Grosseto Baseball has finally named its manager for the upcoming season in the Italian Baseball League. After Mike Marshall decided not to join the newly founded franchise, new general manager Darren Harrison Panis announced on Monday that Mike Hartley is taking over at the helm in Tuscany. The 50-year-old is no stranger in Europe. The former Major League pitcher, who also played in Japan and Italy, coached the German club Heidenheim Heidekoepfe from 2008 to 2010 (German championship in 2009, European Champions Cup Finals in 2010) and led the Croatian national team back to the A Pool of the European Championship in 2011.
Besides Hartley, Grosseto also announced that the 33-year-old Cuban Rolexis Molina Guerrero will join the roster for the 2012 season. The utility player is coming from Sicily, where he played after the conclusion of his Serie Nacional di Cuba career. He was with the Catania Warriors in the Italian Baseball League in 2010 and wore the Messina jersey in the Federal Championship last season. A couple of days ago Grosseto also confirmed the acquisition of Panagiotis Sikaras. Luca Bischeri, Andrea De Santis and Andrea Sgnaolin will come back.