SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana pitching coach Caleb Thielbar will be playing two roles throughout the 2020 season. The first-year coach has announced that he has signed a contract to continue his professional playing career with the Minnesota Twins organization while continuing to coach the Vikings.
“This is a great opportunity for Caleb and too good to pass up,” Augustana head baseball coach Tim Huber said. “He has been instrumental in helping train our pitchers the past few months and has been such a great resource for our program.
“I’m excited that he intends to continue coaching with our program next year and beyond. Our guys will miss him during the back end of our season but he will be back and ready to get back at the training side of things again next fall.”
Thielbar is not only excited about the opportunity to continue playing but also what he can learn and bring back to the Viking pitching staff.
“I am excited to continue my playing career and grateful to the Twins for giving me that opportunity,” Thielbar said. “I look forward to working with the pitchers here at Augustana into the start of the season and thankful to Augustana and Coach Huber that I will be able to join them again next fall to continue the development process.
“The amount that I can learn from an analytically advanced organization like the Twins will only raise the bar for our pitchers.”
Augustana opens the 2020 season Feb. 8 playing Central Oklahoma and Arkansas-Monticello in Monticello, Arkansas. The home debut is scheduled for March 14 with a doubleheader against St. Cloud State at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field.
