Lorenzo Bundy Named Manager Of The Las Vegas 51s
The 51s coaching staff was also announced as Mike Easler will serve as the hitting instructor and Ken Howell will return for his second season as pitching coach. Easler was the hitting coach last season at Jacksonville, the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate.
"Lorenzo is a hard working coach who had his hands on some highly regarded prospects with the Diamondbacks last season," Dodgers Director of Player Development De Jon Watson said. "He's a very good finisher of players and he's going to bring some quality experience to our organization."
Bundy, 47, joins the Dodgers organization after spending four seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He was the hitting instructor the past three seasons (2004-06) for Tucson. Last season, the Sidewinders compiled the best record in all of Triple-A with a 91-53 (.632) mark and captured the PCL Championship (defeated Round Rock, 3-games-to-0) and the Triple-A Championship (defeated Toledo, 5-2). Tucson led the PCL with a .289 batting average and 844 runs scored.
"I am really excited for this opportunity," Bundy said. "This is something I was hoping to achieve (Triple-A manager) and when the Dodgers called me, it was an opportunity I couldn't say no to. I am looking forward in working with the Dodgers farm system and with all of the good prospects we have in it."
He has compiled a 357-397 (.473) record in six seasons as a minor league manager in the Montreal (1990-94) and Florida (1997) organizations. He guided Bradenton to the 1990 Gulf Coast League Southern Division title but lost in the championship series. He has also managed in the Mexican Winter League (1991-2006) winning the championship for Novojoa (1999-2000) and has been twice named Manager of the Year. He is currently managing in the Mexican Winter League.
"Lorenzo has been in the game of baseball for a long time," 51s President and General Manager Don Logan said. "He has a good reputation and is a fine upstanding baseball individual. We are excited to have him manage our team in Las Vegas for our 25th PCL season."
Bundy has an extensive coaching career that included serving as the bench coach for the Diamondbacks under interim manager Al Pedrique during the final three months of the 2004 season. He was the hitting coach at Double-A El Paso in 2003, where the Diablos led the Texas League with a .282 average. He began his coaching career in 1989 as a player-coach with Jacksonville. He served as the hitting coach at Brevard County from 1995-96 and served as the Marlins outfield and base running coach in 1998. In 1999, he was the Colorado Rockies bullpen coach and then moved to their minor league system, where he spent two seasons as the outfield and base running coach. In 2002, he was the hitting instructor for Pawtucket, Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, of the International League.
Bundy played in over eight seasons in the minor leagues and Mexican League. He compiled a .318 batting average with 135 home runs and 534 RBI. He originally signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Texas Rangers in 1981 and also spent time in the Pittsburgh and Montreal farm systems. He was a standout first baseman at James Madison University. He ranks second on the school's all-time home run list with 36.
LORENZO BUNDY'S MANAGERIAL RECORD
1990,Expos (A), Gulf Coast, 40-23,.635
1991,Sumter (A),South Atlantic,64-75, .460
1992,Albany (A),South Atlantic,72-70,.507
1993,Burlington (A), Midwest, 64-71,.474
1994, Burlington (A), Midwest, 55-82, .401
1997, Brevard County (A), Florida State, 62-76.,449
TOTALS, 357-397, .473
Easler joins the 51s coaching staff after serving one season at Jacksonville. He was the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach from 1999-2001 and served in the same capacity for the Milwaukee Brewers (1992) and Boston Red Sox (1993-94). He played 14 seasons in the Major Leagues (1973-87) with Houston (1973-75), California (1976), Pittsburgh (1977-83), Boston (1984-85), New York Yankees (1986-87) and Philadelphia (1987). He posted a .293 career average with 118 home runs and 522 RBI. The Cleveland native was a member of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates and served as a minor league manager and college baseball coach following his playing career.
Howell returns for his second season with 51s coaching staff. In 2005, he was the pitching coach at Double-A Jacksonville. The Suns captured the Southern League championship with a 79-61 (.564) record. He also served as pitching coach for two seasons at Single-A Vero Beach (2003-04). He played seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Dodgers (1984-88) and Philadelphia (1989-90). He appeared in 245 career games and compiled a 38-48 record with a 3.95 ERA. He was a member of the 1988 Dodgers World Series Championship team that defeated the Oakland A's.
The 51s open their "25th PCL Season" on Thursday, April 5 at Salt Lake City, Utah against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Las Vegas' home opener will be on Friday, April 13 against the Bees at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825 or log on to the team's website at www.LV51.com. Official licensed team merchandise is available on the "Team Shop" section of the website.