Zach Borowiak New Gateway Grizzlies Hitting Coach

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Hello all!  It didn't take long for the Gateway Grizzlies to name their new hitting coach.  Nearly one week after it was announced that Mike Breyman was leaving the Grizzlies to become the new manager of the Joliet Slammers, Nashville, IL native Zach Borowiak has taken his spot and is the new hitting coach of the Grizzlies.

I had a chance to sit down and talk to Zach earlier today about his new position.  Below is my interview with the man who now has the controls of the Grizzlies offense.

Zach Borowiak Interview

Borowiak is no stranger to the Grizzlies.  He spent 2011 as the bench/defense coach and helped bring star shortstop Ryan Khoury to the organization.  After being away from the game in 2012, he has picked up his best job yet.  Borowiak is close with Grizzlies manager Phil Warren and the there is no doubt the two guys will work great together, along with longtime pitching coach, Randy Martz.

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Here's some background on Borowiak.  He was a star three-sport athlete at Nashville Community High School (baseball, basketball and football), a town that is roughly 40 minutes from GCS Ballpark.  In a where basketball is religion, the 31-year-old earned a baseball scholarship to Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) after high school and enjoyed a stellar career for the Red Hawks from 2000-2003.  Borowiak was a teammate of Warren's @ SEMO in 2000.

Borowiak was drafted in the 14th round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox & played his entire career in their system (2003-2009).  As a player, he compiled a .231 career batting average with 25 home runs and 205 RBI in 604 games.  Borowiak spent the majority of his career at shortstop and second base.

Grizzlies fans should be thrilled about this hire.  Borowiak is a local guy with high level playing experience and previous coaching experience.  I saw him interact with players in 2011..when he talks, they listen.  He knows how to teach, how to coach and how to get the players to perform at a high level.  With Warren, Borowiak and Martz the Grizzlies have one of the best coaching staffs in the league.  Congrats to Zach and congrats to the Grizzlies for getting a great guy/coach to fill this role.  Go Grizzlies!

        -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young