Former major league pitcher Gilberto “Gil” Rondon has been named manager of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers for the 2025 season.
Rondon, who pitched for the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox, takes the reins from Dan Norman, who led the team to a playoff berth in its inaugural season.
Working closely with Norman as the pitching coach, Rondon helped the team win 20 games.
When asked about leading the young and talented Barnstormers’ players, Rondon said in a media release, that it’s going to be an exciting challenge.
“It’s a learning process and they’re going to learn how to play the game the right way and make things easier for themselves because they have the ability,” Rondon said of the team.
Barnstormers’ general manager Harry Muir is looking forward to Rondon taking on the manager’s position.
“We are very excited to have Gil in this new role as manager,” Muir said. “His knowledge and experience are invaluable to our young roster.”
The new manager brings deep coaching experience to the post. Rondon coached professionally for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Trois Rivieres Saints (Frontier League), Bravos de Leon (Mexican League), and most recently he managed the Empire State Greys of the Frontier League. He has also coached on Puerto Rico’s staff for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Born in the Bronx in New York, Rondon resides in Florida. Both his father and grandfather played in the majors.
