Barons Announce 2019 Coaching Staff
The Birmingham Barons, in conjunction with the Chicago White Sox, are excited to announce that 11-time Golden Glove winner Omar Vizquel as the Barons Manager for the 2019 season.
The Birmingham Barons, in conjunction with the Chicago White Sox, are excited to announce that 11-time Golden Glove winner Omar Vizquel as the Barons Manager for the 2019 season.
Vizquel will be assisted this season by new Hitting Coach Charlie Poe and Bench Coach Wes Helms. Returning to the Barons coaching staff this season will be Pitching Coach Richard Dotson, Strength & Conditioning Coach Tim Rodmaker, and Athletic Trainer Cory Barton.
"Over the years the Barons have had so many great managers and coaches and we believe this year's staff will continue to help develop the top White Sox prospects and lead the Barons to another Southern League Championship." said Barons General Manager Jonathan Nelson. "Omar was a great Major League player for so many years and in speaking with him last week I know he is excited about managing the Barons and spending the season at Regions Field. We're also excited to welcome Birmingham native Wes Helms to the staff along with former Barons player Charlie Poe as Hitting Coach. It is great to have Richard Dotson return as our Pitching Coach as well as Cory Barton as Athletic Trainer and Tim Rodmaker as Strength and Conditioning Coach."
Vizquel, 51, is entering his second season as a manager in the Chicago White Sox organization. In his first year as a manager, he was named Carolina League Manager of the Year after leading the Winston-Salem Dash (Single-A) to an 84-54 record and a first half title.
A native of Caracas, Venezuela Vizquel was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 1984. Vizquel enjoyed a 24-year Major League career appearing in 2,968 games with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. He won two American League pennants with the Cleveland Indians in 1995 and 1997.
Considered to be one of baseball's best fielding shortstops of all-time, Vizquel is an 11-time Rawlings Gold Glove winner and a three-time All-Star. His .985 fielding percentage is second all-time among shortstops and ranks first in career games played at shortstop (2,709). During his career, Vizquel hit .272 and recorded 456 doubles, 77 triples, 80 home runs, 951 RBI, 404 stolen bases, and 1,038 walks.
In 2018, Vizquel was nominated for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his first year of eligibility, he finished 10th in voting after receiving 156 votes (37%) from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The 2019 National Baseball Hall of Fame Class will be announced on Tuesday, January 22nd.
Charlie Poe, 47, enters his first season with the Barons after spending the last four seasons as the Hitting Coach for the Winston-Salem Dash. A former outfielder for the Barons, Poe was selected by the White Sox in the sixth round of the 1990 MLB Draft and spent 11 seasons in the minors. During the 1995 season, Poe represented the Barons in the Southern League All-Star Game.
Wes Helms, 42, will begin his first season with the Barons after spending the 2018 season as a Bench Coach for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. A former Major League infielder, Helms was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of the 1994 MLB Draft. Helms spent 13 seasons in the Major Leagues where he hit .256 and recorded 694 hits, 75 home runs, and 374 RBI.
Richard Dotson, 59, returns for his second season in Birmingham as the Barons Pitching Coach. The right-handed Dotson was drafted in the 1st round (7th overall) of the 1977 draft by the California Angels, but was traded later that year to the White Sox organization. He spent 12 seasons in the Major Leagues and recorded a 4.23 career ERA in 305 games (111-113). In 295 starts, Dotson pitched 55 complete games and 11 shutouts, and he was tabbed as an American League All-Star in the 1984 season, pitching two scoreless innings at Candlestick Park.
Tim Rodmaker returns for his fifth season in Birmingham as the Strength and Conditioning coach. Rodmaker has been in the White Sox organization since 2006, seeing time in Short-Season-A Great Falls, Single-A Kannapolis, and Single-A Advanced Winston-Salem before joining the Barons field staff in 2015.
Corey Barton enters his second season as Athletic Trainer for the Barons, and 15th overall with the White Sox organization. Barton spent two seasons as athletic trainer for the Winston-Salem Dash (Single-A) where he was named the Appalachian League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2007.
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The Birmingham Barons are the proud Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Barons will open the home portion of their 2019 season at Regions Field on Wednesday, April 10th against the Tennessee Smokies, Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar, or for additional information about Regions Field, visit barons.com or call (205) 988-3200.
Southern League Champions: 1906 • 1912 • 1914 • 1928 • 1929 • 1931 • 1958 • 1967 •1983 • 1987 • 1989 • 1993 • 2002 • 2013 31-Year Double-A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox