Kopitzke Makes Managerial Debut with Hawks - Beyers Tennessee Bound
"I'm thrilled to be coming," says Kopitzke. "I've been instructing periodically in Boise the last two years and have enjoyed everything about it."
The first time manager says he's eager to get back in the clubhouse. "The thing I've missed the most since I quit playing was being part of a team. When you're a roving instructor, you're in and out in a matter of days. The chance to teach and mold players every single day is really exciting to me."
Kopitzke spent the last two seasons as the Cubs' roving minor league catching coordinator after wrapping up an 8 year minor league career in 2006. • Selected by the Cubs in the 27th round of the 1999 draft and spent his entire eight-year professional career within the Cubs' organization. • Batted .230 in 495 career minor league games for Cubs' affiliates from 1999-2006...committed just 11 errors in 2,057 chances from 2002 through his final season in 2006. • Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2001. • Graduated from East DePere (Wis.) High School in 1996.
The former catcher was born 5/31/78 and currently resides in Green Bay, Wisconsin with his wife Erin.
"In our minds, he's a rising star," says Oneri Fleita - Cubs Vice President, Player Personnel. "Casey's really served as my right hand man the last couple of years. He's very versatile and this will be a great way to advance his career. He could move into scouting, instruction, or maybe even manage a major league team at some point. I don't know what it is about former catchers, but they tend to transition relatively easily into running a ballclub."
Tom Beyers, who led the Hawks to the second-best record in the Northwest League last season, joins the Tennessee Smokies as their hitting instructor. Beyers was the Northwest League Manager of the Year in 2004.
"Tom is a fantastic organizational guy," says Fleita. "Every two or three years, we like him to catch up with the players he coached a couple of years earlier in an effort to hopefully catapult those guys to the major leagues."
David Rosario returns to Boise as the Hawks pitching coach. Rosario begins his 6th season in the Cubs' system. He spent 2005-2006 in Boise and was the pitching coach in Daytona last summer.
Desi Wilson begins his second season in the Cubs' organization as Boise's hitting coach. He served Mesa in the same capacity last season. Wilson appeared in 41 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1996 hitting .271 with two home runs and 12 RBI.
Dan Golden rounds out the Hawks' 2009 field staff serving as the club's athletic trainer.
Boise opens the 2009 season with a three-game homestand against Tri-City beginning June 20.
The Hawks celebrate the 20th anniversary of Memorial Stadium in 2009 - it will be their 23rd season of Northwest League play. The club has won 6 NWL Championships, the most recent banner coming in 2004. Season, mini-plan, and single game tickets for Hawks' games are available at 322-5000. Don't stand in line. Purchase and print your tickets from home @ BoiseHawks.com. The Boise Hawks...rated F for fun!