Former Major Leaguer Brian Buchanan Named Blue Rocks Manager For 2015 Season
Wilmington, DE- The Wilmington Blue Rocks are proud to announce that Brian Buchanan has been named the 13th manager in the modern history of the organization. The 41-year-old spent the last three seasons managing the Kansas City Royals' Low-A affiliate and brings 16 years worth of playing experience with him to the Riverfront, including seven campaigns at the Major League level.
Buchanan helped lead the Lexington Legends to a 125-153 record in the South Atlantic League over the last two seasons. In 2012 (when the Royals were still affiliated with Kane County of the Midwest League) Buchanan piloted the Cougars to a 68-72 mark. Overall he has spent five years as a skipper in the Royals organization, with the first two coming in the Pioneer League at Idaho Falls.
He began his playing career at the University of Virginia where he earned All-American status in 1994. Later that year he was selected in the opening round of the draft by the New York Yankees. Buchanan made his Big League debut in 2000 with the Minnesota Twins. In two-plus seasons with the Twins he hit .258 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in July, 2002 and slugged six homers while batting .293 in 48 games down the stretch.
After another year-and-a-half in San Diego, Buchanan returned to New York to sign with the Mets as a free agent in August, 2004. He would wrap up his career in the Majors with a .258 batting average, 72 extra-base hits and 103 RBIs as an outfielder and first baseman.
Buchanan kept playing for three more seasons after his time in the Bigs was through, spending 2007 in Japan and 2008 and 2009 in the Royals organization with Triple-A Omaha. He resides in Jupiter, FL with his wife, Jill, and sons Walker, Drew, Logan and Connor. Buchanan's father-in-law is Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek.
His coaching staff includes a familiar name. The longest tenured coach in Blue Rocks history is back for another season as Steve Luebber returns for his ninth campaign as pitching coach in Wilmington and his 48th overall year in professional baseball. He pitched professionally for 17 seasons, including 66 appearances in the Majors.
Abraham Nunez rounds out the staff as hitting coach. Nunez spent last year on Buchanan's staff in Lexington and is entering his fourth year as a coach. As a player he spent parts of 12 seasons in the Big Leagues, including a two-year stint just up I-95 from Frawley Stadium with the Phillies. His best year came in 2005 when he batted .285 in 139 regular season games and helped lead the Cardinals to the National League Championship Series.
James Stone is back for his fourth season as the Blue Rocks Athletic Trainer. Stone has been with the Royals since 2010 and was the New York-Penn League Trainer of the Year in 2006 (while with the Jamestown Jammers - Florida Marlins).
The Blue Rocks, who drew 284,701 fans to Frawley Stadium in 2014 and averaged more than 4,400 patrons per game, have season seats and group packages for the 2015 season on sale now. The home opener is Thursday, April 16 at 6:35 p.m. and individual tickets for that or any other game this season will go on sale on Presidents Day. Fans should call 302-888-BLUE or visit BlueRocks.com for more information.
www.bluerocks.com