CLINTON, Iowa — The Clinton Baseball Club have named Nate Vander Bleek as their new general manager for their fourth season in the Prospect League and their 88th season as a baseball organization on Saturday. Vander Bleek is the fifteenth general manager in the organization’s history since 1956.
Vander Bleek has worked with the LumberKings for the past seven seasons as a “jack-of-all-trades” from operating the right field ribbon board, working with broadcast media, PA announcing, groundskeeping, and joining as an analyst on some LumberKings radio broadcasts.
“A huge part of my life has been spent at the ballpark,” Vander Bleek said. “I am extremely eager to continue to make Clinton a top destination for summer collegiate baseball.”
His predecessor, Ted Tornow, served as the longest general manager of the LumberKings from 1999-2023. Tornow served ten years longer than Fritz Colschen, who served as the general manager for 14 years from 1962-76.
“It has been an honor to work with and learn from Ted. I hope to build on his legacy while also creating plans to put us in an even better position moving forward.” Vander Bleek said.
Vander Bleek is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a BBA in Sales and Integrated Marketing. He is a Clinton native and married his wife Casey in 2023. Before joining as the general manager, he served as the Advancement Director at Prince of Peace Catholic School for three years.
“The Clinton LumberKings Baseball Club is full of history and I am very honored to lead us into the future. Most of all, I hope to bring Clinton home their first league championship since 1991,” Vander Bleek said.
The LumberKings start the 2024 Prospect League season on Tuesday, May 28. First pitch on opening day is set for 6:30 p.m.
