Shoemaker Returns as Loons Manager
MIDLAND, Mich. - John Shoemaker's two seasons with the Great Lakes Loons in 2011 and 2012 endeared him to fans and the surrounding community. "Shoe" will make his return to Dow Diamond in 2018 as the team's manager, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Monday. It will be his 42nd season
MIDLAND, Mich. - John Shoemaker's two seasons with the Great Lakes Loons in 2011 and 2012 endeared him to fans and the surrounding community. "Shoe" will make his return to Dow Diamond in 2018 as the team's manager, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Monday. It will be his 42nd season in the Los Angeles organization and 25th season as a minor league manager.
"The Dodgers and the Loons have had a great 11-year relationship with a lot of exciting baseball players and baseball games," Shoemaker said. "I'm looking forward to returning to the Midwest League for the 2018 season. Midland has a great fan base and the beautiful Dow Diamond, along with a terrific front office staff. Every player who goes to the Loons is always really excited about the facilities that are there."
Shoemaker spent last season with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 35th round of the 1977 draft, the 61-year-old has been with the club ever since, as a player (1977-80), manager, coach and coordinator. During his two seasons in the Loons' dugout, Shoemaker compiled a 139-140 (.498) record before he was appointed the Dodgers' "Captain" of Player Development in 2015.
Back for a second stint as the team's pitching coach will be Bobby Cuellar. After helping the Loons win their first Midwest League Championship in franchise history in 2016, the veteran coach spent last year in Utah with the Ogden Raptors. It will be Cuellar's fourth season with the Dodgers organization.
Jair Fernandez will be entering his third season with the Dodgers organization and his second with the Loons as the team's hitting coach. Seth Conner is set to begin his first year coaching with the Dodgers and will serve as the team's assistant coach. The 25-year-old Missouri native played five minor league seasons as a first baseman where he appeared in 187 games and batted .244 over his career.
In 2017 under the guidance of manager Jeremy Rodriguez , the Loons finished one game under .500 at 69-70. Rodriguez was the youngest manager in franchise history at 27 years old. While the former catcher won't be back in Midland in 2018, he will remain with the Dodgers organization as the manager of the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League.
The Dodgers also announced the other managers for their minor league affiliates today: Bill Haselman at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Scott Hennessey at Double-A Tulsa, Drew Saylor at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, Rodriguez at Rookie-advanced Ogden and Mark Kertenian with the Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers.
A number of former Loons managers and coaches will work with other Dodgers minor league affiliates during the upcoming season: Haselman (Triple-A manager), Bill Simas (Triple-A pitching coach), Luis Matos (Triple-A coach), Connor McGuinness (Single-A pitching coach), Rodriguez (Rookie-level manager), Fumimasa Ishibashi (Rookie-level coach).
The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.
Loons Drop Doubleheader to Whitecaps
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (21-20) were held to one run in both games falling short 2-1 in game one and 7-1 in game two to the West Michigan Whitecaps (28-13) on a 54-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark. Game One - Joseilyn Gonzalez picked
Today’s Loons Game Suspended, Doubleheader Set for Thursday
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (21-18) and West Michigan Whitecaps (26-13) Wednesday doubleheader started and then stopped in the bottom of the third with a 1-1 score due to inclement weather at LMCU Ballpark. The Loons and Whitecaps will play a doubleheader on Thursday, May 22nd. Game
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Wednesday
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (21-18) and West Michigan Whitecaps (26-13) Tuesday night series opener has been postponed due to inclement weather at LMCU Ballpark. The Loons and Whitecaps will play a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 21st. Game one will start at 11:05 a.m., with game two
George Steals Six Bases Matching Midwest League Record in Loons Win 9-1
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (21-18) won their third straight game with a second straight three home run performance, Kendall George making Midwest League history with six stolen bases, and Patrick Copen striking out 10. The Loons were victorious 9-1 over the Lake County Captains (20-19) on a
Thompson Drives in Four, Loons Homer Three Times in 7-6 Win
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (20-18) offense homered three times, and pitchers struck out 14 Lake County Captains (20-18), in a 7-6 win on a 61-degree, cloudy Saturday night at Dow Diamond. The Loons debuted their Dodger Blue uniforms. - The Loons offense scored the first five runs,
Loons Rake in 11-4 Win, Tally Six Extra Base Hits
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (19-18) posted three multi-run innings in a dominant 11-4 win over Lake County Captains (20-17), on a 82-degree sunny and windy Friday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons scored four runs in the second, three in the third, and four in the
Loons Drop Doubleheader, Back to .500
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (18-18) scored one run across two games against the Lake County Captains (20-16), losing game one 9-1 and game two 2-0 on an 83-degree partly cloudy and windy Thursday night at Dow Diamond. Game One - The Captains had three multi-run innings; two
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Thursday
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (18-16) and Lake County Captains (18-16) Wednesday night game has been postponed due to inclement weather at Dow Diamond. The Loons and Captains will play a doubleheader on Thursday, May 15th. Game one will start at 5:05 p.m., with game two shortly after
Copen K’s 7, Vetrano Homers and Sirota Has Three-Hit Loons Debut, Great Lakes Win 3-1
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (18-16) scored three runs on eight hits and kept the Lake County Captains (18-16) 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Loons took the series opener 3-1 on a 69-degree cloudy Tuesday morning School Kids Day game at Dow Diamond. - Mike Sirota
Loons Take Series, Defeat Dragons 7-2 on Mother’s Day
DAYTON, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (17-16) for the second straight game did damage against a rehabbing pitcher, today scoring five against Dayton Dragons (11-22) starter Rhett Lowder, in a 7-2 win on a 75-degree partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Day Air Ballpark. - Kendall George accounted for the
Loons Decimate Dragons 13-5, De Paula Homers Twice
DAYTON, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (16-16) offense scored a season-best 13 runs on 16 hits, and Loons’ pitching limited the Dayton Dragons (11-21) to one hit. Great Lakes won 13-5 on a 76-degree sunny Saturday night at Day Air Ballpark. - Facing former MLB All-Star Wade Miley, Josue
Dayton’s Edgington K’s 13, Dragons Defeat Loons 9-4
DAYTON, Ohio. – Dayton Dragons (11-20) starter Brian Edgington struck out 13 Great Lakes Loons (15-16), a masterclass pitching performance in a 9-4 Dragons win on a 64-degree sunny Friday night at Day Air Ballpark. - Both teams scored two runs in the first. Great Lakes jumped out to a
Dragons Walk-Off Loons on Wild Pitch
DAYTON, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (15-15) and Dayton Dragons (10-20) went to extra innings, forced by a ninth-inning Loons tally, but Great Lakes ultimately came up short in 10 innings, by the score of 3-2 on a 67-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Day Air Ballpark. - Wyatt
A Four-Run Ninth and Copen’s 12 Strikeouts Deliver Epic Loons Comeback 4-3 Win
DAYTON, Ohio. – Patrick Copen struck out 12 Dayton Dragons (9-20) and the Great Lakes Loons (15-14) offense scored four runs in the top of the ninth in a 4-3 comeback victory on a 73-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark. - Patrick Copen dazzled and struck out
Gutierrez Shines in Gem City, Throws Five Scoreless in Loons 3-2 Win
DAYTON, Ohio. – Roque Gutierrez provided the Great Lakes Loons (14-14) with five scoreless innings, the longest relief appearance by a Loon this season, to secure a 3-2 win over the Dayton Dragons (9-19) on a 71-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at Day Air Ballpark. - For the 13th time
Wagner and Rojas Each Drive in Two, Loons Win Series Finale 7-3
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (13-14) went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position to win their third series finale this year, a 7-3 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits (18-8) on a 58-degree partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Each team scored two in the
River Bandits Take Both Games in Doubleheader
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (12-14) were held to one run in two seven-inning contests dropping game one 8-1 and game two 4-0 to the Quad Cities River Bandits (18-7) on a 48-degree partly cloudy Saturday night at Dow Diamond. Game One - The Loons and River Bandits
River Bandits Hold On, Win 7-5 Over Loons in Front of 6,010 on School Kids Day Game
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (12-12) pitching walked 10, but two Quad Cities River Bandits (16-7) errors in the ninth put the potential tying runner at the plate after three Loons runs. The River Bandits were able to finish, forcing a game-ending flyout and grabbing a 7-5 win on
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Saturday
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (12-11) and Quad Cities River Bandits (15-7) Thursday night game has been postponed due to inclement weather at Dow Diamond. The Loons and River Bandits will play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 3rd. Game one will start at 5:00 p.m., with game two
Martinus’ Late Heroics & Loons Bullpen Grab 6-5 Win to Finish April
MIDLAND, Mich. – A Mairo Martinus RBI single in the eighth and a bullpen that went 5.1 scoreless pushed the Great Lakes Loons (12-11) past the Quad Cities River Bandits (15-7) a 6-5 win on a 58-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Dow Diamond. - Great Lakes is now 4-3
River Bandits Boast 12 Run, 12 Hit Game, Take Series Opener over Loons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Quad Cities River Bandits (15-6) scored in seven of nine innings, winning 12-5 over the Great Lakes Loons (11-11) on a 58-degree and windy Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. - The River Bandits had four doubles over the first three innings, accounting for four of their
Loons Take Wild Game 12-11, Vetrano & Hope Each Nab Four Hits
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (11-10) four multi-run innings were enough to beat the Lake County Captains (12-9) 12-11 in a chaotic contest on a sunny 50-degree Sunday afternoon at Classic Auto Group Park. - Joe Vetrano had a career day. The 22-year-old drove in five runs, off
Loons Drop Doubleheader to Captains, Held to One Hit in Game Two
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (10-10) scored first in both games but could not hold off the Lake County Captains (12-8) dropping game one 6-1 and game two 3-2 on a chilly 45-degree partly cloudy Saturday night at Classic Auto Group Park. Game One - The Loons had
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Tomorrow
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (10-8) and Lake County Captains (10-8) Friday night game has been postponed due to inclement weather at Classic Auto Group Park. The Loons and Captains will play a doubleheader tomorrow Saturday, April 26th. Game one will start at 5:00 p.m., with game two
Copen K’s Seven, Loons Win 3-1 Permit No Earned Runs
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – Great Lakes Loons (10-8) pitching was sensational, striking out 11 Lake County Captains (10-8) in a 3-1 win on a 72-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - Patrick Copen struck out seven Captains batters and stranded five runners. The right-hander worked around a