Bombard Set to Return as Knights Manager
FORT MILL, S.C. - January 17, 2008 - Charlotte Knights fans will see a familiar face in 2008, as Marc Bombard returns for his second season as manager. Bombard went 63-80 in his first campaign with the Knights. He still sits atop all active minor league baseball managers in career wins with 1,618.
He had previously been in the Philadelphia Phillies organization for 10 seasons. The last two he served as the Phillies first base coach. Bombard will have two new additions to his staff in 2008.
Richard Dotson joins the Knights as pitching coach after spending the previous three seasons at Class AA Birmingham. The Barons pitching staff ranked second in wins (82) and saves (45) in the Southern League in 2005.
Fans will likely remember Dotson best for his playing career. Dotson played 12 major league seasons with the White Sox, New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals. He went 22-7 with a 3.23 ERA in helping the "winning ugly" White Sox team of 1983, win the American League West. Dotson finished fourth in Cy Young voting in 1983, and was also named to the 1984 AL All-Star team.
Joe McEwing will begin his coaching career in Charlotte this season. McEwing enters the coaching ranks fresh off a 15 year professional career including 9 years at the major league level. McEwing played for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros. He spent 2007 playing for the Class AAA Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League
McEwing was a utility player who played every position except for pitcher during his nine year major league career. He had his best season in 1999, while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. In that season, he had 141 hits and 9 home runs, both career highs, as well as a 25-game hitting streak, the fifth longest at that time by a rookie.
The Knights also announced that trainer Scott Johnson will return for his 9th season in Charlotte and his 20th in the White Sox organization. Johnson has twice been named International League trainer of the year. He also was the head trainer for the Taiwanese National Team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and selected as trainer for the 2003 Triple-A All-Star game.
Returning to the Knights training staff will also be strength and conditioning coach Chad Efron. This will be Efron's third season in Charlotte and his fifth in the White Sox organization. Efron had previously worked at Class AA Birmingham and at Class A Winston-Salem.
The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For ticket or event information, please contact the Knights front office at (704) 357-8071 or (803) 548-8050 or visit our website at
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