First-year Assistant Baseball Coach Jon Tatum will be spending the summer of 2012 coaching with the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaskan Baseball League (ABL).

Located 40 miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the Mat-Su Miners are one of 6 teams competing in the ABL.
 
The Miners have a rich tradition that goes back to the 1970's where they began as the Valley Green Giants. In 1980, they changed their name to what is now the Mat-Su Miners. In 1987, the Miners won their first ABL Championship and went on to win the NBC (National Baseball Congress) in Wichita, Kansas.
 
“I am very humbled and excited at the chance to coach in such a prestigious summer league," shared Tatum. "This will be a great experience plus provide me the opportunity to further the development of college athletes and learn from other successful coaches.”
 
Over 335 former Miners have played professional baseball with 57 making it to the Major League. Some notable Miners include: Jeff Brantly (Reds), Craig Counsel (Brewers), Geoff Blum (Brewers), Matt Young (Braves), Jed Lowrie (Red Sox), Marc Rzepczynski (Cardinals), and Garrett Richards (Angels).