Oakland names Nieckula Bees' skipper
Nieckula is no stranger to the Midwest League. He spent four out of the last five seasons as manager of Kane County. Nieckula compiled a 285-269 record with the Cougars, including three playoff appearances. Kane County reached the Midwest League Championship Series in 2006, his first year as manager. Last year Nieckula led his team to the 2nd round of the playoffs before losing to Clinton. He spent the 2009 season as manager in Stockton (High-A). He served as hitting coach for Kane County during the 2004-05 seasons.
Nieckula was drafted by Oakland in the 22nd round of the 1998 June Draft out of the University of Illinois. He spent five years as a catcher in the Oakland (1998-2001) and San Francisco (2002) minor league systems. His best season came in 2000 when he split time with Class A Advanced Visalia and Class A Advanced Modesto, and compiled a .262 batting average with 51 runs scored and 34 RBI. He currently resides in the Chicago area with his wife Renee.
The rest of the Bees staff will also be the same as last year's Kane County group.
2011 will be Pitching Coach Jimmy Escalante's 5th season with the A's. He was with Kane County the last two seasons. He held the same position with the Arizona A's (R) in 2007-08. Escalante, who was selected by Baltimore in the 1996 Draft, spent three years in the Orioles' farm system (1997-99) and the 2000 season in the Angels' system. In addition, the former pitcher spent two years in independent leagues; 2002 with the Sonoma County Crushers and 2005 with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Escalante resides in Woodside, Calif. with his wife Michele during the off-season.
Hitting Coach Haas Pratt returns for his 4th season with the A's. He spent the past three years in Kane County. A former infielder, Pratt was drafted in the 30th round in 2004 out of the University of Arkansas. He played four seasons in the A's minor league system, including Triple-A Sacramento in 2006 and Kane County in 2007. Pratt resides in Arvada, Co. with his wife Kera.
Brian Thorson will serve as the Trainer in 2011. Thorson was previously a trainer for the Bees in 1980 while affiliated with the Brewers. Former Bees manager Jim Gabella joins the San Diego Padres' coaching staff and will manage their rookie-level team in Arizona.