Pennell bringing real-life experience to Hot Rods staff Published 9:27 am Wednesday, July 29, 20261/2 Swipe or click to see more Bowling Green Hot Rods pitching coach Ryan Pennell returns to the dugout in the Hot Rods’ 4-3 win over the Asheville Tourists at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Thursday, July 23, 2026. (Grace McDowell / The Daily News) 2/2 Swipe or click to see more Bowling Green Hot Rods pitching coach Ryan Pennell returns to the dugout in the Hot Rods’ 4-3 win over the Asheville Tourists at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Thursday, July 23, 2026. While the Bowling Green Hot Rods was the final stop of his professional pitching career, Pennell never left baseball – taking on many roles throughout the Tampa Bay system. The path back to Bowling Green wasn’t one he would have foreseen in 2016, when he was released in spring training. Coming off a tough first full season in Bowling Green, the 22nd-round pick said he wasn’t surprised by the organization’s decision.