Stockton Ports Announce 2017 Field Staff
STOCKTON, Calif.- The Stockton Ports, in conjunction with the Oakland Athletics, announced that Rick Magnante will enter his third season as manager for the Ports. Joining him are pitching coach Steve Connelly, hitting coach Tommy Everidge, strength coach Sean Doran, and clubhouse manager Vic Zapien.
Magnante will be entering his third season with the Ports and 15th with the Athletics' organization. In 2016, the Ports finished with a 60-80 overall record. In 2015 in his debut season with the Ports, Magnante led Stockton to the playoffs, with the team claiming the number two playoff seed with a 74-66 record. Prior to Stockton, Magnante served as the manager of Class-A Beloit in 2014 after spending eight seasons with the A's short-season teams in Vermont (2011-2013) and Vancouver (2006-2010). Magnante acted as a scout with the Athletics prior to his coaching career from 1995-2005 and has been credited with signing both Barry Zito and Bobby Crosby to the A's organization. Magnante served as the manager of the South African National Team during the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics and managed the team during the 2013 qualifying tournament. The University of California, Santa Barbara alumnus was drafted in the 13th round of the 1969 draft by the Cleveland Indians and spent one year in the minor leagues with their Class-A affiliate.
Connelly, a California native, joins the Ports after spending the 2016 in Stockton as well. Prior to that, Connelly spent the 2015 season with the Class-A Beloit Snappers as pitching coach, in addition to coaching for the Mesa Solar Sox in the 2015 Arizona Fall League. He began his coaching career in 2014 as the pitching coach for the Short-Season Vermont Lake Monsters. Prior to his coaching years, Connelly was a star athlete at the University of Oklahoma and was drafted by the A's in the 24th round of the First-Year Player Draft. While with the University of Oklahoma, Connelly helped his team win the College World Series before making his Major League debut in 1998.
Ports fans will once again recognize the familiar face of Tommy Everidge, who played for the Ports in 2006 and 2007 and will act as hitting coach in 2017 after serving in the same capacity in 2016. Everidge, a Bay Area native, spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Vermont Lake Monsters as the teams hitting coach. The A's 10th round draft pick in 2004 posted a .255 average with 46 home runs during his time with the Ports and made his Major League debut with the A's in 2009.
Another familiar face, Sean Doran, will be returning to Banner Island Ballpark as the Ports' strength and conditioning coach, the role he previously held in 2013 and 2016. From 2014-2015, Doran served as the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Assistant Coordinator in the year-round Arizona complex.
Vic Zapien, a Stockton native, is entering his 13th season with the Stockton Ports and 12th as clubhouse manager. Zapien began his career with the Ports as a bat boy and was promoted to clubhouse manager following his inaugural season. Zapien has acted as the California League All-Star team's clubhouse manager three times (2007, 2011, 2013) and was honored with the California League Clubhouse Manager of the Year award in 2010 and 2015.
"We are excited to welcome back our returning field staff to Banner Island Ballpark in 2017. I look forward to competing for an unprecedented 12thCalifornia League Championship under the guidance of Rick Magnante," said Ports President Pat Filippone."
The Stockton Ports' Opening Night is scheduled for Thursday, April 6th vs. the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Season tickets and mini-plans are now available by contacting the Ports Front Office at 209-644-1900.