Razor Shines Named Drillers Manager
The Tulsa Drillers announced today the staff that will lead the club in its first season as an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was revealed that former major leaguer Razor Shines would serve as the team's manager. He will become the 21st full-time manager in franchise history when the 2015 season begins on April 9.
Joining Shines on the staff will be pitching coach Matt Herges, hitting coach Shawn Wooten and coach Leo Garcia.
Shines will be in his second season as manager of the Dodgers Double-A affiliate after leading the Chattanooga Lookouts to a big turnaround last year. In the first half of 2014, Chattanooga finished last in its division with a 26-44 record, but the second half was a different story. Shines and the Lookouts improved to 35-33, winning the division and advancing to the Southern League playoffs.
"The Dodgers and I are both very excited about coming to Tulsa," said Shines. "I know ONEOK Field is one of the best ballparks in baseball, not just the Texas League. We plan on putting an exciting team on the field for the fans of Tulsa, and I cannot wait to get started."
Chattanooga defeated Huntsville in the first round of the post-season before losing to Jacksonville in the Southern League Championship Series.
Last season marked Shines' second in the Dodgers system as he managed the Single-A Great Lakes Loons to a 67-72 mark in the Midwest League in 2012.
His first managerial job was in 1995 with the Cincinnati Reds when he led the team's Class-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. From 2001 through 2006, Shines managed six seasons in the Chicago White Sox minor league system and spent the 2008 season with the Philadelphia Phillies as skipper of Clearwater in the Florida State League.
Overall, Shines has managed in 10 seasons, compiling a 700-695 regular season record. His teams have qualified for the playoffs in 6 of those 10 seasons.
His professional baseball career began as a player in 1978. He played for 16 years, reaching the majors with the Montreal Expos where he spent parts of four seasons. Shines also was in the majors as a base coach for the Chicago White Sox (2007) and the New York Mets (2009-2010).
Wooten was also with the Lookouts last season, serving as the club's hitting coach. It was his first year in the Dodgers farm system.
His coaching career began in the 2010 season when he served as hitting coach for the San Diego Padres Short-Season affiliate in Eugene, Oregon. Wooten became a manager for the Padres in 2011, leading their Low-A affiliate in Fort Wayne, Indiana before advancing to Lake Elsinore and managing the Storm for two seasons (2012-2013) in the California League.
Wooten played six seasons in the majors with three different teams. He was a catcher, first baseman and third baseman for Anaheim (2000-2003), Philadelphia (2004) and Boston (2005).
Herges will enter his fifth season as a minor league pitching coach. He has spent the past three years (2012-2014) with High-A Rancho Cucamonga in the California League. His coaching career began in 2011 with the Dodgers Rookie League team in Arizona.
The former pitcher enjoyed an 11-year major league playing career, including three seasons with the Dodgers. Herges pitched for a total of eight big league clubs, compiling a 43-35 record in 567 appearances. He reached the World Series in 2007 as a member of the Colorado Rockies.
Garcia joins the Tulsa staff after spending the last two seasons as the hitting coach for the Dodgers Rookie League team in Ogden, Utah. He has been a coach in the Dodgers organization since 2009. Prior to joining the Dodgers, he coached in the San Francisco Giants minor league system for 6 years and was their Latin America coordinator in 2007.
Before his coaching career began, Garcia spent 13 years in the White Sox, Royals, and Reds organizations as an outfielder culminating with playing in parts of two major league seasons with the Reds in 1987 and 1988.
The Drillers will kick off the 2015 season at home Thursday, April 9th at 7:05 PM against the San Antonio Missions at ONEOK Field. Season ticket plans are now available and can be purchased through the Drillers ticket office by calling 918-574-5901.