9-News: 37.091 – Beard to Coach Pitchers in 2038

[RonCo]

The Yellow Springs Nine front office made it official today, announcing that AAA pitching coach Kyle Beard would fill the recently vacated position of Pitcher Coach. “I’m excited about the opportunity,” Beard said in a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. Beard has been with the organization since 2027, mostly at the single-A level, before rising through the ranks for the past few seasons.

“Kyle has been with most of the guys on the roster today for a lot of their careers,” said general manager Ron Collins, who has recently been under fire himself. “I’m not firing Dan and hiring Kyle to save my own ass at all,” he snapped at a reporter’s question regarding these events as well as rumors that manager Bret Richards may also be cycled out. “I have too much respect for both (fired coach) Dan Walker and Kyle to ever admit to that kind of nonsense.”

Both Carlos Valle and Ernesto Ramos had positive things to say about Beard, and suggested they were looking forward to a new season where “we can reset the buttons,” said Valle.

The promotion leaves a hole in the club’s AAA coaching roster that has not yet been addressed. While some suggest that AA pitching coach Eric Tucker or !-ball coach Donald Gray could be in line for a promotion, others are suggesting the club could be looking to bring someone in from the outside. “We’re looking at all options,” Collins said. “And, again, this is definitely not about saving my own ass.”