Former Managers: Where Are They Now?

Over the 26-year history of the club, the San Jose Giants have had 14 different managers. Many of those former managers are still with the Giants as their time in the California League provided a stepping-stone for a higher position in the organization. After directing the Giants in 2008, Steve Decker was elevated to the manager spot in Double-A and then Triple-A before his current position as San Francisco's Coordinator of Minor League Hitting. Meanwhile, Shane Turner, who managed the San Jose Giants to their first California League championship in 1998, is set to begin his sixth season as San Francisco's Coordinator of Instruction. Turner has been in the Giants organization for 18 years. Both Decker and Turner play integral roles on the player development side of the organization.

Former San Jose skippers Ron Wotus (1991-92) and Bill Hayes (2002) have enjoyed lengthy stints on the San Francisco coaching staff. 2013 will mark Wotus' 16th year on the big league staff as he currently serves as bench coach, while also handling infield defense. Wotus is one of only five individuals since 1900 to serve as a Giants coach for at least 10 years. Hayes has spent the last 10 seasons as San Francisco's bullpen catcher.

Elsewhere, 2010 manager Brian Harper joined the Cubs organization immediately after winning the California League championship with the SJ Giants. He managed Chicago's Class A advanced affiliate Daytona last season and will now serve as Triple-A Iowa's hitting coach this year.

Lenn Sakata and Duane Espy, two of the most successful managers in San Jose Giants history, will continue to work in the Colorado Rockies organization. Sakata returned to the California League last year as he managed the Modesto Nuts to a berth in the Championship Series. San Jose's skipper in 1999, 2001 and 2004-07, Sakata is the winningest manager in California League history. Espy was the first manager in SJ Giants history spending two years with the club in 1988 and 1989. He directed the Rockies' Double-A affiliate Tulsa last season. The Rockies have yet to announce their minor league coaching staffs for the 2013 season.

Other former San Jose managers still in baseball include Frank Cacciatore (1997) as hitting coach of the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies system) and Keith Comstock (2000) as Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator for the Texas Rangers.

In other news, the Augusta GreenJackets (A) announced their 2013 coaching staff today with Steve Kline returning to the team as pitching coach. Kline served as San Jose's pitching coach in 2012.