Knights announce 2013 field staff
"We are very pleased to welcome Joel, Rich and Joe back to the Knights for the 2013 season," said Charlotte Knights executive vice president, chief operating officer Dan Rajkowski. "In his first year of managing the Knights, Joel did a tremendous job in leading our team and developing our young talent."
Skinner, 51, led the Knights to an 83-61 record -- the club's second highest win total in franchise history. Skinner's club posted a 33-19 record after the All-Star Break and the team cruised into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Under his tutelage, 17 Knights players were promoted to the White Sox in 2012.
A native of La Jolla, Calif., Skinner played 15 seasons of professional baseball, including nine seasons in the Majors with the White Sox (1983-86), New York Yankees (1986-88) and Cleveland (1989-91).
Skinner began his coaching/managerial career in 1994 as a catching instructor in the Cleveland organization. In 1995, the former big league catcher led Watertown to the New York-Penn League championship, earning Manager of the Year honors that season.
Among some of his other accomplishments, Skinner was the Carolina League Manager of the Year in 1997, USA Today Baseball Weekly's Minor League Manager of the Year in 1998, and the Baseball America and The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year in 2000.
"I'm really looking forward to returning to the Knights for the 2013 season," stated Skinner. "Every year brings new challenges, and I enjoy watching the players develop into championship caliber players for the Chicago White Sox."
Dotson, 53, returns for his sixth season with the Knights and 12th in the White Sox organization. Under Dotson's guidance in 2012, Charlotte's staff allowed the fewest runs in the International League (446) and finished tied for the league lead in ERA (3.15).
As a player, Dotson spent 12 seasons in the Majors with the White Sox (1979-87, 89), Yankees (1988-89) and Royals (1990). The Cincinnati, Ohio, native finished fourth in the American League Cy Young award voting in 1983, after posting a 22-7 record and a 3.23 ERA for the White Sox. He was an American League All-Star in 1984
Moore, 40, will make his Knights coaching debut in 2013 after spending the 2012 season as the hitting coach for Double-A Birmingham. Moore returned to the White Sox system in 2012 after working in the Pittsburgh system from 2005-2011. The Birmingham, Ala., native previously served in the White Sox system as a hitting coach for both Bristol (2001-02) and Kannapolis (2003-04).
During his playing days, Moore spent seven seasons in the White Sox Minor League system from (1994-00). Moore was a 17th round selection by the White Sox in the June 1994 First-Year Player Draft. He appeared in 186 games for the Charlotte Knights over parts of two seasons (1999-00), hitting .284 in 90 games in 1999.
Moore replaces 2012 hitting coach Andy Tomberlin, who was announced as the new hitting coach for Class A Kannapolis.
Geck, 44, enters his 21st season in the White Sox system and third with the Knights. Previously, Geck served as the head trainer for Double-A Birmingham from 2001-2010. In 2002, the Michigan native was named as the Southern League's Athletic Trainer of the Year.
Smith, 34, will enter his first season as Charlotte's strength and conditioning coach. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Smith spent the past five seasons with the Double-A Birmingham Barons. He earned back-to-back Southern League Strength Coach of the Year Honors in 2010 and 2011.
The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. 2013 Season Tickets are currently available by calling the Charlotte Knights at 704-357-8071 ext. 2106. A special "New Year" rate is currently available until Jan. 1, 2013. Season Tickets offer such benefits as a VIP parking pass, invitations to special events, and a unique unused-ticket program. They are also the best way to ensure priority selection of seats at BB&T Ballpark. Knights Baseball: Tradition Never Ends.