Jair Fernandez Returns as Loons Manager for 2025 Season
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers have named Jair Fernandez as their manager for the 2025 season. Fernandez will manage Great Lakes for the second straight season. Jair Fernandez is the 11th manager in the Loons' 18-year history and the fourth to
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers have named Jair Fernandez as their manager for the 2025 season. Fernandez will manage Great Lakes for the second straight season.
Jair Fernandez is the 11th manager in the Loons' 18-year history and the fourth to return for a second year. 2025 will be Fernandez's ninth season as a coach within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Last year, Great Lakes had their fifth consecutive winning season finishing 69-61. The Loons offense prowess was showcased with plate discipline drawing 573 walks, second best in the Midwest League. Great Lakes pitchers racked up the strikeouts posting 1263, league-best for the third straight year.
Previously, Jair Fernandez served as the hitting coach with the Great Lakes Loons in 2017 and 2018. The Loons hit a combined .240 in those two seasons, accumulating 192 home runs.
Fernandez, 38, debuted in minor league baseball in 2007 as an 18-year-old in the Seattle Mariners organization. The Colombian-born catcher spent nine seasons in baseball, having two stints at the Triple-A level.
He played within four organizations, including stops in the Midwest League. In 2007, he appeared in 52 games with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In 2008, Fernandez was an MWL All-Star with the Beloit Snappers (now Sky Carp), then affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.
The Loons and Fernandez begin the 2025 season on Friday, April 4th at Dow Diamond against the Lake County Captains. The first pitch is at 6:05 pm.
The Great Lakes Loons have been a partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com
Lugnuts Top Loons 8-2 in Rain-Shortened Contest
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (2-3) pitchers walked six Lansing Lugnuts (2-3) batters in five innings and the defense committed three errors while battling a rain mist that turned heavier and led to a game called after five innings with the score 8-2 Lansing on a cold and rainy
MBF Announces 2025 Grant Recipients
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Michigan Baseball Foundation (MBF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 grant cycle, totaling $56,165. These grants will support a diverse range of projects aimed at enhancing communities across the Great Lakes Bay Region. This year, MBF selected organizations across seven counties, reflecting its
Loons Knock 15 Hits, Win 10-5 in Road Opener over Lugnuts
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (2-2) scored 10 runs on 15 hits and stranded 14 Lansing Lugnuts (1-3) runners on base to take a 10-5 win on a chilly 35-degree Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. - Zyhir Hope and Logan Wagner each drove in three runs. After the
Captains Crush Loons 13-2, De Paula Homers for Great Lakes
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (1-2) pitchers walked 12 Lake County Captains (2-1) and allowed four home runs in a 13-2 loss on a chilly and sunny 42-degree Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Payton Martin tied a career-high in strikeouts with six across four innings. The right-hander finished
Hope Homers & Auger Earns Win in Pro Debut
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (1-1) earned their first win of 2025, behind two home runs and dominant pitching which took down the Lake County Captains (1-1) 6-1 on a brisk 47-degree Saturday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Brooks Auger made his first pro ball appearance and completed
Copen Returns and K’s Nine, Loons Pitching Walks 11 in 8-1 Loss to Captains
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (0-1) opened their 2025 season with a run in the first inning but were held off the board the rest of the way against the Lake County Captains (1-0). The Loons lost 8-1 on a chilly 45-degree Friday night at Dow Diamond. -
Dodgers Unveil Loons 2025 Opening Day Roster
MIDLAND, Mich. – In conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce the team’s opening day roster for the 2025 season. The Opening Day roster will be finalized prior to Friday’s home opener, when the Loons host the Lake County Captains (High-A Affiliate Cleveland
WNEM to Broadcast 15 Loons Games in 2025
MIDLAND, Mich. – In partnership with Gray Media-owned WNEM-TV (CBS), the Great Lakes Loons have entered into a broadcast agreement that will air 15 games during the 2025 season on WNEM TV-5 and WNEM+. The first games to air will be the Loons Opening Weekend series April 4-6 against the
Dodgers Announce Full 2025 Loons Coaching Staff
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers, are excited to announce the team’s 2025 coaching staff. Second-year Loons’ manager Jair Fernandez will be joined by pitching coaches Sean Coyne and Eduardo Dominguez, hitting coach Kevin LaChance, and bench coach Joe Thon. Sean Coyne,
Great Lakes Loons Announce 2025 Promotional Schedule: Bigger, Better, Packed with Fan-Favorites, New Surprises!
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons are excited to announce the 2025 Promotion Schedule that includes an incredible lineup of promotions, theme nights, and special appearances. Fans flocking to Dow Diamond can look forward to unforgettable moments all season long. Highlights for the 2025 Promotional Schedule include: Star Wars
Michigan Baseball Foundation Grant Application Available Now
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Michigan Baseball Foundation (MBF) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025 Grant Application today, November 15th, 2024. Grants are available for registered 501(c)(3) organizations that focus on youth-related activities or economic development. Applications must be for specific projects or initiatives the organization is undertaking
DOW DIAMOND HOSTS FIRST-EVER FIELD OF FRAMES FEST
MIDLAND, MI – Dow Diamond, home of the Great Lakes Loons, is thrilled to announce the debut of the Field of Frames Fest for September 26-28 2025, a dynamic and groundbreaking gaming and entertainment festival set to bring together gamers, esports enthusiasts, families, and industry professionals from across the region.
Loons Cap Season with 6-5 Win Over Dragons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (69-61) (35-29) held off the Dayton Dragons (74-57) (40-25) winning 6-5 in the season finale on a windy 69-degree partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Three Loons walks tallied their first run in the first inning. Sean McLain’s bases-loaded base on
Loons Shutout Dragons 3-0 in Final Night Game of 2024
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (68-61) (34-29) struck out 12 Dayton Dragons (74-56) (40-24) in a dominant 3-0 win on a windy 60-degree sunny Saturday night at Dow Diamond. Jose Rodriguez finished six innings, a career-best, striking out five. The right-hander did not permit a hit, walking two.
Romero K’s 10, Loons Lose 4-1
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (67-61) (33-29) and the Dayton Dragons (74-56) (40-24) each struck out 13 times with a three-run three-hit inning propelling Dayton to a 4-1 win on windy 60-degree cloudy Friday night at Dow Diamond. - Josue De Paula scored the game’s first run with
Loons Strikeout 15 Dragons in 7-0 Shutout Victory
MIDLAND, Mich. –Great Lakes Loons (67-60) (33-28) pitching struck out 15 Dayton Dragons (73-56) (39-24) batters in a 7-0 win on an 84-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons 7-0 win is their sixth shutout win of the season. Three have come in the last 21
Five-Run Fourth Inning Catapults Loons to 6-3 Win
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (66-60) (32-28) tallied five runs in the fourth inning to take the eventual final, a 6-3 win over the Dayton Dragons (73-55) (39-23) 6-3 on a 78-degree clear Wednesday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons converted back-to-back two-out hits to grab a
Dragons Down Loons 1-0, Clinch Second-Half Playoff Spot
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (65-60) (31-28) allowed one unearned run off one hit but were shutout by the now Midwest League East 2nd Half champion Dayton Dragons (73-53) (39-22) 1-0 on a 71-degree sunny Labor Day Monday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Peter Heubeck was excellent going
Cubs Shutout Loons 2-0, Split Series
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Both the South Bend Cubs (50-76) (23-36) and Great Lakes Loons (65-57) (31-26) pitching staffs struck out 12, with a Cubs homer and Loons wild pitch the difference in a 2-0 South Bend win on a 71-degree clear skied Sunday night at Four Winds Field. -
Ramirez’s Grand Slam Gives Cubs Walk-off Win over Loons
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – After nine scoreless innings and down to their final strike across three different batters, South Bend Cubs (48-76) (21-36) left fielder Pedro Ramirez launched a grand slam to beat the Great Lakes Loons (65-56) (31-24) 4-1 in 10 innings on a 84-degree cloudy Friday night at
McLain’s Homer & Martinez’s 3 Ks Gets Great Lakes 6-4 Win in 12 Innings
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (65-56) (31-24) held the South Bend Cubs (47-76) (20-36) scoreless in all three extra innings, with a Sean McLain two-run homer in the twelfth, the difference in a 6-4 win in 12 innings on an 87-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Four
Three-Run 11th Inning Gets Loons Past Cubs 6-3 in Extra-Inning Epic
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (64-56) (30-24) produced a three-run rally in the eleventh to push past the South Bend Cubs (47-75) (20-35) 6-3 in 11 innings on a 84-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Four Winds Field. - In the eleventh inning, Great Lakes pushed across
Loons Top Cubs in Shootout 12-7 In Rain-Shortened Contest
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (63-56) (29-24) tallied 14 hits and 12 runs before being halted by rain, defeating the South Bend (73-46) (31-22) 12-7 in eight innings on a 94-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at Four Winds Field. - The Loons padded their lead with two
Timber Rattlers Split Series, Win 5-2 Over Loons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (62-56) (28-24) went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position dropping a series finale to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (73-46) (31-22) 5-2 on a 85-degree sunny Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Wisconsin was worst with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-14. Their first