MDN - Northern Lights - 03/30/2024

‘Northern

fernandez to manage loons in 2024

MIDLAND DAILY NEWS

The Great Lakes Loons are led by Jair Fernandez as their manager for the 2024 season.

Fernandez is the 11th manager in the 17 seasons of the Loons, who have been affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers since their inception. Last season, he served as skipper for the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex League team, his seventh season coaching in the organization and fourth in the

Arizona league.

Fernandez succeeeds Daniel Nava, who managed the Loons for one season, 2023, when they came within one win of a Midwest League championship.

Previously, Fernandez served as the hitting coach for the Loons in 2017 and 2018. The Loons hit a combined .240 in those two seasons, accumulating 192 home runs.

Fernandez debuted in minor league baseball

of the Great Lakes Loons.

in 2007 in the Seattle Mariners organization. The Colombian-born catcher spent nine seasons in baseball, making two stints at the Triple-A level. Fernandez played with four organizations, including stops in the Midwest League. In 2008, he was an MWL All-Star with Beloit, then affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.

The Loons and Fernandez begin the season on Friday, April 5 at Dow Diamond against the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

The cover photo is courtesy

Then- Hitting coach Jair Fernandez works with the Great Lakes Loons at batting practice at Camelback Ranch during spring training in a past season in Glendale, Ariz.

welcome to ‘northern lights’

BY ANDREW SEAVEY

For the Daily News

The “Northern Lights” will be illuminating Dow Diamond this baseball season and far into the future.

Nope, not the natural phenomenon also known as Aurora Borealis, but the new stadium light fixture given that nickname for its captivating potential to enhance the baseball game experience for Great Lakes Loons fans in the team’s home ballpark.

“This system allows us to take the next step in the evolution of our in-game show,” Loons President and General Manager Chris Mundhenk said.

The Loons will use the newly installed lights to

display multi-colored light shows during ingame moments such as after a home run, walkoff, or any victory.

“We’ll be able to, with the touch of a button, fire all of our assets in tandem,” Mundhenk said. “The video board, the LED ribbons, the music, as well as a custom light show, that is all in synchronization. I think it will really elevate that in-game experience in moments.”

Along with the entertainment value, the light fixture will also provide a variety of other benefits to Dow Diamond, which is owned and operated by the nonprofit Michigan Baseball Foundation.

The lights project, which totaled $835,200, was a part of an offseason

initiative to meet Major League Baseball’s Player Development License that was granted to the Loons in 2020 in conjunction with their major league affiliate, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“For us, it accomplishes a number of things,” Mundhenk said.

“Thanks to all the

The new lighting fixture, which was designed by international company Musco Lighting, provides ball tracking technology that illuminates the entirety of the baseball in the air, even if it exceeds the height of the light poles, helping players see the ball better.

“We saw that as an enhancement for players from a safety standpoint and for on-field performance in general for night games,” Mundhenk said.

Another factor was the potential for long-term savings from replacement costs.

“One of the benefits

Other ballpark improvements include:

• Expanded home clubhouse with a dedicated team film room and meeting spaces

• 1,000-square-foot workout facility for home and visiting clubs

• Women’s locker room that will be utilized by female staff and umpires

• Expanded visiting team locker rooms with additional coaching staff dressing rooms and offices

is that LED lighting systems have a much longer lifetime than halogen lighting systems,” Mundhenk said. “They have guaranteed light levels for 25 years, and when you factor in having to replace your halogen bulbs every five years, you have a significant investment.

“The ability to reduce energy consumption levels was an important component,” Mundhenk continued. “Over the years, we’ve made investments into the facility either in the initial construction or projects over time from a sustainability standpoint. So, this really fit in line with our sustainability efforts that we’ve had in place from day one.”

Midland’s Blasy Electric was awarded the bid to install the lights, which were being replaced for the first time since Dow Diamond opened in 2007. Blasy and Mus-

• New wall padding system that encompasses the entire playing field

• New video surveillance and door access control systems

• New umpire locker room

• Expansion of home plate protective netting to home and visiting bullpen areas

co were also responsible for the installation of the original lights when the stadium was constructed.

Not only will Dow Diamond use the lights for baseball games, but it will also use the creative aspect for a variety of events, including wedding ceremonies, corporate events, or fundraising events. The stadium, especially the indoor concourse, is used

See LIGHTS page 6

The Great Lakes Loons will use the newly installed lights at Dow Diamond to display multi-colored light shows during in-game moments, such as after a home run, walk-off, or any victory. (Great Lakes Loons)

pontooners weekend, july 4 party highlight loons schedule

BY ANDREW SEAVEY For the Daily News

This summer, the Great Lakes Loons will be taking a page out of Kid Rock’s hit song “All Summer Long.”

Dow Diamond will become a lakeside in Northern Michigan and the Loons will transform into the “Pontooners” from Thursday, July 11 through Saturday, July 13.

“We’re debuting our new identity this year,” Loons Assistant General Manager of Marketing and Entertainment Brian Worsley said. “We’ll transform Dow Diamond into up north at the lake for three games that weekend, with the Great Lakes Pontooners.”

In past years, the Loons have taken the identity of “Great Lakes Camels” and “Pepinillos Picantes Del Norte” on certain promotional nights.

Pontooners Weekend will consist of free giveaways for fans, including

a koozie for the first 500 adults on July 11 and a towel for the first 1,000 fans on July 13.

During the July 12 game, fans will be able to enjoy yacht rock dueling pianos, a fan-engaging performance “battle” based on the smooth rock music largely associated with the lake life.

Fans are encouraged to bring their swim trunks to the Saturday Super Splash Night (July 13), which will include a variety of water-themed activities and wet inflatables. The weekend will conclude with a fireworks display after Saturday night’s game.

Also making its first appearance this summer is the Fourth of July Block Party on Thursday, July 4, with festivities beginning during the Loons game and continuing until midnight.

“We’re partnering with the City of Midland for the first time for a nighttime fireworks game that’s going to start at Dow Diamond,” Wors-

ley said. “We have our fireworks show, which is then going to send people out to Main Street with food trucks, live music, and to experience Midland’s fireworks show.

“They’re going to block off Main Street, and it’s just a chance for fans and people in the city to come

Office and Champ Kind from the Anchorman movies, will be appearing at Dow Diamond. Fans will have the chance to meet the comedian, enjoy a surprise Todd Packer-themed activity, and bid on game-worn, Office-themed jerseys.

The Loons will also in-

““It’s pretty spectacular. We’ve been working on that for a while, so we’re excited to debut that for our fans.”

Many fan favorites are also making their return this season.

The former Princess and Pirate Night will

“We’re debuting our new identity this year,” Loons Assistant General Manager of Marketing and Entertainment Brian Worsley said. “We’ll transform Dow Diamond into up north at the lake for three games that weekend, with the Great Lakes Pontooners.”

together for a big party,” Worsley added.

During the July 4 game, fans will be treated to a performance by America’s Got Talent semifinalist Grace Good, known for her acrobatic and daring stunts.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, David Koechner, known for his roles as Todd Packer from The

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throughout the year.

troduce their brand-new “Northern Lights” experience, a multi-colored light show synchronized with music. This will be a regular part of the night game experience after Dow Diamond had new lights installed in the offseason.

“The Northern Lights will come alive during key moments in the game,” Worsley said.

FOLLOW US ON lights

“This gives us a lot of flexibility to make those events more compelling,” Mundhenk said.

“We are very thankful for the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation,” Mundhenk said. “They supported this project with an

$800,000 grant that really made the project possible.”

Along with the new lights, Dow Diamond has made many other improvements to its facility for players, officials, and fans as a part of a threeyear, $4.7 million capital improvement set to finish in 2025.

return on Saturday, July 27 under a new name: “Once Upon a Time Night.”

“It just kind of expands on our princess and pirates,” Worsley said. “It’s always a good night. We are going to have a pregame ice cream social that night.”

Younger fans will also enjoy a ballpark

full of princess- and pirate-themed activities, bounce houses, decorations, and a magical fireworks show to conclude the evening.

Other favorites returning this season include Bluey Night (June 8), Star Wars Night (June 22), Jurassic Ballpark (July 6), 80’s Night (July 25), and Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night (Aug. 10).

The Loons open their season on Friday, April 5 at 6:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne TinCaps. After the game, there will be a “ Fireworks Loontacular” display.

Starting with Memorial Day weekend, the Loons will be doing a fireworks show after every Saturday home game.

“I think we’re packed,” Worsley said. “We’ve got a little bit of something for everybody, from kids all the way to grownups and families.”

paying it forward

Dickson returns as Loons hitting coach, eager to give back to Dodgers

BY ANDREW SEAVEY For the Daily News

On Sept. 2, 2017, O’Koyea Dickson made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers after seven grueling seasons in the minor leagues.

In was one of the greatest moments of his life, and although his time in the majors was shortlived, it was a memory that would fuel him years later as a hitting coach in the Dodgers organization.

“My best memory is getting an opportunity to get that call-up from (then-Dodgers Director of Player Development) Gabe Kapler in 2017,” Dickson said. “My

son (O’Koyea Dickson Jr.) was born three days before I got to the big leagues, so just that week alone was great, getting to share that experience with my family. I’m just super grateful to get a chance to play in L.A.” Dickson played with the Dodgers for seven games that September in the only major league stint of his career, going 1-for-7 with a single against then-San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner.

Now in his second season as the hitting coach for the Great Lakes Loons, Dickson’s focus is to help raise up the next generation of Dodgers in the big leagues.

“It’s been good just coming back and trying to give back by trying to help the next wave of Dodgers make their debut,” Dickson said.

“I’m just trying to give these guys every opportunity to achieve their goals and give them a chance to take care of their family.”

During Dickson’s inaugural 2023 season as the Loons hitting coach, the team’s offense powered its way to 104 home runs, fifth most in the Midwest League. The Loons hitters also managed 583 walks and knocked in 573 runs - second and third in the league, respectively.

A big reason for the

Loons’ hitting success is that Dickson builds confidence in hitters and the abilities they already have.

“The priority is to make sure the guys are comfortable, make sure they’re confident in what they do really well,” Dickson said. “I think (the keys are) just having a good sense of where they’re at mentally, physically, and spiritually, and just trying to make sure the guys are in a good spot.

“I always want to keep them wanting more, and not wanting them to get settled where they’re at,” Dickson added. “I just want to continue to remind them that they’re special players for a rea-

son. If you get a chance to put on a Dodgers uniform, then you’re a pretty special player.”

This season, Dickson says he aims for hitters to improve their approach in the batter’s box.

“I think just making sure our approaches are in a good spot is important,” Dickson said. “So, we can attack the pitchers in a way that the game plan is telling us to attack the guy. So, focusing on approach, making sure we’re on time, and making sure we have balanced and controlled swings (are important).”

As he’s worked with prospects throughout the years, Dickson has learned the importance

of relationships for building trust between himself and the players he coaches.

“Just building the relationship and getting to know the guys is important,” Dickson said. “Understanding what they like to do, what they think about, what allows them to click, and just taking the time to understand who they are.”

“One of my main suits is making sure that my connection with the guys is first and foremost, so if you have something that they need to work on, they trust you,” Dickson said. “So, building that relationship each and every day is something that

Great Lakes Loons hitting coach O’Koyea Dickson holds his son, O’Koyea Jr., in the Loons dugout at Dow Diamond during the 2023 season. (Provided by O’Koyea Dickson)

anderson guiding loons pitching staff to remarkable heights

BY ANDREW SEAVEY For the Daily News

The numbers don’t lie.

Throughout the past two seasons, the Great Lakes Loons have been one of the toughest pitching staffs to face in Single-A baseball.

One big reason that’s the case: Loons pitching coach David Anderson.

Anderson, back for his third season with the team, is looking forward to building upon last season’s success, when Great Lakes came within one win of the Midwest League championship.

“I’m super fired up to be back with the Loons,” Anderson said.

“We’re just going to pick it up and go from there and see if we can keep on going from last season.”

Ever since Anderson took over as pitching coach in 2022, the Loon’s have seen dramatic improvements in their strikeout numbers, improving from 10th in the Midwest League in 2021 to first in 2022 with 1,398 punchouts.

Loons pitchers have also excelled at preventing opponents from getting hits

the last two seasons, leading the league in lowest opponent batting average with .216 and .226, respectively. In 2023, the team boasted the league’s top earned run average at 3.66.

Anderson attributes the pitching success to the team’s focus on each pitcher individually and helping them find their roles in helping the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

“There are so many facets that are required to make it to the Double-A level, and of course the end goal is not necessarily

“to help out the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Anderson said.

“What that looks like is going to be different for each guy,” Anderson said.

“We had guys then in 2022 (with the Loons) who are pushing the brinks of the big leagues with the Dodgers (this year),” Anderson said.

creating the pitcher that is going to be the best that day, but that is going to give them the best chance

“Some guys, it might be pure stuff, so like pitch shape, pitch development, spin work, and just designing an arsenal for them. Some guys, it might be execution-based. Some guys, it’s going to be velocity-based. So, it’s kind of just buck-

eting what each guy needs and adjusting with what works and doesn’t work, why it works or doesn’t work.”

The Loons stick with the Dodgers standard of winning at the minor league level, making that a focal point of player development for Anderson.

“Development and winning, to us, go hand-inhand,” Anderson said. “Not just because its hopefully creating a superior player or a more advanced player, but learning how to win baseball games is a huge

Great Lakes Loons pitching coach David Anderson (in blue shirt) talks with a Loons pitcher at the mound at Dow Diamond in Midland during a game in a past season. (Great Lakes Loons Facebook page)

Dickson

Continued From Page 8

I pride myself on.”

In his coaching career, Dickson has worked with some of the Dodgers’ current top minor league hitters, including the organization’s No. 1 prospect, Dalton Rushing, along with Austin Gauthier, and Yeiner Fernandez.

“I just try to treat everyone the same whether you’re a high prospect or one of the guys we sign as a free agent,” Dickson said. “You never know which guy is going to pan out to become a big leaguer, so you want to invest your time in each and every guy.”

Dickson is excited about the opportunity to return to the Midland area with the Loons.

“It means a lot,” Dickson said. “I’m definitely grateful for another opportunity to come out there and experience the grind with the guys.”

Before playing professionally, Dickson competed at the junior college level for the College of San Mateo (California) from 2009-10. He hit .322 and led the Bulldogs to two consecutive playoff appearances.

He continued his collegiate career after transferring up the California coast to Division II Sonoma State, helping lead them to a national championship appearance. In his lone season for the SeaWolves, Dickson hit .341 with 11 home runs and 52 runs batted

Great Lakes Loons hitting coach O’Koyea Dickson gives instructions from the dugout during a game in the 2023 season. (Provided by O’Koyea Dickson)

in, earning him a selection in the 2011 MLB draft by the Dodgers.

In his first full professional season in 2012, Dickson played first base

for the Loons, leading the team in homers with 17 while adding 48 RBIs.

His minor league career spanned a total of eight seasons, where he tallied 122 home runs, 456 RBIs, and an OPS of .844. For most of his career, Dickson played left field and first base, but he occasionally played third base.

In 2018, he played in Japan in the Nippon Professional Baseball League for the Tohuku Rakuten Golden Eagles, before signing a contract with the Washington Nationals organization.

Dickson retired from baseball in 2019 after a brief stint with the Generales de Durango of the Mexican League.

Dickson, born in 1990, is named after former NFL rushing champion Christian Okoye, who starred for the Kansas City Chiefs from 19871992.

anderson

Continued From Page 10

part of development.”

“There are a lot of guys doing a lot of different things,” Anderson said of the pitchers in the Dodgers’ minor league system.

“That’s why they’re in a Dodgers uniform; that’s why they’re playing with the Loons. So, we want

to maximize what they’re doing well and try to bring up the floor and improve upon the things they don’t do as well.”

One of the ways that Anderson connects with his pitchers is by understanding where they are physically, mentally, and

emotionally on and off the field.

“The biggest thing is meeting the player where he’s at,” Anderson said. “Whether it’s on the field, their understanding of different facets of the game, whether it’s where they’re from or what they are going through off the field. It’s about understanding globally where that player is at and meeting them there.”

“You might have a 25-year-old with the Loons, or you might have an 18-year-old,” Anderson said. “So, understanding where they are in life is a huge piece of that.”

Anderson is thrilled to see some of the talent he has worked with accelerating through the Dodgers organization at a fiery rate.

“We had guys then in 2022 (with the Loons) who are pushing the brinks of the big leagues with the Dodgers (this year),” Anderson said.

“It’s just a great piece developmentally in terms of your level as a coach because you’re working with guys who may have an impact sooner rather than later at the big league level,” Anderson said.

Gavin Stone, who began the 2022 season on a tear with and ERA of 1.44 over 25 innings, made his major league debut last season and is competing for a spot on the Dodgers big-league roster this season.

Emmet Sheehan, Kyle Hurt, and Justin Wroble-

ski are also players whom Anderson coached who have either already contributed to the Dodgers at the MLB level or are well on their way to becoming vital pieces of the future.

Anderson himself was a standout pitcher at Muhlenberg College from 2012-15, leading the Mules with a 3.14 ERA.

He continued his playing career after graduation, pitching for the Newburgh (New York) Newts of the independent North Country Baseball League in 2015, posting a 2.38 ERA with seven saves.

That same year, he also pitched for the Bridgeport (Connecticut) Bluefish of the Atlantic League, going 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA in seven starts.

His playing career ended in 2016 due to an injury.

“I played as long as I could and then got right into the coaching side from there,” Anderson said.

Anderson began coaching at the collegiate level, serving as a pitching coach

at his alma mater from 2016-17. He moved on to coach at Cornell University for a year before transitioning to Emory University, where he coached until joining the Dodgers as pitching development coach.

For the Dodgers, Anderson served as the pitching coach for the Arizona Fall League team in 2021 before being given the opportunity to coach the Loons pitchers starting two seasons ago.

Being back in Midland for another season is something Anderson is looking forward to.

“It’s awesome,” Anderson said. “My wife and I are extremely excited to be back. We love the people and we love the town. We love the summers there. We’re just excited to be back a part of it. Obviously, the fan support has been awesome the last few years, so coming to the ballpark every night, it’s an incredible facility, the atmosphere and environment are great. It’s just a win-win for us.”

Great Lakes Loons pitching coach David Anderson, left, listens to a Loons pitcher in the dugout at Dow Diamond in Midland in a past season. (Great Lakes Loons Facebook page)