Greensboro Native, Blake Butler, Returns Home to Lead the Greensboro Grasshoppers with a Mix of Familiar and Fresh Faces
GREEENSBORO, N.C. – Greensboro native and Southeast Guilford High School alumnus, Blake Butler, will return to lead the Greensboro Grasshoppers on the field as the team’s manager for 2025 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates revealed this week as part of its player development assignments for the upcoming season. Butler returns at
GREEENSBORO, N.C. – Greensboro native and Southeast Guilford High School alumnus, Blake Butler, will return to lead the Greensboro Grasshoppers on the field as the team’s manager for 2025 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates revealed this week as part of its player development assignments for the upcoming season.
Butler returns at the helm for the 2025 season after leading the Grasshoppers to a 75-55 record in 2024. Also, under first-year Manager Butler, the ‘Hoppers brought home the 2024 SAL First Half title and clinched a 2024 playoff appearance.
Butler, a former middle infielder, graduated from SE Guilford in 2013 and played collegiately for the College of Charleston before being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 15th round of the 2015 draft. He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Reds where he played in the Cincinnati minor league system from 2015-2017. Butler joined the Pirates Organization in 2020 and spent time in Altoona before joining the ‘Hoppers as a development coach in 2021. Before his professional coaching career, Butler served as an assistant coach at Francis Marion University and Davidson College.
“I am again extremely grateful to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opportunity to manage the Greensboro Club this season. Our leadership is invested in improving the development process for our players and has put together an excellent staff for the 2025 season,” said Butler. “Returning pitching coach Matt Myers and returning hitting coach Jonathan Prieto will be familiar faces to the fans in Greensboro as we hope to continue to build on our success from last season. The rest of the staff is new to Greensboro and motivated to bring fresh perspective and strategy to helping our players win baseball games and make the city of Greensboro proud of their hometown team this summer.”
A mix of familiar and new coaching staff will join Butler this 2025 season that opens at FNB Field on Friday night, April 4th against the Asheville Tourists. Hitting coach Jonathan Prieto and pitching coach Matt Myers return for another year in the Gate City as field staff. New faces include Integrated Baseball Performance Coach Jonathan Roof, Bench Coach Phillip Wellman, Development Coach Stephanie Lombardo, Athletic Training Coordinator Coleman Duke, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Nick Ritchie.
Jon Prieto enters his third season with the Hoppers as the hitting coach and has been a member of the Pirates organization for 26 years, serving as a coach in the Florida Complex League before Greensboro for two seasons. Prieto was the recipient of the organization's Danny Murtaugh Coach-of-the-Year Award in 2022, which recognizes the Pirates minor league coach who has had the biggest impact on the development of talent throughout the season. Prieto spent four years as an infielder in the Pirates minor league system (1998-2001) after being signed as a non-drafted free agent in 1997.
Coach Matt Myers enters his second season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and with the Grasshoppers, as the pitching coach. Prior to joining the Pirates, Myers most recently was the pitching coach at Lipscomb University and spent time at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. While with the Seahawks, he helped the program reach its sixth-straight Colonial Athletic Association championship game behind a stellar pitching rotation. Myers has also spent time at Western Kentucky, Auburn, and UNC Asheville. Myers pitched collegiately for the University of Tennessee and embarked on his coaching journey in 1999.
Integrated Baseball Performance Coach, Jonathan Roof, joins the Grasshoppers 2025 field staff for his second season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roof, from Paducah, KY, spent five years as the hitting coach for Eastern Michigan University prior to joining the Pirates. Roof spent six seasons as a professional baseball player in the Red Sox, Phillies, Padres, and Rangers systems, as well as a season with the New Britain Bees in the Atlantic League. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rangers. Jonathan Roof finished his career in AAA with the Pawtucket Red Sox before starting his coaching journey.
Bench Coach, Phillip Wellman joins the Grasshoppers and the Pirates for his first season after seven seasons with the Padres organization. Prior to joining the Padres, Wellman worked in the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Angels organizations. He was the manager for Double-A championship teams in the Southern League (2008 with the Mississippi Braves) and the Texas League (2019 with the Amarillo Sod Poodles). Wellman played professionally in the Braves, Minnesota Twins, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations from 1984-1987.
Development Coach, Stephanie Lombardo, joins the Grasshoppers for the first season and her fourth in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Lombardo spent the last two seasons at the Bradenton Marauders and was in the Dominican Fall League in 2022. Prior to her time with the Pirates, Lombardo was a volunteer assistant coach for seventh months for the University of Wisconsin-Madison softball team from August 2021 to February 2022 and spent 10 months as a graduate assistant coach for Eastern Kentucky University’s softball team from August of 2020 to May 2021. Lombardo played for the University of Wisconsin – Madison softball team for five years primarily at first base.
Coleman Duke joins the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the 2025 season as the Athletic Training Coordinator. The Salem, Alabama native attended The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and graduated from Berry College in 2019. Nick Ritchie joins the Grasshoppers as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 2025 season after spending the 2024 season with the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Ritchie graduated in 2021 from University of Guelph.
Season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets are all available for the 2025 season at gsohoppers.com.
Grasshoppers’ Late Inning Rally Lifts Them Over the Hot Rods, 6-5 in First Game of it’s Away Series
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeat the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 6-5 on Tuesday, April 22. The Grasshoppers improved to 12-4 on the season while the Hot Rods fell to 8-8 as both teams tallied nine hits and one mishap. Infielder Esmerlyn Valdez led the Grasshoppers offense as
Grasshoppers Defeated the BlueClaws 8-4, and Took the Series 4-2
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 8-4 on Sunday, April 20 and took the series 4-2. The Grasshoppers improved to 11-8 on the season while the BlueClaws fell to 5-10. Greensboro outhit Jersey Shore 9-8 as both teams had one mishap. Outfielder Shalin Polanco led
Nine Hits Lift the Grasshoppers Over the BlueClaws, 9-4
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 9-4 on Saturday evening. The Grasshoppers improved to 10-4 on the season while the BlueClaws fell to 5-9. Greensboro outhit Jersey Shore 9-6 as the Grasshoppers had one mishap. Outfielder Enmanuel Terrero led the Grasshoppers offense as he went
Rivas’ Walk-Off Lifts the Grasshoppers Over the BlueClaws 10-9
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Rivas led the Greensboro Grasshoppers to defeat the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 10-9 on Friday, April 18. The Grasshoppers improved to 9-4 on the season while the BlueClaws fell to 5-8. Greensboro outhit Jersey Shore 16-9 as the Grasshoppers had two mishaps. Infielder Javier Rivas led the Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers Fall to the BlueClaws, 8-6 in Extra Innings Thursday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Grasshoppers dropped to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 88-6 in extra innings on Thursday, April 17. The BlueClaws improved to 5-7 on the season while the Grasshoppers fell to 8-4. Jersey Shore outhit Greensboro 9-8, while the Grasshoppers had one mishap. Infielder Keiner Delgado led the
Grasshoppers Defeat the BlueClaws, 4-0 on Wednesday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeat the Jersey Shore BlueClaws 4-0, on Wednesday, April 16. The Grasshoppers improved to 8-3 on the season while the BlueClaws fell to 4-7. Greensboro outhit Jersey Shore 8-3 as the Grasshoppers had one mishap. Infielder Keiner Delgado led the Grasshoppers offense as he
Grasshoppers Fall to the BlueClaws, 12-3, in First Game of its Home Series
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers fall 12-3 against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws in the first game of its home series on Tuesday, April 15. The BlueClaws improved to 4-6 on the season while the Grasshoppers fell to 7-3. Jersey Shore outhit Greensboro 16-8 while the Grasshoppers had two mishaps.
Grasshoppers Fall to the Tourists 12-10, in the Final Game of Opening Weekend Series
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Grasshoppers fell to the Asheville Tourists, 12-10 in the final game of its Opening Weekend series. The Tourists improved to 1-2 on the season while the Grasshoppers fell to 2-1. Asheville outhit Greensbor0 14-11 as both teams had two mishaps. Designated hitter Maikol Escotto led
Grasshoppers Take Second Game of Home Opener Series, 13-2 Against the Tourists
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers take the second game of their Home Opener series against the Asheville Tourists, 13-2. The Grasshoppers improved to 2-0 on the season while the Tourists fell to 0-2. Greensboro outhit Asheville 12-5 as the Tourists had two mishaps. Leading at dish for the Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers Take Opening Day with a 12-3 Victory over the Tourists
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeat the Ashville Tourists, 12-3 on Opening Day, Friday April 4. The Grasshoppers improve to 1-0 on the season while the Tourists fall to 0-1. Greensboro outhit Asheville 11-3 with two Hopper mishaps. Leading at the dish for the Grasshoppers was catcher Omar Alfonzo
Grasshoppers Fell 4-2 to the Renegades in Game 3 of the 2024 SAL Divisional Playoffs
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers fell 4-1 to the Hudson Valley Renegades on Friday, September 13 for Game 3 of the 2024 SAL Divisional Playoffs. The Grasshoppers finished 36-29 in the second half of the season and 1-2 in its 2024 playoff run. Hudson Valley outhit Greensboro 7-4 as
Grasshoppers Continue Their Playoff Run With a 3-1 Win Over the Renegades
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades, 3-1 on Thursday September 12 to continue their playoff run. The Grasshoppers improved to 1-1 in postseason while the Renegades fell to 1-1. Hudson Valley outhit Greensboro 5-3 while the Renegades had two mishaps. Hits for the Grasshoppers were
Grasshoppers Take 6-0 Loss in Game One of SAL Division Playoffs Against the Renegades
HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers fell 6-0 to the Hudson Valley Renegades on Tuesday, September 10. The Renegades improved to 1-0 in the 2024 SAL Division Playoffs while the Grasshoppers fell to 0-1. Hudson Valley outhit Greensboro 8-4 while the Grasshoppers had one mishap. Hits for the Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers Take the Series Win Against the Hot Rods with a 6-2 Win on Sunday
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers took a series win against the Bowling Green Hot Rods with a 6-2 on Sunday, September 8. The Grassshoppers improved to 36-29 on the second half of the season while the Hot Rods fell to 39-34. Bowling Green outhit Greensboro 12-7 while the Hot
Grasshoppers Extends Their Win Streak Over the Hot Rods with a 1-0 Win Saturday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 1-0 on Saturday September 7. The Grasshoppers improved to 35-29 on the season while the Hot Rods fell to 39-33 as both teams tallied three hits. Infielder Omar Alfonzo led the Grasshoppers offense as he went 1-3 with
Grasshoppers Take Down the Hot Rods 4-3, Friday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers topped the Bowling Green Hot Rods 4-3 on Friday September 6. The Grasshoppers improved to 34-29 on the second half of the season while the Hot Rods fell to 39-22. Both teams had six hits while the Grasshoppers had two mishaps. Infielder Jack Brannigan
Grasshoppers Defeat the Hot Rods, 5-4 Thursday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 5-4 on Thursday, September 5. The Grasshoppers improved to 33-29 on the second half of the season while the Hot Rods fell to 39-21. Bowling Green outhit Greensboro 7-6 while the Grasshoppers had two mishaps. Infielder Mitch Jebb
Grasshoppers Eight Hits Lift Them 2-1 Over the Hot Rods on Wednesday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 2-1 on Wednesday, September 4. The Grasshoppers improved to 32-29 on the second half of the season while the Hot Rods fell to 39-20 as Greensboro outhit Bowling Green 8-1. Catcher Omar Alfonzo led the Grasshoppers offense as
Grasshoppers Drop 5-4 to the Hot Rods in the First Game of Their Final Home Series
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers dropped 5-4 in the first game of its home series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Tuesday, September 3. The Hot Rods improved to 39-19 on the season while the Grasshoppers fell to 31-29 as Bowling Green outhit Greensboro 10-6. Catcher Omar Alfonzo
Grasshoppers Take the Series Win with a 5-4 Victory Over the Tourists
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeat the Asheville Tourists, 5-4 in the final game of its home series to take the series win. The Grasshoppers improved to 28-25 on the second half of the season while the Tourists fell to 20-34. Greensboro outhit Asheville 8-7 while the Tourists had
Grasshoppers 10 Hits Lift Them Over the Tourists, 10-6
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers defeated the Asheville Tourists, 10-6 on Saturday, August 24. The Grasshoppers improved to 27-25 on the second half of the season while the Tourists fell to 20-33. Greensboro outhit Asheville 10-7 as the Tourists had four mishaps to the Grasshoppers one. Infielder Mitch Jebb
Grasshoppers Shutout the Tourists, 4-0 to Continue Their Win Streak Over the Tourists
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers shutout the Asheville Tourists, 4-0 on Friday, August 23. The Grasshoppers improved to 26-25 on the second half of the season while the Tourists fell to 20-32. Greensboro outhit Asheville 6-1 as the Tourists had one mishap. Designated hitter, Termarr Johnson led at the
Grasshoppers Eighth Inning Come Back Takes the Tourists, 5-4
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Grasshoppers come back against the Asheville Tourists to take the win, 5-4 on Thursday, August 22. The Grasshoppers improved to 25-25 on the second half of the season while the Tourists fell to 20-31. Asheville outhit Greensboro 9-4 while the Tourists had one mishap to
Grasshoppers Fall to the Tourists, 5-3 Wednesday Evening
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Grasshoppers fell to the Asheville Tourists, 5-3 on Wednesday, August 21. The Tourists improved to 20-30 on the second half of the season while the Grasshoppers fell to 24-25. Asheville outhit Greensboro 11-4 while the Tourists had two mishaps to the Grasshoppers one. Infielder Mitch