Kissimmee FSL team changes managers

In their first season in the Florida State League, the Florida Fire Frogs are turning to their second manager.

The Fire Frogs, who are based in Kissimmee, announced Thursday that Ralph “Rocket’’ Wheeler will replace Paul Runge. The Osceola County team went 25-41 in the first half, last in the North Division. The Fire Frogs were slated to begin the second half Thursday night against the Fort Myers Miracle at Osceola County Stadium.

Wheeler, 62, returns to the dugout after being an on-field adviser with the Atlanta Braves to begin this season. This will be his 26th season as a minor-league manager, including with the Braves’ top Class A affiliate, Carolina, in 2016.

This is the Fire Frogs’ first year as a Braves affiliate. The Fire Frogs formerly were the Brevard County Manatees, whose parent organization was the Milwaukee Brewers.

Runge had been a longtime minor-league manager as well. Runge, 59, stepped back into a managerial role after serving as the Houston Astros’ field coordinator for the previous six seasons.

Efforts to reach the Fire Frogs were unsuccessful. Thursday.

Haseley, who recently completed his junior season at Virginia, was the eighth overall selection in the amateur baseball draft this month. That choice was assigned a slot value of nearly $4.8 million by Major League Baseball.

He made the All-ACC first team in 2017 after leading the league with a .390 batting average and .491 onbase percentage. He had 14 home runs and 56 RBIs as a junior with the Cavaliers.

Haseley is expected to report to the Phillies’ complex in Clearwater before being assigned to a minor-league affiliate, likely Class A Williamsport of the short-season New York-Penn League.

He was one of three Central Florida first-round picks, joining North Carolina shortstop Logan Warmoth (Toronto Blue Jays, 22nd pick) and West Orange shortstop Chris Seise (Texas Rangers, 29th pick).

Seise reached an agreement for a reported $2 million signing bonus. Warmoth, who played at Lake Brantley, is unsigned.

Former Lake Mary shortstop Brendan Rodgers, one of the top prospects in minor-league baseball, is headed to Class AA for the first time.

Rodgers, 20, has been promoted to the Colorado Rockies’ affiliate in Hartford after leading the Class A California League with a .400 batting average for Lancaster. He was the third pick in the 2015 draft.