(Central Islip, N.Y., June 3, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks today announced the hiring of Mark Weidemaier as pitching coach. He takes the place of Rick Tomlin, who has resigned the position in order to spend more time with his family.
“We would like to thank Rick for his time here and welcome Mark to our coaching staff,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “We look forward to his expert tutelage assisting our pitching staff.”
Weidemaier joins the Ducks after serving as the manager of the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in the Mexican League to begin the 2022 season. The 67-year-old has previously served on the Major League coaching staff of the Washington Nationals from 2014-15 as the team’s defensive positioning coach. He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as the bench coach for the Kia Tigers in the Korean Baseball Organization. Weidemaier served two seasons in a dual role as a scouting coordinator and assistant coach with the Samsung Lions in Korea from 2016-17 and also spent two seasons as field manager for the Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz in Mexico from 2015-16.
In addition to his coaching career, the Columbus, Ohio, native has worked in scouting roles for several Major League organizations. Teams he has worked with include the California Angels (scout and minor league coach, 1984-87), New York Yankees (player development, 1989-90), Cleveland Indians (scout, 1991-95), Chicago White Sox (advance scout, 1996-98), Los Angeles Dodgers (advance scout, 1999-2006; special assignment scout, 2007-08; special assistant to the GM 2009-10) and the Cincinnati Reds (2018). Weidemaier also served as an assistant coach for the Ohio State University baseball team while earning a master’s degree in Sports Administration at the school.
Additionally, the Ducks announced the signings of right-hander pitcher Ryan Meisinger and infielder Rob Weissheier. Both players begin their first season with the Ducks and in the Atlantic League. Meisinger is a three-year Major League veteran, having pitched with the Baltimore Orioles (2018), St. Louis Cardinals (2020 and Chicago Cubs (2021). Weissheier is a Long Island native from Valley Stream who played his collegiate baseball at Hofstra University in Uniondale, N.Y., and pitched in 2021 and 2022 with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. In corresponding roster moves, the Ducks placed infielder Nick Bottari on the disabled list retroactive to June 2 and released infielder Jaylen Smith.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. The ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 44 million fans to its family friendly ballparks over its 24-year history. For more information, please visit AtlanticLeague.com.
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