Vinas Named Charlotte Knights Manager
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) - Julio Vinas, who guided the Double-A Birmingham Barons to a Southern League Championship in 2013, will take over as manager of the Charlotte Knights for the 2016 season. Vinas, 42, replaces Joel Skinner, the all-time winningest manager in Charlotte Knights franchise history, who will manage the Winston-Salem Dash (A+) in 2016. Skinner won 285 games with the Knights as the team's skipper from 2012 to 2015.
Joining Vinas in Charlotte's dugout in 2016 are returnees Richard Dotson (pitching coach), Andy Tomberlin (hitting coach), and Scott Johnson (head athletic trainer). Newcomers to Charlotte's staff for the 2016 season are Tim Esmay (coach) and Shawn Powell (strength and conditioning). Esmay managed the Winston-Salem Dash to a 75-63 record in 2015.
"I'm very excited and humbled by this opportunity," exclaimed Vinas. "I want to thank the Chicago White Sox for the opportunity to manage at the next level. I look forward to being a part of the Charlotte Knights and managing in their new ballpark in Charlotte."
The 2016 season will be the sixth in the Chicago White Sox organization for Vinas. The Miami, FL native managed Winston-Salem in 2011, Kannapolis in 2012, and Birmingham over the past three seasons (2013 to 2015). Vinas was rated by Baseball America as the Best Manager Prospect in the Southern League following the 2013 season.
Originally drafted by the White Sox in the 33rd round of the 1991 free-agent draft, Vinas played 11 seasons in the minors with the White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians organizations. He compiled a career .264 batting average with 84 home runs and 504 RBIs over 896 games.
"We are very much looking forward to welcoming Julio to Uptown Charlotte this year," stated Knights Chief Operating Officer Dan Rajkowski. "Julio has had tremendous success as a manager in the organization and we think he is a perfect fit for the Knights. We wish Joel Skinner much success in his new role in the organization. Joel did a terrific job developing Knights players over the past four seasons."
Dotson, a former first-round pick (seventh overall) in the June 1977 draft by the California Angels, returns for his ninth season as the pitching coach of the Knights. Overall, Dotson begins his 15th season as a coach in the Chicago White Sox organization in 2016. As a player, the Cincinnati native spent 12 seasons in the majors with the White Sox (1979-87, 89), Yankees (1988-89), and Royals (1990) and won 111 major league games. Dotson 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.
Tomberlin, a product of Monroe, NC, is back for his fourth season with the Knights and third consecutive overall with the club. He also spent the 2012 season as Charlotte's hitting coach. The 49-year-old enters his 14th season in the White Sox organization as a coach. A product of nearby Piedmont High School, Tomberlin played professionally for 15 seasons from 1986 to 2000 with Pittsburgh, Boston, New York (NL), and Detroit. He was originally signed as a free agent by Atlanta as a pitcher in 1986 after attending a tryout camp.
Esmay, a native of Scottsdale, AZ, enters his second season with Chicago and first with the Knights. Last season, Esmay made his Minor League Baseball managerial debut with the Dash. Previously, Esmay was the head baseball coach at Arizona State University. Over the course of his five-year managerial stint, the 1988 Arizona State University product guided the Sun Devils to four NCAA Regional appearances, two Super Regionals, and a berth in the 2010 College World Series.
The 2016 season will mark Johnson's 28th in Chicago's system and 14th with the Knights. His lengthy tenure with Chicago began in 1995 as Birmingham's athletic trainer. Overall, Johnson has been the head athletic trainer for Chicago's Triple-A affiliate for 14 seasons (13 with Charlotte and one with Calgary in 1998).
Powell, a native of Brighton, IL, enters his fifth season in Chicago's system and first in Charlotte. The Western Illinois University product spent the past two seasons as the strength and conditioning coach in Winston-Salem. Before that, Powell spent time in the same capacity with Double-A Birmingham (2013-14). Powell has also worked for the NBA's Toronto Raptors as a strength and conditioning consultant (2005-05), and the New York Yankees as a strength and conditioning coach (1989-99).
2016 Charlotte Knights Field Staff:
Manager: Julio Vinas
Pitching Coach: Richard Dotson
Hitting Coach: Andy Tomberlin
Coach: Tim Esmay
Athletic Trainer: Scott Johnson
Strength Coach: Shawn Powell
The Charlotte Knights return home to BB&T Ballpark for their 2016 home opener on Thursday, April 14. The team's third Opening Night in BB&T Ballpark history kicks off with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch in Uptown Charlotte. Season tickets, as well as partial season ticket plans for the 2016 season, are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office, online at CharlotteKnights.com, or by phone at 704-274-8300. Uptown Knights Are Better Than Ever!