Rodriguez to take over as head of M.I.N.K. League

ST. JOSEPH - The M.I.N.K League will have a new commissioner for the 2019 season as Bob Steinkamp has decided to retire, it was announced Friday morning.

Ron Rodriguez, a longtime umpire in the Midwest, has been selected as the next commissioner.

"I'm very excited about the league," Rodriguez said in a release by the league. "We have a lot of solid foundations already set and I can't wait to get the season started."

Steinkamp was inducted into the NBC Hall of Fame in 2013, managed the Beatrice Bruins for 40 years and was a scout for the Seattle Mariners.

"He was one of the founders of the league," Rodriguez said. "The league as we know it started in the mid-90s and he was a very big part of the league at that time. He has a lot of connections throughout college baseball.

"The league owes a lot to Bob to where it's at right now," Rodriguez said. "Bob did a lot for the league."

The M.I.N.K League is comprised of eight teams, featuring college players. The Sedalia Bombers are the defending league champions.

The Jefferson City Renegades will enter their third season in the league this year.

The Renegades will open the 2019 season May 31 at Ozark before hosting Clarinda, Iowa, on June 1.

The Renegades play their home games at Vivion Field.