bring this summer."
Hairgrove played his entire collegiate career at UC Riverside where he was the team's starting shortstop all four years. Healso played one season in the Northwoods League with the Battle Creek Bombers in 2008.
Hairgrove was drafted in 2008 in the 18th round by the Los Angeles Angels and spent three years in their minor league system, advancing as high as Class AA ball.
"The Norhwoods League is the closest professional experience a college ballplayer can get," added Hairgrove. "I expect these boys to play hard every day, and to not only play for themselves but for the city of Rochester. With my experience at the professional level these young men will be taught what is expected and what they need to do to reach that level."
