Sea Dogs' field staff set for 2013
Kevin Boles, 37-years-old, returns for his third season as the Sea Dogs manager. The 2013 season will be his sixth in the Red Sox organization and 13th as a Minor League manager. He guided the Sea Dogs to a 68-73 (.482) record in 2012. Under the leadership of Boles, the team produced the best record in the Eastern League in the second half of the season, battling back from being 18 games under .500 at the All-Star Break to competing for a playoff spot in the final week of the season. In two seasons with the Sea Dogs Boles has compiled a 127-156 (.449) record.
Boles spent the 2011 offseason managing the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League. Boles coached the World Team in the inaugural Australian Baseball League All-Star Game.
In 2010, Boles guided the Class A Advanced Salem Red Sox to an overall record of 73-65 (.529). He managed the Red Sox Class A affiliate, the Greenville Drive, in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, he led the Drive to a 73-65 record and a first-half division title. He was selected to manage the 2009 South Atlantic League's Southern Division All-Star Team.
Boles has also managed in the Twins, Royals and Marlins organizations. Boles made his managerial debut at the age of 25 in 2000 for the Class A Short-Season Utica Blue Sox in the Marlins organization, a team he led into the playoffs with a 40-20 record. In 11 seasons, Boles has compiled a 661-640 (.508) managerial record.
Boles, the 10th manager in Sea Dogs' history, served as the Sea Dogs' bullpen catcher in 1997. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 42nd round of the June 1998 First-Year Player Draft, out of the University of South Florida, where he received a bachelor's degree in communications. Born in Chicago, Ill., Boles now makes his home in Northport, Wash. His father, John Boles, managed the Florida Marlins in 1996 and from 1999-2001. John Boles is also a member of the Portland Sea Dogs Hall of Fame, having served as the Marlins director of player development and architect of the 1995-1997 Portland Sea Dogs' playoff teams.
Rich Gedman, 53, enters his first season as the Sea Dogs' hitting coach. He served in the same capacity for the Salem Red Sox in 2012 and the Lowell Spinners in 2011. Previously he managed six seasons for the Worcester Tornadoes (2005-2010) in the independent Can-Am League. Before managing Worcester, Gedman served as the bench coach for the Can-Am League's North Shore Spirit. A native of Massachusetts, Gedman signed with the Red Sox as a nondrafted free agent in 1977 and played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox (1980-1990), Houston Astros (1990) and St. Louis Cardinals (1991-1992). A career .252 hitter with 88 home runs and 382 RBIs, he earned a pair of All-Star selections in 1985 and 1986. He was the Red Sox catcher for the 1986 American League pennant run, and caught Roger Clemens' first 20-strikeout game on April 29, 1986.
Bob Kipper, 48, returns for his fourth consecutive season, and sixth overall as the Sea Dogs' pitching coach. Kipper served as the Sea Dogs' pitching coach in 2003 and 2004. After leaving the Sea Dogs in 2004, Kipper continued coaching in the Red Sox system including four years as the pitching coach for Class A Greenville (2005-2006 & 2008-2009) and one season for Class A Advanced Lancaster (2007). In 2002, Kipper served as Boston's bullpen coach. Kipper has been coaching baseball since 1995. He joined the Red Sox organization in 1999. The left-hander pitched eight seasons in the Major Leagues with the California Angels, Pittsburg Pirates and Minnesota Twins. In 271 Major League games, he posted a 27-37 record with 11 saves and a 4.34 ERA.
Brandon Henry returns for his second season as the teams' athletic trainer. The 2013 season will be Henry's seventh in the Red Sox organization. Previously he spent two seasons as the athletic trainer for the Salem Red Sox (2010-2011). He has also spent a season with the Greenville Drive (2010) and two seasons with the Lowell Spinners (2008-2009). With Lowell in 2008, he was named the New York-Penn League Athletic Trainer of the Year. He holds a bachelor's degree from Xavier (Ohio) University and a master's degree from West Virginia University. Previously, he has held athletic training positions with the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and the University of Cincinnati men's soccer and baseball teams. Henry was born in Beckley, W. Va., and resides in Hollywood, Fla.
The Sea Dogs will open their 20th season on Thu, April 4 at 6 p.m. against the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) at Hadlock Field. Tickets for the 2013 season are now on sale, and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or visiting www.seadogs.com online.
Kevin Boles' managerial record
Year: Club (ORG) / League (LEVEL) / W-L / Pct.
2000: GCL Marlins (FLA) / Gulf Coast (R) / 40-20 / .667
2001: Utica (FLA) / New York-Penn (SS-A) / 27-47 / .365
2003: ARZ Royals (KC) / Arizona (R) / 32-22 / .593
2004: Quad City (MIN) / Midwest (A) / 68-68 / .500
2005: Beloit (MIN) / Midwest (A) / 69-71 / .493
2006: Fort Myers (MIN) / Florida State (A) / 80-60 / .571
2007: Fort Myers (MIN) / Florida State (A) / 70-70 / .500
2008: Greenville (BOS) / South Atlantic (A) / 70-69 / .504
2009: Greenville (BOS) / South Atlantic (A) / 73-65 / .529
2010: Salem (BOS) / Carolina (A) / 73-65 / .529
2011: Portland (BOS) / Eastern (Double-A) / 59-83 / .415
2012: Portland (BOS) / Eastern (Double-A) / 68-73 / .482
W-L and .Pct totals: 729-713 / .506