Padres Name Wooten Emeralds Hitting Coach

EUGENE, OR - The San Diego Padres announced today that former major league catcher Shawn Wooten has been named hitting coach for the Emeralds in 2010. The announcement comes several weeks after the Padres finalized the rest of the field staff for the upcoming season.

Wooten joins the Ems for his first career coaching position after a ten-plus-year career as a player in professional baseball. Drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 1997, Wooten worked his way up the minor league ranks and made his major league debut with the Angels in 2000.

Wooten was part of the Angels 2002 World Series championship team. He batted .474 in the postseason, third best among all hitters in the playoffs, going 9-for-19 with five runs scored, and one homer. His postseason home run came in the decisive Game 4 of the 2002 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.

Wooten also made major league appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. He retired following the 2008 season.

Wooten joins returning manager Greg Riddoch, pitching coach Tom Bradley and trainer Daniel Turner to round out the Emeralds 2010 field staff.

For more information, contact Onalee Carson at [email protected] or (541) 342-5367.