Spring cleaning: The Sydney Blue Sox have promoted Jason Popishil (right) as the club’s new manager. Popishil will be in the dugout alongside Todd Van Steensel for the club’s three game series against Australia later this month. Picture: Gene Ramirez
A familiar yet different face will be in the dugout next month when the Sydney Blue Sox start their fourth Australian Baseball League campaign.
Former assistant coach Jason Pospishil will take over from Glenn Williams as manager after a coaching reshuffle.
Though the goals and team culture have changed, Pospishil said it’s his team familiarity which will be one of his biggest strengths.
‘‘I know the squad and I know the areas we have to improve on to win the championship,’’ Pospishil said.
He played as a utility player with the Minnesota Twins affiliates in the minor leagues.
It’s this experience he’s hoping to draw on to better educate the Blue Sox’s young baseballers and transform the team into a championship contender.
‘‘There’s five professional players on our books who are all under 18s,’’ Pospishil said.
‘‘When you add in our three new import players we’ve strengthened our squad for the coming season.
‘‘We’ll be looking to go further into the finals then our qualifying series finish last year.’’
Coming into the Blue Sox squad will be Detroit Tigers Florida State League pitcher James Robbins and Minnesota Twins minor leagues players Tyler Herr and JaDamion Williams.
Australian representative baseballers Trent Oeltjen and Ryan Rowland-Smith will also play for the Blue Sox this season in a four-game series.
The Blue Sox have a three-match warm-up series against the Australian national team on October 26 to 28.
They travel to Canberra on November 2 for round one of the Australian Baseball League.