Lincoln Potters hire former big-leaguer Tyler Robertson as manager

For the second consecutive year, the Lincoln Potters will have a new manager at the helm. The Potters announced Thursday that former major-leaguer and scout Tyler Robertson will take over as manager, marking the first coaching stint in his career. Robertson, who played for the Minnesota Twins and in the Washington Nationals organization, will replace Mike Marjama, another former big-leaguer who was named the Potters' manager in September but was hired by the Miami Marlins in March to take over as hitting coach for the High-A Beloit Sky Carp. Robertson has nearly two decades of experience in baseball as a player and scout for the New York Yankees. "I haven't managed but I've built relationships with enough people from playing and scouting that can help me out with the management side of things," Robertson said, noting his career in baseball can offer a unique perspective on the managing side. "Not only did I play at the next level, but I also sent guys to go to the next level. I'm excited to be able to give some of my advice on what I was looking for on that side." Robertson added, "At the end of the day, it's baseball. I've been around it my whole life and I'm confident I'll figure out that part of managing and getting guys to buy in and be invested." Robertson, a third-round pick in 2006 out of Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks, said he's excited to give back to the local baseball community in which he grew up. "I've always lived here and I would always come home in the offseason whenever I was done playing," Robertson said. Summer ball offers a unique challenge to managers, who have to put a winning product on the field and try to develop players for the next level. Robertson says he's up to the challenge and feels his two decades of experience around professional baseball can help keep top-tier talent coming to Lincoln. "We're gonna try to put the best product we can out there and obviously we're gonna play to win," Robertson said. "We're always trying to go after the best talent we could possibly get, whether it's high school seniors that are about to graduate and are moving on to Division I schools or some of the top guys we get from other major colleges from around the country." Robertson said he's already familiar with a large portion of the roster through either scouting them or coaching them in Area Code games. He added his scouting experience will help him prepare players for the draft because he has firsthand knowledge on what teams are looking for in a prospect. "I do think that experience is gonna help us draw more players in," Robertson said. "I've been through that experience myself as a player. I was in those meetings as a scout. I got to see what they're looking for and break that stuff down with the players so that they know what to expect." Joining Robertson on the coaching staff this season will be Tyler Malone, a Roseville native and Woodcreek High graduate that played in the San Diego Padres organization, and Mike LaVigne, a Colfax graduate with experience playing at the collegiate level. The Potters are scheduled to open their season May 24 against the Novato Knicks at home. Lincoln will play its first Pacific Empire League game June 18 at home against the Humboldt Crabs. Single-game tickets are on sale at https://lincolnpotters.com/tickets/.