The Texas Collegiate League announced on Friday that Gerald Haddock has been named the new league commissioner.

Haddock, who founded the league and has been actively involved in since the inaugural season in 2004, expressed his excitement about his new role.

“I am extremely pleased and honored to have been selected by the team owners to serve in this capacity,” said Haddock. “We look forward to demonstrating our ability to compete at the highest levels.”

Uri Geva, president of the TCL, welcomed Haddock as the league’s commissioner.

“Gerald helped mold this league from the very beginning,” said Geva. “We look forward to his help in shaping its future.”

As commissioner, Haddock will serve as the lead ambassador for the league, appearing at games and events on behalf of the TCL. The league may also lean upon his experience to cultivate or expand relationship, for instance with the Texas Rangers. Haddock was a minority investor and general counsel for the Rangers from 1989 to 1998.

The TCL opens its 10th season next Thursday, May 30, with six teams: the Acadiana Cane Cutters, Brazos Valley Bombers, East Texas Pump Jacks, Texas Marshals, Victoria Generals, and Woodlands Strykers. The defending champion Pump Jacks will host the 2013 TCL All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 9, at historic Driller Park. The complete 2013 TCL schedule can be found here: www.texascollegiateleague.com/schedule/league/.

More than 300 players from the TCL have been drafted by major league organizations over the last decade. Among the TCL alumni who have gone on the big leagues are Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt, who helped the San Francisco Giants to the 2012 World Series title, and Clay Buchholz, who tossed a no-hitter in just his second major league start for the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

For more information about Gerald Haddock and the Haddock Foundation, visit www.haddockinvestments.com/geraldhaddockphilanthropies/thehaddockfoundation.html.

To follow all the news from the Texas Collegiate League’s 10th season, visit the TCL’s official website at www.tclbaseball.com.