LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - The Gwinnett Braves, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced the hiring of Randy Ready as the club's new manager on Monday, November 12. Ready, a veteran of 13 seasons as a Major League player and three as a Major League hitting coach, is set to become just the second manager in G-Braves' history dating back to 2009.

Ready, 52, joins the Braves organization after spending the 2012 season as the minor league hitting coordinator for the Texas Rangers. Prior to joining the Rangers, he served as the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres from July of 2009 through the 2011 season.

Ready returns to a minor league managerial role for the first time since 2009, when he managed Triple-A Portland in the San Diego system prior to joining the Major League staff. He is a career 489-466 as a minor league manager, including stops at Short-A Oneonta (2002-03), Class-A Fort Wayne (2004-06), Double-A San Antonio (2007) and Triple-A Portland (2008-09). His career highlights include winning the New York-Penn League's Manager of the Year award in 2002, leading San Antonio to a Texas League Championship in 2007, being elected to the Texas League Hall of Fame following the 2007 season and earning Baseball America's "Best Manager Prospect" award for the Pacific Coast League in 2008.

"I'm very excited to join the Atlanta Braves organization," said Ready. "The Braves have been a model of consistency as an organization for a long time. I'm looking forward to the upcoming 2013 season and being a part of the Braves family moving forward."

Originally drafted in the sixth round of the 1980 draft by Milwaukee, Ready appeared in 777 Major League games over parts of 13 seasons with the Brewers (1983-86), Padres (1986-89), Philadelphia Phillies (1989-91, 1994-95), Oakland Athletics (1992) and Montreal Expos (1993). The infielder hit .259 with 40 home runs and 239 RBI in his big league career.

Ready replaces Dave Brundage, who was named the manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this month.

The Gwinnett Braves open their fifth season of play on Thursday, April 4, 2013 as they host the Charlotte Knights for a 7:05 PM contest at Coolray Field. For more information on G-Braves Season Tickets, Luxury Suites, Group Outings and more, contact the Coolray Field Box Office at 678-277-0340.