Clinton LumberKings name new GM
The Clinton LumberKings have a new GM, just in time for the new season.
The Clinton Baseball Club has named Nate Vander Bleek as their new general manager on Saturday, February 10. He’ll take the helm for their fourth season in the Prospect League and their 88th season as a baseball organization and will be the fifteenth general manager in the organization’s history since 1956.
Vander Bleek is no stranger to the team. He’s worked with the LumberKings for the past seven seasons, operating the right field ribbon board, working with broadcast media, PA announcing, groundskeeping and serving as an analyst on some LumberKings radio broadcasts. “A huge part of my life has been spent at the ballpark,” he said. “I am extremely eager to continue to make Clinton a top destination for summer collegiate baseball.” Ted Tornow, the previous general manager, had the longest GM tenure with the team, 1999-2023. Tornow served ten years longer than Fritz Colschen, who was the general manager for 14 years from 1962-76. “It has been an honor to work with and learn from Ted. I hope to build on his legacy while also creating plans to put us in an even better position moving forward.” Vander Bleek said.
Vander Bleek graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a BBA in sales and integrated marketing. He is from Clinton native and married his wife Casey in 2023. Before joining the LumberKings as GM, he was the Advancement Director at Prince of Peace Catholic School for three years. “The Clinton LumberKings Baseball Club is full of history and I am very honored to lead us into the future. Most of all, I hope to bring Clinton home their first league championship since 1991,” he said.
The 2024 Prospect League season starts for the LumberKings on Tuesday, May 28. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. For more on the LumberKings, click here.
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