The Revs made a shift in philosophy.
Wanting to go younger in the type of players they sought this season, the club named Keoni DeRenne, 30, the franchise’s first captain — bringing back the Hawaii native for a fourth season in York.
The captaincy will be important this year, according to the Revs new Director of Player Procurement Michael Kirk because the team needs a veteran to have a voice in the clubhouse.
“We’re going to sign players who are more prospect-type players. We’re not going to be as in love with big leaguers.*
“Keoni’s a grinder. He is not the biggest dude, but he has the heart and he personifies the attitude we want on this team.”
Manager Andy Etchebarren is in the midst of dealing with a family emergency and was unable to comment.
York Daily Record/Sunday News Sportswriter Jim Seip has covered minor league baseball since 2001. He's covered the York Revolution since the franchise's first game in 2007.
I’m glad to see that Keoni is back.
Shouldn’t the players pick a captain, though? It would probably be Keoni, to be fair, but wouldn’t it be better to let it happen a bit more organically?