Coaches, umps named for SL All-Star Game
MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs announces the coaching staffs and umpiring crew for the 2015 Southern League All-Star Game, scheduled for Tuesday, June 23 at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. Manager Brady Williams and the Montgomery Biscuits coaching staff will coach the North Division all-stars, while David Berg and his Jacksonville Suns staff will man the helm of the South Division all-stars. Garrett Patterson will serve as the umpiring Crew Chief with John Bostwick, Alex Ransom and Jose Esteras also receiving all-star game duties.
As hosts of the Southern League All-Star Game, Brady Williams is currently in his second season as the skipper of the Montgomery Biscuits after managing the past six seasons in the Tampa Bay system. Drafted by the Red Sox in 1999, the former infielder settled in the (Devil) Rays organization for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. His first stint as manager came in 2009 with the Rays New-York Penn League affiliate Hudson Valley Renegades. In his first six full seasons as a manager, Williams amassed a career record of 388 wins versus 377 losses, while guiding the Biscuits to a near-even 27-29 record this season. Joining Williams are Biscuits pitching coach R.C. Lichtenstein, hitting coach Ozzie Timmons, athletic trainer Kris Russell and strength coach Paul Jones.
As the current manager of the 2014 South Division pennant winning Jacksonville Suns, former Marlins and Blue Jays infielder David Berg is in his fifth full season as a manager within the Miami organization. After his final professional game in 2006, Berg began his managerial career in 2010 with the Marlins New-York Penn affiliate Jamestown Jammers. Sporting an impressive 245-184 record, the Marlins sent Berg to Jacksonville to begin the 2015 campaign as the Suns manager. Accompanying Berg to Montgomery will be Suns pitching coach Derek Botelho, hitting coach Rich Arena, athletic trainer Cesar Roman and strength coach Scott Smith.
The crew chief for the 2015 All-Star Game, Garrett Patterson, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona is in his third season with the league. He is joined by John Bostwick of Moorpark, California, Alex Ransom of Creve Couer, Missouri and Jose Esteras of Hialeah, Florida, all also in the their third Southern League campaigns.