The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs named Brett Jodie as their new manager, marking him as the ninth in team history since the franchise began play in 2008.
Jodie, 48, brings a career record of 786 wins over 12 seasons managing in independent baseball, including seven years with the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League and five with the Lincoln Saltdogs in the American Association. His overall winning percentage stands at .538 across more than 1,461 games.
Blue Crabs Chief Operating Officer Byron Sackett praised the hire. “Brett is a proven winner, in the Atlantic League and across baseball,” Sackett said. “We are excited to have him at the helm as we embark on this new chapter with the Blue Crabs.”
General Manager Christian Heimall echoed the sentiment. “I am beyond excited to introduce Brett Jodie as our new manager,” Heimall said. “His pedigree for winning, ability to sign and develop high quality players, and his overall character as a human being made him the top choice for us and we are honored to have him join the Blue Crabs.”
Jodie expressed enthusiasm for the role. “I am thrilled to become a part of this wonderful organization,” he said. “I’m looking forward to contributing to the success of the Blue Crabs both on and off the field and I’m eager to work with our staff and ownership in our shared goal of competing for an Atlantic League championship.”
The announcement follows Jodie’s departure from the Lincoln Saltdogs, announced on December 15, where he cited a desire to be closer to his family in South Carolina. “After thoughtful consideration and prayer, I have decided to step down as the manager of the Lincoln Saltdogs. This move will allow me to be closer to my home in South Carolina, my wife and two daughters,” Jodie said in the Saltdogs release.
Saltdogs President Charlie Meyer acknowledged Jodie’s contributions. “We are grateful for Brett’s leadership and the commitment he brought to the Saltdogs over the past five seasons,” Meyer said. “Brett guided this team with professionalism, integrity, and his impact on our players and our organization was evident from day one.”
During his tenure with Somerset from 2013 to 2019, Jodie compiled a 556-405 record, leading the Patriots to six playoff appearances in seven seasons and the 2015 Atlantic League championship—a 3-1 series win over the Blue Crabs. That year, he earned Atlantic League Manager of the Year honors. Jodie reached his 500th win on May 17, 2019, becoming the fastest manager to that milestone in league history.
In Lincoln, Jodie recorded 230 wins, including a postseason berth in 2022—the Saltdogs’ first since 2017—after winning nine of the final 10 games.
The Blue Crabs play home games at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, a 4,200-seat venue that has hosted the team since its inaugural season. The franchise joined the Atlantic League as an expansion team in 2008, providing professional baseball to Charles County residents and nearby communities in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties.
The Atlantic League, designated as Major League Baseball’s first partner league in 2020, features 10 teams split into North and South divisions. It serves as a platform for player development, rule experimentation, and opportunities for veterans and prospects to showcase skills for potential affiliated contracts.
Jodie’s playing career included a brief Major League stint in 2001 with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres, pitching 25.1 innings over eight appearances. Drafted in the sixth round by the Yankees in 1998 out of the University of South Carolina, he later pitched for Somerset as a player before transitioning to coaching and managing roles there.
Managers in independent leagues like the Atlantic often handle dual responsibilities in player recruitment and development, given roster fluidity and the absence of farm systems. Jodie’s track record includes three of the top 10 first-half win totals in Atlantic League history, topped by his 50 wins in the first half of 2015.
The Blue Crabs’ 2026 season schedule typically features 126 games, with home openers drawing local crowds for family entertainment, fireworks, and promotions at the Waldorf ballpark accessible via routes like U.S. 301.
This hiring positions Jodie to pursue his first Atlantic League title since 2015, now from the Southern Maryland dugout.
