David Driver is a native of Harrisonburg, Va., and played baseball at Turner Ashby High School and Eastern Mennonite College (now University). He graduated from EMC in 1985 with a degree in English, and a minor in journalism. He has lived in the Washington, D.C. area for 20 years, and has covered sports in the region for weekly and daily newspapers. He has also been a sports stringer for the Associated Press in Washington for more than 10 years, and has covered NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and college basketball games during that time. More >>

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Shawnee grad Komminsk managing in Orioles' farm system

June 19, 2008

By David Driver
Used with permission

BOWIE, Md. — Brad Komminsk arrived at his home near here about 2 a.m. recently, following a minor league road trip as manager of the Class AA Bowie Baysox.

After about six hours of sleep he was at the gym on a Friday morning for a workout before he showed up at around 11 a.m. at Prince George's County Stadium, the home of the Orioles' Eastern League affiliate.

With the temperature near 90 degrees, the Lima native and former Major League outfielder learned the air conditioning did not work in the Baysox clubhouse prior to that night's game against the Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators.

The temperature was about 85 degrees that afternoon in his office, where the carpet was ripped out following a flood earlier this season. Fans were blowing cool air in his manager's office, which sits behind the right-field foul pole.

"It is a firm reminder you of where you are at," Komminsk, 47, said of working in the minor leagues. "Whoever designed this place didn't do a very good job. It is a bad design. People that designed these things never ask baseball players what they need."

Komminsk, a 1979 Shawnee High School graduate, is no stranger to the Eastern League. He was the manager of the Akron Aeros for three seasons, from 2002 to 2004. His 2002 team led all of minor league baseball with 93 wins and he was named the Eastern League manager of the year.

Among the future Major Leaguers he managed in Akron were Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez of the Indians and current Orioles Luke Scott and Jeremy Guthrie.

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