Claymores Beat Writer
The Edinburgh News
Can Scotland catch lightning in a bottle?
Claymores front office types certainly are trying: they’ve hired three legends from the early days of the franchise to lead their new Rookie League team, the Khartoum Raiders.
At a press conference Friday in the Sudan capital, Scottish Asst. GM Harry Kevern introduced the new Raiders braintrust:
- Manager Salvador Medrano: the most storied player in Claymores history and a popular sports TV and radio personality in the U.K.
- Hitting Coach Kikugoro Memoto: a legendary slugger from the founding days of the franchise as the Fushigi Yugi Celestial Warriors.
- Pitching Coach Kuniaki Matsumoto: a significant talent from the team’s first days in the PEBA when it played as the Dayton Flyers.
Medrano made no secret that he sees this as a stepping stone to, eventually, managing the Claymores.
“Hey, I’ve enjoyed my media experience, but there’s nothing like putting on a uniform every day and coming to the ballpark knowing you’ve got a game on the line,” Medrano said.
“Believe me, I know I have a lot to learn, and I know (current Claymores Manager Hayato) Sasaki isn’t going anywhere soon. But when he’s ready to move on, I want the Claymores to know that managing my old team has been a dream of mine.”
Matsumoto, meanwhile, said he sees the job in Khartoum as a chance to give back to a game and a franchise that treated him well.
“Working with young players is a joy,” Matsumoto said. “I will relish this opportunity.”
Finally, Memoto said his motivation in taking the Raiders job was simple.
“I missed putting on the uniform everyday,” he said. “Baseball, for 15 years, was my whole life – and I have missed it every day since I stepped away in 2019. When (Claymores GM) Vic Caleca called me to discuss the opportunity, I did not hesitate.”
All three said they understand the talent level on the Raiders may be a bit thin to begin with, since the Claymores have traded away their top draft picks in the last couple of amateur drafts.
“That’s OK,” Medrano said. “Our job is to make the kids who come through here into better ballplayers. I look forward, in a year or two, to getting some more talent through the door, but we’ll be patient – and maybe we’ll surprise some folks”
Given that SS Hunter Greene – a 5th rounder who nonetheless was Scotland’s highest pick in the 2029 draft – is the most recognizable name on the Khartoum roster, any sort of winning campaign would be a surprise, indeed.
Still, Medrano and Co. will need any optimism they can summon in the months ahead – especially as they field a team of youngsters in the formidable desert climate of Khartoum.
“It will be warm, we know that,” Medrano said. “We’ve bought plenty of fans for the dugout.”
Since the average temperatures during the season will run in the triple digits, the Raiders may need more than fans.
But all of that is in the future. For now, the Claymores and their legendary stable of coaches can be forgiven a rush of optimism.
“Hey, this time of year, you’ve gotta be optimistic,” Medrano said with a laugh. “Everybody’s undefeated - even us!”
