David Noworyta is stepping into his first managerial role with the Columbia Fireflies — but he’s no stranger to baseball. He played in high school, competed at the University of Hawaii, and joined the Detroit Tigers’ minor league before the COVID-19 pandemic ended his playing career.
Instead of giving up, Noworyta jumped into coaching, climbing from assistant hitting coach to bench coach for the Omaha Storm Chasers. Now, at 28, he’s leading the Fireflies into their 2025 season.
Fun fact: His dad was the Phillies’ Special Assistant to Player Development during their 2008 World Series win.
Mitch Maier, Director of Player Development for the Kansas City Royals, praised Noworyta for his “care for the players, curiosity to keep growing and learning, and passion to develop players.” Sounds like a strong leader, to us.
Psst… Catch Noworyta’s managerial debut this Tuesday, April 8, when the Fireflies take on the Charleston RiverDogs at Segra Park.
