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Jersey Shore’s first-year manager is Greg Brodzinski, the club’s 16th manager in history. Brodzinski, 31, spent last year as the bench coach with Triple A Lehigh Valley, the Phillies’ farm club which competes in the International League. He was the Phillies’ bullpen catcher and catching coach in 2020 and 2021.

Jersey Shore began play in 2001 as the Lakewood BlueClaws. Since its inception, a total of 8,118,695 fans have purchased tickets to the club’s home regular-season games. A total of 256,141 fans plunked down their money last season.

“We’re very proud to reach 14 sellouts last year, finish third among all South Atlantic League teams in attendance and finish 14th among all 120 minor league baseball teams in group sales,” Ricciutti said. “We feel we have something to offer every family, every business, youth sports team, non-profit organization and other groups and we look forward to welcoming them back to ShoreTown.”

Jersey Shore’s pitching coach is Phil Cundari, who spent the previous three years in the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor-league system. The club’s batting coach is former BlueClaws player Brock Stassi, who was with the team for 59 games in 2021 when he hit three home runs and drove in 30 runs. He made his big-league debut with the Phillies on April 3, 2017.

The team’s bench coach is Chris Adamson, who was scheduled to manage the club in 2020. He managed the team in 2021.

The team’s pitching development coach is Brady Lail, who pitched for the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. The team’s athletic trainer is Meaghan Flaherty, who has been with the Phillies since 2020 and spent last season as the assistant athletic trainer with Lehigh Valley. The team’s strength and conditioning coach is Mark Jesse, Jr., who joined the Phillies’ system last season.

Two Jersey Shore players, No. 5 Hao Yu Lee and No. 28 Tommy McCollum, are ranked among MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Phillies prospects.

A total of 119 former BlueClaws, including former Phillies stars Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard, have earned berths on major league rosters.

Ten former BlueClaws - Detroit’s Nick Maton and Matt Vierling, the Chicago White Sox’s Jake Diekman, Houston’s Hector Neris, Oakland’s Trevor May, Seattle’s J.P. Crawford, the Los Angeles Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe, Atlanta’s Travis d’Arnaud, the New York Mets’ Carlos Carrasco, Milwaukee’s Hoby Milner and the Chicago Cubs’ Mark Leiter Jr. - were on major league regular-season rosters at the start of the 2023 campaign. The latter pitched for Toms River High School North and the Phillies.

“We want our fans to say after visiting the ballpark, ‘That was fun. Let’s do it again,’ “ Ricciutti said. “They entrust us with three to four hours of their most precious commodity, which is time. If we do that (the team employs 300 persons when it plays home games), we did our jobs and that makes us incredibly proud.”

Blueclaws.com contributed to this report

Brick Morning Rotary 2023 “Ya Gotta Laugh”

BRICK – Laughing together for charity for fifteen years! Once again, this year the Brick Morning Rotary is set to host its Annual Comedy Night at the Brick VFW at 373 Adamston Road in Brick on April 22 at 6 p.m. Local favorite comedian and host Ryan Maher, as well as fellow renowned comedians Gene Trifilo and Jim Dailakas will be ready to entertain. All in attendance are encouraged to bring your own food; dessert will be provided by local food and chocolate retailers, and there will be a cash bar.

For many years this traditional event has played to a sold-out house, and tickets will be scarce. Since its inception, this event has helped the Rotary donate more than $250,000 to local charities and scholarships. Area bakeries and chocolate vendors are invited to share and promote their goods, while attendees are asked to laugh and have fun!

Advance tickets are $25 or $30 at the door. Fully reserved tables of 10 are encouraged, paid in advance for $250. There will be a tremendous gift basket raffle, cash bar, and a BIG 50/50 drawing.

Club Vice-President and Comedy Chair-Woman Arlene Schwartz cannot hide her enthusiasm. “An amazing group of Rotarians donating their time and talents to help build a better community, while having a blast at the same time! What could be better? The Community supports us in so many ways, and this event has become the icing on the cake. We all get to laugh and make a difference together!”

Tickets and sponsorships are available. For more information or to support the event in any fashion, please contact Rich at 732267-0960, Arlene at 732-496-7228, Mike at 609-774-3288 or Charlie at 908-910-3564.

Funds raised from this event will help fund local scholarships, programs and charities supported by the Brick Morning Rotary Club Foundation (registered 501c3). The Brick Morning Rotary Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to our local Brick Community and the Rotary World since 1994.

The Brick Times welcomes your special announcements! Engagements, Weddings, Births, Birthday Wishes, etc. Please call 732-657-7344 for more details!