Billy McMillon Named Sea Dogs Manager

Portland, Maine- The Boston Red Sox have announced the Portland Sea Dogs coaching staff for the 2014 season. Former Sea Dogs player Billy McMillon has been named the clubs new manager. McMillon replaces Kevin Boles who has been promoted to manage Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014. Hitting Coach Rich Gedman, Pitching Coach Bob Kipper and Athletic Trainer Brandon Henry will all return to Portland. Ben Crockett, Boston's Director of Player Development, made the announcement.

McMillon will be the 11th manager in Sea Dogs franchise history. The 2014 season will be McMillon's seventh season in the Red Sox organization and fifth as a minor league manager. The 42 year-old has a career managerial record of 299- 257 (.538). He managed the High-A Salem Red Sox in 2012 and 2013, leading Salem to the 2013 Carolina League Championship. In 2010 and 2011, he managed the Low-A Greenville Drive and led the Drive to South Atlantic League Championship Series in his managerial debut in 2010. Prior to managing the Drive, he served two seasons as the Drive's hitting coach from 2008-2009.

McMillon spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues with the Florida Marlins (1996-1997), Philadelphia Phillies (1997), Detroit Tigers (2000-2001), and Oakland Athletics (2001-2004) where he hit a career .248 in 269 games.

The Florida Marlins drafted McMillon in the eighth round of the June 1993 draft. The outfielder spent the 1995 season with the Portland Sea Dogs where he appeared in 141 of the Sea Dogs 142 games that season. He hit .313 with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, 93 RBI, 15 stolen bases and walked a franchise record 96 times, earning a selection to the Eastern League Year-End All-Star squad. His .423 career on base percentage with the Sea Dogs ranks second in franchise history behind Kevin Youkilis' .487 mark. He collected 162 hits in 1995, which ranks second in franchise history for most hits in a single season, behind Kevin Millar's record of 175 in 1997.

McMillon earned a B.A. from Clemson University and a MBA from the University of Phoenix. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife and two children.

Kevin Boles compiled a 195-229 (.460) record in three seasons as the Sea Dogs manager.

Rich Gedman, 54, returns for his second season as the Sea Dogs hitting coach. He served in the same capacity for the Salem Red Sox in 2012 and the Lowell Spinners in 2011. Previously he managed six seasons for the Worcester Tornadoes (2005-2010) in the independent Can-Am League. Before managing Worcester, Gedman served as the bench coach for the Can-Am League's North Shore Spirit. A native of Massachusetts, Gedman signed with the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent in 1977 and played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox (1980-1990), Houston Astros (1990) and St. Louis Cardinals (1991-1992). A career .252 hitter with 88 home runs and 382 RBI; he earned a pair of All-Star selections in 1985 and 1986. He was the Red Sox catcher for the 1986 American League pennant run and caught Roger Clemens' first 20-strikeout game on April 29, 1986.

Bob Kipper, 49, returns for his fifth consecutive season and seventh overall as the Sea Dogs pitching coach. Kipper also served as the Sea Dogs pitching coach in 2003 and 2004. After leaving the Sea Dogs in 2004, Kipper continued coaching in the Red Sox system including four years as the pitching coach for Single-A Greenville (2005-2006 & 2008-2009) and one season for Single-A Lancaster (2007). In 2002, Kipper served as Boston's bullpen coach. Kipper has been coaching baseball since 1995. He joined the Red Sox organization in 1999. The lefty pitched eight seasons in the Major Leagues with the California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Minnesota Twins. In 271 Major League games, he posted a 27-37 record with 11 saves and a 4.34 ERA.   

Brandon Henry returns for his third season as the teams' athletic trainer. The 2014 season will be Henry's eighth in the Red Sox organization. Previously he spent two seasons as the athletic trainer for the Salem Red Sox (2010-2011). He has also spent a season with the Greenville Drive (2010) and two seasons with the Lowell Spinners 2008-2009). With Lowell in 2008, he was named the New York-Penn League Athletic Trainer of the Year. He holds a bachelor's degree from Xavier (OH) University and a master's degree from West Virginia University. Previously, he has held athletic training positions with the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and the University of Cincinnati men's soccer and baseball teams. Henry was born in Beckley, West Virginia and resides in Hollywood, Florida. 

The Sea Dogs open the 2014 season on the road in Reading, Pennsylvania on April 3rd. The home opener is set for Thursday, April 10th at 6:00 PM against the New Britain Rock Cats. Tickets for the 2014 season are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. Book your nine inning vacation!

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