ABOVE: Pictured left to right: Kelsey Traetow, Vivian Traetow, Clayton Traetow, Jon Traetow. Submitted photo.

TRIMONT – The Martin County West Mavericks baseball team’s coaching staff looks a little different this year as Jon Traetow has taken the position of head coach for the 2025 season. Traetow, who currently plays for the Fairmont Martins in the summer, has brought his playing experience to the team, which is proving vital.

Traetow began his playing career young and played multiple sports before focusing on baseball.

“I really enjoyed playing all sports,” said Traetow. “I would say that when I was going through school, if you asked me what my favorite sport was, I would tell you whatever season I was in, whether it was football, basketball or baseball. It always felt that baseball was probably my best sport. … It’s ultimately my favorite game of all, I was a pretty good-sized kid growing up, so the [hitting the] ball over the fence at that those little league fields was easier than some, so I didn’t have to swing out of my shoes.”

Using his size and skill, Traetow focused on baseball and fell further in love with the game.

“I was really able to focus on making sure that I had a solid foundation for when I swung and the rest would do itself,” said Traetow. “I think as I got older I started to develop more and more, which led to greater success with the game, so pretty solid high school career. Went to the Lions all-star game my senior year, I ended up winning the MVP of that series and then got a collegiate offer to play ball at St. Cloud State.”

After that, he went on to play ball for the Fox Lake Foxes before ultimately connecting with the Fairmont Martins after the Foxes folded in 2019 to continue his playing career. As time passed, Traetow realized that despite his objections, coaching was something he wanted to do.

“You know, having a young family, I’ve got a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old. So that was always my kind of my excuse,” said Traetow. “If something came up, I’d love to, but it’s not the right time. It’s just not the right time. I have two younger kids at home to be doing it. Well, fast forward to last spring.”

While Traetow originally had interest in helping coach football and let MCW Athletic Director Tom Elliot know, Traetow also had interest coaching varsity baseball, which ultimately became the role he accepted.

Heading into the season, Traetow uses his wealth of experience to communicate as effectively as possible with his squad. The mental aspect of the game and the perception of how his words are interpreted are primary keys that he brought from his background. The goal for Traetow is to effectively communicate with his team so they can be the best ball players possible.

“When you’re young, you don’t quite perceive things the way they come off,” said Traetow. “That’s something that I try to keep in mind whenever I’m having a conversation with a player try to talk to them at their level try to have a friendly, friendship-type conversation with them and hopefully my message resonates a little bit more trying to talk to him on the same level compared to talking down to them.”

Traetow credits his father as his biggest influence and was decidedly his biggest fan.

“Throughout my entire career, my biggest influence has probably been my dad,” said Traetow. “Him and I always had a very passionate relationship when I was younger and sometimes I didn’t always see it through the right lens as a young kid. But being on this side of it the whole time, all he ever wanted was for me to be the best version of me. So, no matter the situation, he was always the one that was pushing me, trying to make me see the bigger picture, trying to make me believe that there were bigger things in this game. I would say that he is absolutely the reason why I had the successes I did have as a player.”

Traetow brings a well-rounded coaching style and a solid view of the game to the Mavericks. In addition to his experience, he balances it with a family-first mentality that extends to his players.

The Mavericks are currently 1-0 and head to Cleveland for a 4:30 p.m. game Tuesday.