Mankato, MN – The MoonDogs are eager to announce Ryan Kragh of Bethany Lutheran College is the new 2016 Field Manager. As the Assistant Director for Athletics, Women’s Golf Coach, and Head Baseball Coach for Bethany Lutheran College, Kragh is a widely recognized name in the greater Mankato area. Previous Field Manager, Ryan Day stepped down after the 2015 season after receiving a promotion in the baseball program at the University of Concordia, Irvine.
In 2013, Kragh served as the Pitching Coach for the MoonDogs and again in 2015. Making the leap to Field Manager in 2016, Vice President Kyle Mrozek quotes, “We are excited to have Kragh for another season and expecting longevity in the coaching position. He is experienced with the MoonDogs organization in baseball operations, and also understands the impact the team makes in the community, on and off the field. Having a coach who resides in Mankato creates the ability to meet in-person year-round about coaching decisions. By improving this communication between management and the coaching staff, it should be a huge advantage to the organization.”
After hearing about the opportunity for Kragh, 2014 MoonDog, Craig Nennig from Ohio State says, “Coach Kragh is a very knowledgeable and personable guy. He always pushes the players to get better every day and have fun doing it. His mentality of playing hard before and during games has a positive effect on everyone in the dugout. Every player will enjoy playing for Coach Kragh.”
Coach Kragh says, “I would like to thank the MoonDogs organization for giving me this great opportunity to be the next Field Manager. I would especially like to thank owners, Mark Ogren and Tom Garrity, General Manager Greg Weis, and Vice President Kyle Mrozek. I’m excited to put an entertaining product on the field that the community of Mankato and the MoonDogs’ organization can be proud of. It would be an honor to bring a championship for the MoonDogs to the community. I can’t wait to get started!”
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. – See more at: http://northwoodsleague.com/mankato-moondogs/2015/09/15/4906/#sthash.HCCEjC80.dpuf
