Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Knights Name McEwing New Manager

December 20, 2010
Untitled Document

Joe McEwing Named Charlotte Knights Manager

Tim Laker Named Hitting Coach, Dotson Returns as Pitching Coach for 2011

FORT MILL, S.C.  - Former major leaguer Joe McEwing has been named the new Manager of the Charlotte Knights.  McEwing began his coaching career with the Knights in 2008 as the team’s hitting coach.

“I’m excited, this is going to be a great new challenge,” McEwing said.  “Working for the Knights in 2008 helps me out because I am familiar with the league, the great city of Charlotte and the teams we are playing.”

McEwing spent the past two seasons managing the Advanced Class A Winston-Salem Dash in the Carolina League.  Under McEwing, the Dash went a combined 154-123 and made the playoffs in both seasons.  Last season McEwing led the Dash to a league best 81-58 record and an appearance in the Carolina League championship series.

“I am going to be familiar with a lot of the players.  Some of them I will have managed the past two seasons.  It helps because I am comfortable with them and they are with me,” McEwing said.

McEwing played in the major leagues from 1998-2006 with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.  He played every position in the field during his major league career except pitcher and catcher.

“We are very pleased to have Joe returning to the Knights as our field manager for the upcoming season,” Knights Vice President/General Manager Dan Rajkowski said.  “Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and excitement to our organization.  We look forward to his leadership and the experience of the rest of the field staff.”

Joining McEwing’s coaching staff as the Knights hitting coach will be former major league catcher Tim Laker.  He most recently served as the manager of the Class AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Laker spent parts of 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.  This will be Laker’s first season coaching at the Triple-A level.  Laker was an International League All-Star in 1994 while playing for the Ottawa Lynx

Richard Dotson will return for his fourth season as the Knights pitching coach and his 10th season as a pitching coach in the White Sox organization.  Dotson, who played 12 seasons in the major leagues, saw six of his Knights pitchers reach the majors in 2010.

Chad Efron will return for his sixth season as the Knights strength and conditioning coach.  It will be Efron’s eighth season as a strength and conditioning coach in the White Sox organization.

Joe Geck will be the Knights trainer in 2011.  It will be Geck’s first season at the Triple-A level after 10 seasons with the Class AA Birminghan Barons.

The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For ticket or event information, please contact the Knights front office at (704) 357-8071 or (803) 548-8050 or visit our website at for more information.