March 30, 2022

Official Fort McMurray Giants News Release

FORT McMURRAY, ALBERTA – The Western Canadian Baseball League’s Fort McMurray Giants have hired Andrew Swagers to be their president of baseball operations and general manager.

Swagers – who graduated with his Masters in Sports Administration from East Central University – played his collegiate baseball in Oklahoma and spent his summers playing in the Costal Plain League.

Over the last seven years, he has called Fort McMurray home.

He was the executive director of baseball operations for the Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association (FMMBA) and the Father Mercredi High School Baseball Academy. During his time there, he has seen 14 of his players have an opportunity to play at the college level.

He also sits on the technical committee for the Alberta Amateur Baseball Council (ABCA). In this last year, he was awarded the Wally A. Footz Builders Award by Baseball Alberta. This award is for outstanding efforts in structure, promotion, and development of amateur baseball in Alberta.

“I am beyond excited for this opportunity. Giants baseball is the highest level of baseball we have in Fort McMurray. Some of the top collegiate players in North America come through the WCBL and have played for the Giants,” said Swagers.

“Our alumni already consist of players who have gone on to play professional baseball.”

Dutche Iannetti, owner of the Fort McMurray Giants, also expressed enthusiasm about adding Swagers to the front office roster.

“We are extremely happy to announce this hiring of ‘Swags’ … Andrew has been involved with baseball for the last 15 years,” said Iannetti.

“Swags has not just coached at the collegiate level, but has also worked within some of the top academies in Canada and the vast wealth of knowledge for not just the on-field product, but the business of baseball is something that makes this a perfect fit.”

The Fort McMurray Giants 2022 season/home opener will take place on May 27 against the Edmonton Prospects.