The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson has announced his coaching staff for the 2010 Atlantic League season. Former Toronto Blue Jays hurler Marty Janzen is the team’s new pitching coach, while outfielder Jeremy Owens returns to the Blue Crabs for a third season as an active player and will also assume the hitting coach duties. The player-coach arrangement for Owens is a first for the Blue Crabs, and comes on the heels of Owens being named team captain during the 2009 season, to the unanimous approval of the Blue Crabs clubhouse.

Janzen, a veteran of 13 professional seasons as a starter and reliever, wrapped up his playing career in 2005, reaching the Majors with Toronto during the 1996 and ’97 seasons. His travels also included stops in the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Anaheim Angels organizations. Janzen also has considerable Atlantic League experience, having played for Hobson with the Nashua Pride in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005, winning the Atlantic League Championship in 2000.

“Marty is a guy who pitched well for me over the years, and he always wanted me to keep him in mind if a chance to coach came up,” said Hobson. “Well now we have an opening, and I think with all of his experience he’ll fit right in and be very good for us.”

Janzen replaces Andre Rabouin, who had served as pitching coach the last two seasons. Rabouin will continue as the pitching coach for Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Rabouin guided the Blue Crabs staff to either the best or second best team ERA in the Atlantic League during his time with the Crabs.

“I loved playing for Butch because he’s a hard-nosed, intense guy and I approach the game the same way. This is always something I wanted to do, and when Butch asked me to be his pitching coach I was literally at a loss for words,” said Janzen. I’m honored, and won’t take one moment of it for granted.”

Jeremy Owens, considered by many in baseball circles to be a prime candidate for a coaching or managing position once his playing career ends, will be starting his coaching career a little early while remaining as the Blue Crabs starting centerfielder. Owens will take on coaching duties in the spot vacated by former Orioles great Andy Etchebarren, who departed the Blue Crabs mid-season last year to become manager of the York Revolution, also of the Atlantic League. Greg Blosser, who assumed the hitting coach duties in the interim for the Crabs through the end of last season, will not be returning to the staff.

For Owens, who is the Blue Crabs all-time leader in home runs (43), and walks (125) through two seasons, the move to player-coach is a logical one after being awarded the team’s captaincy in ’09. The durable Owens also set a franchise record for games played this past season, appearing in 137 of the team’s 140 regular season outings while winning the Atlantic League home run title with 28. He is also in the top four of the Blue Crabs all-time leaders in games played, runs scored, hits, extra-base hits and RBI. Owens will be entering his 13th professional season, which includes time in the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays organizations.