Barkett To Manage South All-Stars

The Southern League announced Monday that Jacksonville Suns manager Andy Barkett will manage the Southern League's South Division All-Star Team for the 2013 Southern League All-Star Game, which will take place at Bragan Field on July 17. Barkett will also be joined on the staff by Suns Pitching Coach John Duffy, Hitting Coach Kevin Randel, Third Base Coach Rich Arena and Athletic Trainer Masa Fujimoto.

Currently in his third year at the helm of the Suns, Barkett has led Jacksonville to a 42-38 record in 2013 and in total has 419 victories throughout his seven season career as manager. Coming into today, Barkett has led the Suns to 182 wins since joining the Suns at the beginning of the 2011 campaign.

Barkett began his coaching career with the Oneonta Tigers in 2007, finishing first in the New-York Penn League with a 44-32 mark. Prior to his current stint with the Suns, Barkett also led the High-A Lakeland Tigers between 2008-2010.

The Florida native played 11 seasons professionally with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers organizations, accumulating a .273 average with 89 homers and 604 RBI. In 2001 played at the Major League level with the Pirates, recording a .304 clip in 17 contest.

The Southern League also announced that the North Division Team will be led by Jackson Generals manager Jim Pankovits, who is in the midst of his third season with the Generals, with Generals Pitching Coach Terry Clark, Hitting Coach Cory Snyder and Athletic Trainer Eduardo Tamez completing the staff. In his 15 seasons as a manager in professional baseball, Pankovits has tallied 919 victories.

In addition, the league announced the four-man umpiring crew for the All-Star Game, which will include Jonathan Bailey, who will be the crew chief, as well as Brandon Henson (first base), Derek Mollica (second base) and Thomas Newsom (third base).

Tickets are still available for the Southern League All-Star Game, which the Suns will host at Bragan Field on July 17 and can be purchased online at JaxSuns.com, as well as at the Box Office at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.