LINCOLN – The Lincoln Saltdogs promoted recently-hired hitting coach Bobby Brown to manager and hired former Los Angeles Dodgers first-round draft pick Jim Haller as pitching coach. Brown, who managed Amarillo from 2013–15, was hired in November as hitting coach for the Saltdogs. Former manager Ken Oberkfell stepped down for family reasons.
“Obie did a lot of great things for this organization, and we are sad to see him go,” said Saltdogs president and general manager Charlie Meyer (pictured, left).
Brown becomes the seventh manager in franchise history.
Amarillo signed five players to Major League Baseball organizations during Brown’s three-year tenure, with two (David Peralta and John Holdzkom) reaching the big leagues.
Brown is currently the hitting instructor for the California Winter League through March before he comes to Lincoln in early May for Lincoln’s spring training.
Haller, an Omaha native, served as pitching coach and interim manager for the Saltdogs during the 2008 season and is considered one of the country’s foremost experts on pitching mechanics.
Haller was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 1970 MLB draft out of Creighton Prep and once threw 13 no-hit innings in a game for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Prior to his professional career, Haller turned heads by striking out future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield four consecutive times in an American Legion regional game.
Haller will serve as pitching coordinator and instructor in the South Florida Winter League in March prior to Lincoln’s spring training.
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