The Thunder Bay Border Cats are proud to announce that Danny Benedetti is the team's new field manager for the 2015 Northwoods League season.
The 28-year old native of Long Beach, California, played for the Border Cats in 2007 and 2008 and was a member of the Border Cats '08 NWL Championship team. Benedetti has also coached in the NWL with the Border Cats in 2011 and with the Alexandria Beetles in 2012. He is currently an assistant coach with the St. John's University Red Storm, where he is on the staff under head coach Ed Blankmeyer, the father or Ty Blankmeyer, who was an infielder with the Border Cats this past season. Benedetti has also coached at the collegiate level with Long Beach State University.
This summer he was the field manager with the Sag Harbor (NY) Whalers of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. Benedetti guided the Whalers to a first place finish and a playoff berth with a 22-18 record.
The former catcher played his college baseball at Irvine Valley Community College in California and also at St. John's University in New York City. During his senior season with the Red Storm, Benedetti caught the first ever pitch thrown at Citi Field on March 29, 2009, when St. John's played Georgetown University at the new home of the New York Mets.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Danny back to the Border Cats organization," said team President/General Manager Brad Jorgenson. "Having played and coached on both the west coast and east coast of the United States, Danny has developed an impressive list of contacts with several top college baseball programs, which is only going to enhance our recruiting process. Danny knows what it takes to win in the Northwoods League, because he has been a champion at this level," Jorgenson added.
"I am very excited to be returning to Thunder Bay," said the Cats new skipper. "I've always enjoyed my summers in Canada and I will work very hard to put a winning team on the field for the dedicated fans of the Border Cats," added Benedetti.
Benedetti replaces Johnny Hernandez, who had a 23-49 record this past season.