The Sussex County Miners have just announced they will have a new field manager when the 2023 Frontier League season starts. Chris Widger played 10 seasons in the major leagues. He played high school baseball at Pennsville High School in South Jersey. In 2001 he was Jorge Posada's back up for the New York Yankees. His teammates included Derek Jeter, Roger Clemmons, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. They all played for manager Joe Torre. A few years later Widger earned a World Series ring playing for the 2005 White Sox.
The Miners are hoping Widger has learned a lot from some of the great skippers he's played for including: Joe Torre, Ozzie Guillen, Tony La Russa and Lou Piniella. Last season he was a manager in the Kansas City Royals minor league system. Last November Baseball America Magazine named Widger their Minor League Manager of the Year.
Bobby Jones the Miners popular manager for the past few seasons helped his former team search for his replacement. Jones has moved into an off the field position with the New Jersey Jackals.
Source: Sussex County Miners
Photo: Sporting News via Getty Images