Dusty Bergman is coming back home. The 1996 Carson High graduate has signed with the Golden Baseball League's Reno Silver Sox as a pitcher and pitching coach.
Along with being a starting pitcher for the independent team, Bergman will take on the duties of coaching the pitchers as well.
Silver Sox manager Les Lancaster first called Bergman about signing with Reno last year after he was released from the New York Yankees organization. But Bergman was able to sign with the San Francisco Giants organization.
But the chance came up this year for Bergman to sign with Reno, so Bergman called Lancaster. Bergman signed as a pitcher/pitching coach after negotiating with Lancaster. Bergman also talked to the GBL's franchise in St. George, Utah, before signing with Reno.
"It's going to be fun," Bergman said. "I haven't pitched in front of friends and family for a long time. I'm looking forward to pitching there."
Bergman said he's also looking forward to being a pitching coach. "It's my first chance to coach at any level," he said. "I think I'm plenty qualified to do it. It's just going to allow me to show where I've been and what I've done."
He said in coaching the other pitchers "just basically how to get people out is the whole goal."
If Bergman is able to sign with a Major League team, the Silver Sox won't stop him. "That was one of my main concerns."
Bergman said he talked about that with Lancaster and said Lancaster understood his position. "If I catch on with somebody else it's not going to be a problem," he said.
Actually, Bergman and Lancaster don't know each other that well, but Bergman said he's looking forward to working for him.
He said the fact that the Silver Sox won the GBL title last year speaks for Lancaster's managing ability. "He seems like a good guy," Bergman said. "He seems to know a lot about baseball."
The left-handed Bergman received a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues when he made one appearance with the Angels in 2004. He also made the Triple A All-Star Game with Salt Lake City in 2005.
But despite being an all-star, the Angels released later that year. He signed with the Giants and played at Triple A Fresno to end that season. He then signed with the Yankees in 2006. Despite pitching effectively for the Yankees Triple A team in Columbus, Bergman didn't really fit into their plans and the team released him. Bergman then finished the season with the Giants in Fresno.
Reno will open camp on May 28 and will open the season on June 7 at Peccole Park against Chico. "I can't wait to get going," Bergman said. "I'm getting a little antsy."