Hoppers introduce Andy Haines as new skipper this morning

The Greensboro Grasshoppers introduced Andy Haines as their manager for the 2010 season this morning, at a 10am press conference, at NewBridge Bank Park.

Haines was introduced, to those in attendance, by Donald Moore, the President of the Florida Marlins Class A entry in the South Atlantic League.

Haines took and responded to questions from the local media including Bill Hass(gsohoppers.com), Ogi Overman(The Jamestown News), Kevin Reid(Yes Weekly!), Bob Sutton(Burlington Times-News), Bill Welch(TWC 14) and GreensboroSports.com…..

Haines did say that he was looking for a local to be here with the team and that name that he dropped in was Chase Austin, a catcher from Elon, who was drafted by the Marlins last summer. Haines also noted that we might see high draft selection and a member of the 2009 Grasshoppers, Kyle Skipworth another catcher, back in town this at the start of this season…

More on 2010 Greensboro Grasshoppers skipper Andy Haines from today’s media session:

Andy Haines will be joined by hitting coach Kevin Randel and returning pitching coach Charlie Corbell. Athletic trainer Julio Hernandez returns to the Grasshoppers for his third year.

Haines joins the Grasshoppers for his first season, spending last season as the skipper for the Jamestown Jammers and the season prior as the hitting coach for the Marlins Gulf Coast team. Andy is no stranger to coaching; prior to joining the Marlins, he spent seven years coaching in independent baseball and college baseball. During his college days he coached current Marlin, Brett Carroll. Haines earned a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State.

Kevin Randel will fill the role as hitting coach for the Grasshoppers 2010 campaign.

This will be Randel’s inaugural year as a coach. He spent the 2009 season as a player for the Jacksonville Suns, helping the Suns win the 2009 Double A Championship. Randel has been in the Marlins Minor League Organization since 2002, and spent the 2003 and part of 2004 seasons as a Greensboro Bat. Randel attended Long Beach State and was born in Anaheim, California.

Charlie Corbell enters his tenth season as a minor league pitching coach. This will be his second season leading the Grasshoppers pitchers. Prior to joining the Florida Marlins organization in 2007, Corbell enjoyed five years as pitching instructor within the Washington Nationals minor league system. In 1983, Corbell was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 21st round out of the University of Arkansas. His seven year minor league playing career saw him rise as high as AAA-Phoenix before he was traded to Oakland for All-Star reliever Rod Beck.

Hernandez returns to the Grasshoppers for his third year after serving as the athletic trainer for the Marlins’ Gulf Coast League team during the 2007 season. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Hernandez was named the 2004-05 College Medicine Athletic Training Student of the Year.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers have drawn over 2.1 million fans in their first five seasons in NewBridge Bank Park. Season tickets and advertising packages are now on sale for the 2010 season. For more information, please contact the Grasshoppers office at 336.268.2255 or visit www.gsohoppers.com.