Dan Vaughan is the new Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations for the Kansas City T-Bones (independent; American Association), with Jared Shlensky replacing him as Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations for the Gary SouthShore RailCats (independent; American Association).
Vaughan, who has spent the last four seasons with the RailCats, has been a professional baseball play-by-play broadcaster for 15 years. Vaughan’s previous broadcasting stops include Charleston, W.V.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Burlington, Iowa. During the winter, he serves as the “voice” of the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League. He also co-hosts “Talking Baseball Australia,” the only live baseball radio show aired in Australia.
“I am happy Dan was able to join our team,” said T-Bones’ Vice-President and General Manager Chris Browne, who worked with Vaughan in Jacksonville. “He brings a great voice, approach and passion for the game. I think our fans will enjoy hearing him this summer and getting to know him.”
Vaughan will become the new voice of the T-Bones, replacing Nathan Moore, who began cutting his schedule back last season due to his teaching and coaching responsibilities in Cameron, Mo. Moore will join Vaughan for the home broadcasts this season.
On the media-relations side, Vaughan replaces Matt Fulks, who has been the club’s Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations since 2012. Fulks is stepping down to focus on his work as the Director of Royals General Manager Dayton Moore’s “C” You In The Major Leagues Foundation.
“I’m thankful to the Ehlert family and Chris Browne for an incredible five seasons with the T-Bones,” Fulks said. “To work in professional baseball was a life-long dream realized, but to do so with a wonderful organization and great people, on and off the field, not to mention my talented media relations interns, was an incredible experience. This is the perfect time for me to focus on “C” You In The Major Leagues’ work in greater Kansas City, but I will miss my time at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.”
As noted, Jared Shlensky is the new Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations for the Gary SouthShore RailCats.
Shlensky, a native of Palos Heights, Ill., earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Communications from North Central College in Naperville, Ill. Shlensky has extensive experience working in baseball and has been to 21 of 30 MLB ballparks on his quest to experience them all.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the RailCats organization,” said Shlensky. “I’d like to thank General Manager Brian Lyter, Salvi Sports Enterprises and everyone associated with the Gary SouthShore RailCats for the opportunity to be the team’s broadcaster for the 2017 season.”
Shlensky comes to the RailCats organization from Waterloo Bucks (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) where he was the radio broadcaster. Shlensky also has experience as the Broadcast & Media Relations intern for the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low A; Midwest League) in 2015 and the Broadcast & Media Relations intern for the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) in 2014.
Joining Shlensky in the broadcast booth will be Austin Anderson, the Broadcasting & Media Relations Assistant. An Elgin, Ill. native, Anderson is a graduate of Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania and has experience interning with the Chicago Bandits professional softball team and as an announcer for Westmoreland Sports Network in Suburban Philadelphia.
“We are excited to have Jared join our team as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.” said RailCats General Manager Brian Lyter. “His radio call is a bit of a throwback to a simpler time that I believe RailCats fans will really enjoy as he paints the picture of each game.”