Prada's Special Moment At Blue Wahoos Stadium Occurs On Wife's Birthday, Part Of Special Sunday

Two rows behind home plate at Blue Wahoos Stadium, Nelson Prada’s wife, Carolina, had her cell phone ready for the moment.

Instantly after the Blue Wahoos recorded the final out in Sunday’s 9-4 win against the Biloxi Shuckers, extending a winning streak to five games, special memories were made.

This was Prada’s 800^th win as a Minor League Baseball manager. He’s now one of just five Venezuelan managers affiliated with Major League Baseball to reach such a milestone.

There were hugs and cheers inside the dugout from players and team’s coaching staff. Clubhouse manager Jackson Hall brought out a decorated cake with number 800 on top. And this feat just so happened to occur on Carolina’s birthday.

The couple have been married four years. They usually meet on the field, next to the dugout, after Blue Wahoos home games. So, this time, it was even more meaningful.

“This is something really good,” said Prada, smiling, after he was twice doused by his players in a celebratory ice bucket splash on the field during a post-game interview. “Eight hundred (wins), that’s a big number, right? It’s an honor for me. It’s a privilege to be the fifth manager (in MILB) to reach that number. It’s big. I take it with a lot of pride.

“And to have it happen on (wife’s birthday), that is very special. A very special day.”

Prada, who turned 50 in February, grew up in Maracay, Venezuela, the same hometown as Ramon Borrego, who was the Blue Wahoos manager in 2019 when the team was a Minnesota Twins affiliate.

In 1998, Prada was a rising prospect as a catcher in the Twins organization. A freak accident in the off-season severely damaged one eye, essentially ending his career. The Twins offered a job as a coach that year and Prada quickly pivoted in his career aspirations.

His first managerial position occurred in 2005 with the Twins’ rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. From 2008-2012 he managed the Beloit Snappers, who are now the Beloit Sky Carp, the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate in Beloit, Wisconsin which is owned by Blue Wahoos majority owners Quint and Rishy Studer.

The Blue Wahoos are the eighth different MILB team Prada has managed. He’s also been manager of Spain’s National Team and has been the bench coach for a team in the Venezuela Winter League.

The off-season is not long for Prada.

“I love it,” he said. “I have to thank all the coaches, all the players, who made this possible.”

One of Prada’s managerial qualities is patience. That was evident this year when the Blue Wahoos started 0-5. The ballclub was 5-11 on April 22 after a second straight loss at Montgomery. But since then, the Blue Wahoos are 8-3.

After dropping the first game of the homestand against Biloxi, the team has reeled off five wins and scored six or more runs in each game.

“I’ve been telling everybody that we have a really good club,” Prada said. “We have a club that can hit and run. We have good arms. We have a lot of good stuff.

“At the beginning we had to get the guys together, play the right way create a chemistry and all that. And that’s why we are trying to do right now. The guys are buying in.”

Prada is not a screamer. He rarely shows emotion. But he was visibly upset and animated during the fifth inning Sunday when Blue Wahoos shortstop Christian Hernandez rifled a pitch down the left field line and out of the ballpark.

The third base umpire immediately signaled foul boul. Prada ran to him, arms waving. He got the three umpires to consult with each other. There is no video appeal process in MILB, but a video replay in the press box showed the ball flying inside the foul pole as it exited the stadium.

The call was changed to a two-run homer, giving the Blue Wahoos a 6-3 lead and it proved a defining moment of the game.

“When I talk to the umpires the first thing I say is, you know I never argue. If I am going to argue for something, it’s because I think I am right,” Prada said.

“He told me, Nellie, ‘I think I got the ball foul.’ And I said, I think you are wrong on that one. I think it’s time for you to get together (with other two umpires) and get it right. Maybe the other guys see it right. He did it and got it right.”

SURPRISE RENUION, ENGAGEMENT AT BALLPARK

The win completed a eventful day at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

During pregame activities on the field, a U.S. Navy veteran surprised his two young children – both attired in patriotic clothing – as his wife became emotional talking about him. The dad emerged from the dugout tunnel to the joy of the family.

“The kids didn’t know, but I knew he was here,” she said.

Moments later, Amanda Farris and two children tossed out a first pitch. Devon Kerr stood nearby, then walked out, got down on one knee and proposed. Hugs and kisses ensued as the engagement was complete. The couple had dated for a year.

Kerr is stationed at Naval Air Station-Panama City.

“I thought, where are the Blue Wahoos playing? When I saw they were at home, I said, perfect, let’s do this,” he said.

With the help of Wren Deputy, the Blue Wahoos’ creative services manager, Amanda was told herself and the two children were winners of a first pitch raffle the Blue Wahoos organized. That’s how they were agreeable to driving two and half hours from Panama City to see Sunday’s game.

“I kinda of suspected something was up,” Amanda said, smiling.

The Blue Wahoos will continue their longest homestand of the season with six games beginning on Tuesday against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Los Angeles Angels affiliate.

Wednesday’s game will begin at 11 a.m. which had been planned as Education Day featuring students of various ages from across the area.

The timing in the schedule worked out perfectly for a venue to host a secondary crowd on Wednesday night if the Keyla Richardson/American Idol concert happens at the bayfront amphitheater outside the stadium.

Richardson, a Pensacola native, performs Monday night on the ABC-TV program as one of five contestants seeking a place in the Top 3 finalists and getting a hometown concert on Wednesday.