December 15, 2022 – Lexington, KY – The Lexington Legends announced today that it has hired former MLB player Barry Lyons as the club’s new Manager. Lyons, who enjoyed a fourteen-year professional baseball career, will begin in his new role with the Legends in January.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been involved in many different areas of the baseball industry, and I’m thrilled to be returning to the dugout once again as Lexington’s Manager,” said Lyons. “Lexington has a rich history as a sports town, and I look forward to expanding baseball’s role in the region’s overall sports story.”

Lyons, who is the uncle of Lexington Legends owner Nathan Lyons, played for seven seasons in the Major Leagues for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, and Chicago White Sox. After retiring from professional baseball in 1996, he spent three years as a Manager in Minor League Baseball before shifting his focus to broadcast, serving as a television and radio analyst for the Nashville Sounds.

In 2015, after many years of leading the effort, Lyons successfully brought Minor League Baseball to his hometown of Biloxi, MS. The Biloxi Shuckers are a Southern League Class AA Minor League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers Organization. Lyons served as the Team Ambassador for the Shuckers, acting as the featured analyst on “Shuckers on Deck,” a live pre-game show, as well as for “Baseball Basics with Barry” on social media and “Shuckers Showcase,” a monthly TV highlights show. Lyons was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

“When searching for a new Manager, we wanted to find someone with a depth of experience that could be used to really enhance our organization,” said Legends owner Nathan Lyons. “Barry’s experiences in baseball have equipped him with a unique understanding of all aspects of the game, and we can’t wait to see what he does with the team on the field.”

Nathan and Keri Lyons acquired the Lexington Legends, along with Wild Health Field and its real estate, as part of a transaction from Stands, LLC, and other affiliated companies, whose CEO is Andy Shea. The acquisition was completed in October 2022.