Shoemaker Returns as Loons Manager
MIDLAND, Mich. - John Shoemaker's two seasons with the Great Lakes Loons in 2011 and 2012 endeared him to fans and the surrounding community. "Shoe" will make his return to Dow Diamond in 2018 as the team's manager, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Monday. It will be his 42nd season
MIDLAND, Mich. - John Shoemaker's two seasons with the Great Lakes Loons in 2011 and 2012 endeared him to fans and the surrounding community. "Shoe" will make his return to Dow Diamond in 2018 as the team's manager, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Monday. It will be his 42nd season in the Los Angeles organization and 25th season as a minor league manager.
"The Dodgers and the Loons have had a great 11-year relationship with a lot of exciting baseball players and baseball games," Shoemaker said. "I'm looking forward to returning to the Midwest League for the 2018 season. Midland has a great fan base and the beautiful Dow Diamond, along with a terrific front office staff. Every player who goes to the Loons is always really excited about the facilities that are there."
Shoemaker spent last season with the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 35th round of the 1977 draft, the 61-year-old has been with the club ever since, as a player (1977-80), manager, coach and coordinator. During his two seasons in the Loons' dugout, Shoemaker compiled a 139-140 (.498) record before he was appointed the Dodgers' "Captain" of Player Development in 2015.
Back for a second stint as the team's pitching coach will be Bobby Cuellar. After helping the Loons win their first Midwest League Championship in franchise history in 2016, the veteran coach spent last year in Utah with the Ogden Raptors. It will be Cuellar's fourth season with the Dodgers organization.
Jair Fernandez will be entering his third season with the Dodgers organization and his second with the Loons as the team's hitting coach. Seth Conner is set to begin his first year coaching with the Dodgers and will serve as the team's assistant coach. The 25-year-old Missouri native played five minor league seasons as a first baseman where he appeared in 187 games and batted .244 over his career.
In 2017 under the guidance of manager Jeremy Rodriguez , the Loons finished one game under .500 at 69-70. Rodriguez was the youngest manager in franchise history at 27 years old. While the former catcher won't be back in Midland in 2018, he will remain with the Dodgers organization as the manager of the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League.
The Dodgers also announced the other managers for their minor league affiliates today: Bill Haselman at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Scott Hennessey at Double-A Tulsa, Drew Saylor at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, Rodriguez at Rookie-advanced Ogden and Mark Kertenian with the Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers.
A number of former Loons managers and coaches will work with other Dodgers minor league affiliates during the upcoming season: Haselman (Triple-A manager), Bill Simas (Triple-A pitching coach), Luis Matos (Triple-A coach), Connor McGuinness (Single-A pitching coach), Rodriguez (Rookie-level manager), Fumimasa Ishibashi (Rookie-level coach).
The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-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 ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.
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!
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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
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
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Timber Rattlers Split Series, Win 5-2 Over Loons
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Loons Blank Timber Rattlers 7-0
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (62-55) (28-23) plated seven runs in the fifth inning, all they needed in a 7-0 shutout victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (72-46) (30-22) on a 82-degree clear Saturday night at Dow Diamond. - Payton Martin went five innings, his fifth instance in
Wisconsin Routs Great Lakes 14-1
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Pepinillos Picantes del Norte (61-55) (27-23) were dominated by the Cascabeles de Wisconsin (72-45) (30-21) 14-1 on a 78-degree clear Friday night at Dow Diamond. - Wisconsin’s first three batters reached. Luis Lara led off the game with a single, and Cooper Pratt then homered. -
Timber Rattlers Snap Loons Five-Game Win Streak, Win 5-4
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (61-54) (27-22) took a lead into the ninth inning, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (71-45) (29-21) rallied for two runs to take it 5-4 on a 76-degree clear Thursday night at Dow Diamond. - Josue De Paula for the second time this week,
Loons Win Fourth in a Row, De Paula Drives in Two
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (60-53) (25-21) late offensive surge topped the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (70-44) (28-20) 4-2 on a clear 69-degree Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. - Wisconsin scored the game’s first run in the first inning. Three straight reached with two outs, with a Jadher Areinamo
DOW DIAMOND PROTECTIVE NETTING EXTENDED
MIDLAND, MI – The Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce a significant safety enhancement at Dow Diamond. Starting with the upcoming homestand on August 20th, the protective netting will be extended to cover the left and right field bullpens, further ensuring the safety of guests. This extension follows new
Final Two Loons-Captains Games in Series Cancelled
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-53) (25-21) and Lake County Captains (65-47) (24-22) Saturday night game that was suspended due to heavy rain and Sunday’s scheduled series finale have been canceled due to wet grounds. At the time of the suspension on Saturday, Great Lakes was up 3-0
Tonight’s Loons Game Suspended, Slated to Finish Tomorrow
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-53) (25-21) and Lake County Captains (65-47) (24-22) Saturday night game was suspended due to heavy rain at Classic Auto Group Park. The game was delayed in the bottom of the second with the Loons up 3-0. Tomorrow Sunday, August 18th, will see
Loons Win Third Straight, Meador Goes Six Innings and Nevin Drives in Two
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-53) (25-21) grabbed their third straight win behind a Jacob Meador six-inning outing and the top three in the Loons order reaching base 10 times in a 5-2 victory over the Lake County Captains (65-47) (24-22) on a rainy 75-degree Friday night at