The Heidenheim Heidekoepfe are revamping their team for the upcoming season in the German Baseball-Bundesliga. Troy Williams, who also is an assistant coach with the German national team, is no longer responsible as head coach for the first-division team but instead will be a youth coach with the Heidekoepfe. General manager Klaus Eckle is taking over at the helm for the first-division team until further notice.
Additionally Americans Patrick Lawson, Andrew Smith and Justin Wilson won’t be coming back. Michael Franke already had left for the HSV Stealers. Smith will coach at Dixie State College. Wilson will make another run at professional baseball. Lawson is expected to leave baseball. However the Heidekoepfe already can present replacements.
27-year-old Ohio native Jack Frawley is going to be their new import pitcher for game two each week. He played two years in the Houston Astros organization before entering the independent league circuit. He had an ERA of 5.02 in professional baseball. The second arrival is center fielder James McOwen. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2007 the 27-year-old played up high as Double-A in his professional career which led him also to independent leagues and Australia. He batted .287/.340/.421) in 552 games.
The Heidekoepfe also hope that last season’s late addition Aaron Hornostaj will be back. Another American infielder is supposed to join the team as well. German players Simon Guehring, Robert Gruber, Martin Dewald, Aljosha Schattmann, Peter Dankerl, Shawn Larry, Benedikt Antwi, Philip Schulz and Johannes Krumm return. David Fuesser comes back after one year hiatus due to his studies.