Canaries Tab Paterson As New Manager

January 9th, 2015

Contact: JJ Hartigan (336-6060)

SIOUX FALLS, SD– The Sioux Falls Canaries are pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Paterson as the organization’s next on-field manager.

At 29 years old, Paterson has already built himself an impressive resume, making a fast climb up the professional baseball ladder. Since 2011, he has served as a scout for both the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, helping over 200 players get signed to professional baseball contracts.

Ebaseballworld.com named Paterson one of the top 10 managers in all of Independent Baseball in 2012, which would eventually help land him a job in the United league with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. Paterson earned Manager of the Year honors in 2014 after guiding the WhiteWings to a 51-27 record and a United League Championship with a 3-0 series sweep over the Ft. Worth Cats.

He also managed the expansion Roswell Invaders (New Mexico) of the Pecos League in 2011 where he would guide the team to a 47–27 record and Pecos League Championship. During the 2011 season Paterson took his Invaders to El Paso to play the El Paso Diablos, formerly of the American Association, and became the first Pecos League team to ever beat an American Association squad. Paterson won the 2011 Pecos League Manager of the Year award after taking home his first professional championship.

Paterson began his managerial career in 2010 with the Desert Valley Mountain Lions of the Continental Baseball League where he became the youngest manager in professional baseball at the age of 24, and was later named Manager of the year.

“We feel Chris is an up-and-coming manager who can help put a winning product back on the field,” stated Canaries CEO/President Tom Garrity. “After going through an extensive search, Chris stood out amongst all the other finalists as someone who is a great leader and has a great eye for talent. We are confident in his ability to find top talent and make the Canaries a contender once again.”

Prior to his professional coaching career, Paterson played baseball collegiately at North Dakota State University, where in 2008 he tossed a no-hitter against Creighton University.

Patterson will be in Sioux Falls and introduced to the media prior to the start of spring training in early May. The Birds’ begin their 23rd season on May 21st-23rd in Sioux City, IA before opening their 2015 home schedule on Sunday May 24th against the Explorers. For more information about corporate opportunities or season tickets in 2015, call the Canaries at (605) 336-6060.