Former major-leaguer Razor Shines will manage the Great Lakes Loons in 2013, one year after serving as the team’s hitting coach. From the press release:

“I’m very excited to be asked by the Dodgers to lead the Great Lakes Loons in 2013,” Shines said. “When the Dodgers told me I’d be managing this season, I was hoping it would be with the Loons. After last year, I’m familiar with the layout and staff at Dow Diamond, and I’m familiar with some of the young players in the organization after managing in the instructional league this fall. I think we’re going to have a young and talented (team), and I’m very excited.”

Shines managed eight seasons in the Minor Leagues for the White Sox and Phillies, compiling a 572-546 record with stops at all four full-season levels. His teams had winning seasons in six of eight years and advanced to the playoffs four times. In 2003, he led the Winston-Salem Warthogs to a Carolina League Championship. Two years later, while piloting Birmingham, he earned Southern League Manager of the Year honors.

Shines spent three seasons as a major-league base coach, assisting Jerry Manuel as third base coach for the Chicago White Sox (2007) and with the New York Mets as third base (2009) and first base coach (2010). He managed Peoria to an Arizona Fall League championship in 2003 and was a member of the All-Star Futures Game (World Team) coaching staff from 2005-06.

Shines played in 68 games with the Montreal Expos in the 1980s, hitting .185 in 81 at-bats. His son, Devin Shines, played in 30 games with the Loons last season, hitting .219 with 3 HR and 12 RBI.

Former Silver Hawks in the news

Three former South Bend Silver Hawks were in the news today.

The Oakland A’s traded OF Collin Cowgill to the New York Mets for minor-league 3B Jefry Marte. Cowgill hit .249 with 1 HR and 17 RBI in 50 games with the 2008 Silver Hawks.

INF Mark Reynolds signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians. He hit .253 with 19 HR, 76 RBI and 107 Ks in 118 games with the 2005 Silver Hawks.

(To make room for Reynolds on the 40-man roster, the Indians designated INF Russ Canzler for assignment. Canzler hit .270 with 7 HR, 54 RBI and 12 SB in 125 games with the 2007 Peoria Chiefs.)

Pete Rose Jr., son of baseball’s all-time hit king, will manage the Great Falls Voyagers, a rookie-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He managed a different rookie-league team in the White Sox organization the past two seasons. During his lengthy minor-league career, Rose Jr. played a season with the Silver Hawks (1995), hitting .277 with 4 HR and 65 RBI in 116 games.