Kansas University pitching coach Steve Abney has been named manager of the Brainerd (Minn.) Blue Thunder, an expansion team in the Northwoods League.

Many current and former Jayhawk players have performed in the Northwoods League, a college wood-bat league sanctioned by the NCAA.

Abney is in his third season as the Jayhawks' pitching coach. He joined KU coach Ritch Price's staff after spending five years as the Midwest scouting coordinator for the Cleveland Indians.

Abney also was manager for a pair of Alaskan Summer League teams in the early 1990s.

In a related development, the Rochester (Minn.) Honkers have named Mike Saddler, a former KU player who is now an assistant coach at Baker University, their new pitching coach.

With the addition of Brainerd and Eau Claire, Wis., the Northwoods League now has 12 teams covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Ontario, Canada.