ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Hillsboro Hops name Ronnie Gajownik manager, 1st female skipper at High-A level

Jan 20, 2023, 2:49 PM | Updated: 2:53 pm

Coach Ronnie Gajownik #34 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles runs across the field during the game against...

Coach Ronnie Gajownik #34 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles runs across the field during the game against the Arkansas Travelers at HODGETOWN Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

The Hillsboro Hops announced on Friday that Ronnie Gajownik will be the team’s manager in 2023. Hillsboro is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High-A level affiliate.

Gajownik becomes the first female skipper at the High-A level and second overall in MiLB.

She spent the 2021 season as a video coordinator for Hillsboro before spending last season as the first base coach for the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the D-backs’ Double-A affiliate.

“I’m very grateful to Josh Barfield and the Diamondbacks for giving me the opportunity to begin my managerial career with the Hillsboro Hops,” Gajownik said in a press release on Friday.

“I’m ecstatic to return to Hillsboro in this elevated role and am fortunate to start this journey with the awesome staff of Wright, Hernandez, Ramirez, Harrel and Mukohchi. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped me become the person and coach I am today.”

Before Gajownik joined the Diamondbacks organization, she served as an assistant at the college level at both Liberty University and UMass. The infielder also won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games for Team USA.

The Orlando native graduated from South Florida in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science while being a two-year starter for the Bulls softball team.

“All the people before me, we’re in a really long relay race,” Gajownik said in the video. “Rachel Fulton, she had the baton and I’m running after and I’m grabbing it.

“And we’re just going to be constantly passing it to one another saying, ‘Hey, how far can you get?’ And as long as we keep passing that baton on to the next one, we’re going to be able to go really, really far.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Boston Red Sox d...

Arizona Sports

D-backs avoid sweep behind outstanding performance from Merrill Kelly vs. Red Sox

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly tossed a gem on Sunday, as the D-backs defeated the Red Sox 4-2 to avoid being swept.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia attends game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs between...

Arizona Sports

Suns’ Ishbia, D-backs’ Kendrick among richest people in Arizona in 2023, per Forbes

Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia was among a handful of Valley sports owner to make Forbes' annual list of world billionaires. 

1 day ago

Brandon Pfaadt #32 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers while making his M...

Alex Weiner

What’s next for D-backs’ Brandon Pfaadt after rough start leads to option?

Rookie starter Brandon Pfaadt was optioned after five starts with the Arizona Diamondbacks to work on his command.

1 day ago

Starting pitcher Zach Davies #27 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Boston Red Sox dur...

Alex Weiner

D-backs maneuver unique pitching situation, bats go cold in loss to Red Sox

Zach Davies made his return from the injured list on Saturday against the Red Sox, a 2-1 loss for the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

2 days ago

Drey Jameson #58 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom...

Alex Weiner

D-backs plan for RHP Drey Jameson remains flexible, starts in bullpen

The Arizona Diamondbacks brought back Drey Jameson to bring flexibility to the pitching staff on Saturday.

2 days ago

Arizona Diamondbacks Drey Jameson...

Arizona Sports

D-backs recall Drey Jameson, option Brandon Pfaadt, Luis Frias

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Drey Jameson and optioned Brandon Pfaadt and Luis Frias to make room for Zach Davies Saturday.

2 days ago

Hillsboro Hops name Ronnie Gajownik manager, 1st female skipper at High-A level