Brooklyn Cowbell Guy: Tom Signore to Miss Cyclones Season; Dave LaRoche to Serve as Pitching Coach

Tom Signore, who has been suffering from symptoms from a concussion in 2014, has informed Brooklyn Baseball Banter that he was not medically cleared to resume baseball activities. Therefore, Signore will miss the 2015 Brooklyn Cyclones season.

Dave LaRoche, who filled in for Signore for most of last season, will serve as pitching coach this season.


Signore began the 2014 season as the Interim Pitching Coach for the Las Vegas 51s while Frank Viola was recovering from heart surgery. During warmups one day, Signore got hit in the head with a baseball and suffered a concussion. He managed to return to the field a few days later. In June he transferred to Brooklyn when Viola was medically cleared to return to the field.

Signore served as Pitching Coach for the Cyclones from Opening Day until July 13th, when symptoms related to the concussion began to act up again. After Ron Romanick filled in for a few games, the Mets decided to have LaRoche fill in as Interim Pitching Coach so Romanick could return to his role of Minor League Pitching Coordinator. Signore’s return took longer than expected, and he ended up missing the remainder of the 2014 season.

Signore did make a return to the field for Spring Training in 2015 and was named Pitching Coach for the 2015 Brooklyn Cyclones. However in March, Signore suffered a setback due to symptoms and has been recovering. LaRoche had been filling in for Signore at the Mets Extended Spring Training. Brooklyn Baseball Banter was informed in May that LaRoche was designated to fill Signore’s role should he not be medically clear to resume baseball activities.