Chillicothe Paints continue to bring in fresh faces ahead of 2021 season
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (BVM) — The Chillicothe Paints are just a month away from beginning a new season filled with optimism and new beginnings. But last year at this time, it was anything but.
In April 2020, the Prospect League pushed its usual late-May opening day date back to July 1. Just a month later, the entire season would be canceled. However, this past February brought about a renewed sense of hope, as the 2021 Prospect League schedule was announced.
The 2021 campaign for the Paints will begin on Thursday, May 27 against the Lafayette Aviators. After winning a league championship in 2019, Chillicothe will set out to earn back-to-back titles. But this year, they will be doing so with a much different look.
It begins at the top, where former Paints’ field manager Brian Bigam stepped down during the offseason. Part of Chillicothe’s coaching staff for the past 13 years — including the last four as manager — Bigam amassed a 130-117 record while bringing a title home during that special 2019 season.
“Brian has been an integral part of our organization for many years,” team president Bryan Wickline said in a statement. “We will miss him leading our young men on and off the field. Brian is a first-class individual and always did what he felt was best for the Paints organization as a coach and field manager. We wish him well coaching his son’s summer team and support his decision to spend more time with his wife and children during the summer months.”
Now, the Paints will be led by Chillicothe, Ohio native, John Penn. A star locally at Zane Trace High School, Penn continued his baseball career at Wabash College. He has since had multiple coaching stops as an assistant at the college level, including at Bluffton University, Iowa Western Community College, Old Dominion University and most recently, Bryant & Stratton Community College in Virginia Beach, Va.
“I’m just very thankful and humbled for the doors that have opened up for me to be able to take this role,” Penn said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to a great season. The Paints are a team with high standards and, technically speaking, are the defending champs. It should be exciting. I know Brian [Mannino] is doing a fantastic job of getting the right guys for us to make a run at another title.”
With a new manager at the helm, the Paints have made several moves over the last few months to continue to bolster their roster. In March, Chillicothe re-signed University of Indianapolis outfielder Trey Smith. They also added a trio of Western Michigan University stars in infielder Jimmy Allen and pitchers Dane Armbrustmacher and Ryan Watt.
Some additional pitching talents in Justin Diefenbach, Kevin Fee, Bruce Weyand and Jake Norris have also been added to the fold, as has Kean University catcher Josh Jackson.
The Paints’ regular season will run through the beginning of August, and by that point, they hope they are in position to compete for another Prospect League championship. Although they have a young roster and plenty of new faces, the Paints will be excited just to be back on the diamond next month, and are poised to make a title run yet again.
