Williams to manage BlueClaws in 2015

Joined on field staff by coaches Nelson Prada and Aaron Fultz

November 18, 2014

LAKEWOOD, N.J. -- Shawn Williams has been named the 11th manager in Lakewood BlueClaws history and will lead the team in 2015, it was announced by the Phillies on Wednesday.

He will be joined on the staff by hitting coach Nelson Prada and pitching coach Aaron Fultz.

Williams, 31, managed Williamsport in 2014, his first as a manager. He was a player/coach with the Crosscutters in 2013 following the conclusion of his playing career. He spent four seasons (2007-10) in the Tampa Bay minor league system while also playing in the American Association (2006), Can-Am League (2010-11) and the Atlantic League (2010 & 2012).

"I cannot wait to get up to Lakewood and start the season," said Williams. "I played in the South Atlantic League with Columbus (Georgia), and that year we didn't play Lakewood, but from everything I've been told, the stadium is an exciting place to play. I've heard nothing but great things."

His father, Jimy, managed the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Astros and is a former Phillies bench coach.

Prada comes to Lakewood after serving as Clearwater's manager in 2014 and Williamsport's manager in 2013. Prior to joining the Phillies, Prada spent eight years managing in the Twins organization, five with Beloit in the Midwest League and three with the Gulf Coast League Twins.

Fultz, who was Lakewood's pitching coach in 2013, is the lone member of the coaching staff that has coached for the BlueClaws before. He joined the Phillies as a coach in 2012 and spent that season and 2014 as the pitching coach with Williamsport. He pitched for the Giants, Rangers, Twins, Phillies, and Indians over an eight-year big league career.

Greg Legg, who managed the BlueClaws last year and had been on the coaching staff for eight of the team's 14 seasons (2001 and 2014 as the manager and 2008-2013 as hitting coach), will serve as Clearwater's manager in 2015, his 34th in the Phillies organization. Dusty Wathan, who managed the BlueClaws to a league title in 2009, will return to Reading and Chris Truby, who managed the BlueClaws in 2011, will embark in his second season as the Phillies roving infield coordinator.