Fireflies coaches excited to return to the dugout (Source: Joe Gorchow) By Joe Gorchow | February 22, 2021 at 5:38 PM EST - Updated February 22 at 5:38 PM
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - In six weeks, Soda City ushers in a new era of Columbia Fireflies baseball. On May 4th, the now proud Kansas City Royals Minor League affiliate will open the season on the road at Augusta.
Fireflies Manager Brooks Conrad looks forward to returning to the field of play.
“You miss your players and interaction with those guys,” said Conrad. “You miss developing those relationships.”
Last season never came to pass due to the onset of the pandemic. For Conrad, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise spending a full year at home. The 41-year-old last did that when he was in high school.
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After Thursday’s announcement of the 2021 Minor League Baseball schedule, the Royals finalized their Minor League coaching staff on Friday. Triple-A Omaha will return the same staff, with manager Brian Poldberg in his eighth season, pitching coach Dane Johnson in his second and hitting coach Brian Buchanan in his fourth.
In Class A Advanced Quad Cities’ first season as a Royals affiliate Mike Jirschele will be the bench coach. Jirschele worked with former manager Ned Yost on the Royals’ Major League coaching staff from 2014-19 and has 17 seasons of experience as a Minor League manager. He served as a special assistant last season.