Thunder Bay Border Cats bring back J.M. Kelly as field manager for 2024

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are bringing back on-field manager J.M. Kelly for another season of baseball in 2024. 

Kelly managed the team to a 27-41 overall record in 2023, though the team finished stronger in the spring season, with a 17-15 record at the half-way point. 

"I thoroughly enjoyed my summer in Thunder Bay," Kelly said in a media release issued by the team. "The organization treated me and the coaches and players very well and fans were so enthusiastic and supportive." 

The team has what Kelly calls "unfinished business" next year, though there are several players already set to return.

The Cats played especially strong baseball in the first half of the season, but things took a bit of a turn in the second half. Some pitchers had to be taken out of the rotation — NWL teams must abide by a number of rules governing how much players can actually play, as it's a collegiate league and they're essentially on loan from their colleges — while the roster suffered from some injuries around the season's halfway point.

It was the team's first season back in the Northwoods League following a three-year break caused by COVID-19 related restrictions. 

WATCH | A hometown here takes the mound for 2023 home opener:

As baseball returns to Thunder Bay, a hometown hero takes the mound

2 years ago

Duration 3:03

The Thunder Bay Border Cats returned to their home ballpark for the first time since the pandemic. And if that wasn't enough to get home fans excited, hometown pitcher Jack Pineau started in front of his friends and family and led the team to a 6-3 victory.