Snappers Announce 2018 Coaching Staff

The Oakland Athletics are pleased to announce the Beloit Snappers coaching staff for the 2018 season. Webster "Webby" Garrison becomes the 19^th manager in Beloit Snappers history and will be joined by returnees Juan Dilone and Brian Thorson while adding Scott Smith as strength and conditioning coach and Don Schulze returns to the Snappers ­­as the pitching coach after spending 2017 with Midland.

Garrison is no stranger to the Athletics organization, as 2018 will mark his 20^th season as a coach or manager in the Athletics organization, most recently with the AZL Athletics in 2017. The former second round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1983 holds a 563-546 (.508) managerial record in nine seasons. Last season with the AZL Athletics, "Webby" managed the club to a 29-24 record, his first managerial stint since he held the rains for the Stockton Ports from 2011-2013 (200-220). The Marrero, LA native also managed the Kane County Cougars in 2003, the Midland RockHounds in 2004 and again in 2008 before previously managing Vancouver (2001) and Visalia (2002).
Don Schulze, who was the Snappers pitching coach in 2016, returns to Beloit in the same role aafter spending the 2017 season with the Midland RockHounds and the 2015 season in Triple-A Nashville. 2017 marked his fifth season with Double-A Midland, High-A Stockton, the AZL A's, and Kane County when they were an affiliate of Oakland. Schulze is a former first-round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs in 1980 and went on to play for the Cubs (1983-84), Indians (1984-86), Mets (1987), Yankees (1989), and Padres (1989) while posting a record of 15-25 with a 5.47 career ERA in the MLB. From 1990 to 1992, the Illinois native pitched for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan.
Juan Dilone will return for his third season in Beloit as the club's hitting coach. Previously, he had been the hitting coach for the A's Arizona Rookie League affiliate, Single-A Visalia, and Short-Season Vancouver. Dilone also spent four seasons as coordinator of Dominican instruction. Dilone signed as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1990, playing six seasons in the A's farm system before starting his coaching career.
Brian "Doc" Thorson returns to Beloit for his sixth consecutive season as the Snappers' athletic trainer. This will be his 35th season in the A's organization. Thorson spent five years in the Milwaukee Brewers organization prior to joining the A's. He also spent eight seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Thorson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse and resides in Madison, Wisconsin.
Scott Smith begins his first season with the Oakland Athletics organization after spending the 2017 season with the Philadelphia Phillies Single-A affiliate Lakewood Blueclaws as the strength and conditioning coach. The Spartanburg, SC native will serve the same role this season with the Snappers. He previously held the same position in the minor league systems of the Miami Marlins (2014-15), San Diego Padres (2011), Tampa Bay Rays (2010) and Washington Nationals (2009). Smith also spent three years (2012-14) as strength and conditioning coach for all sports at Georgia College & State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science and master's degree in human performance.
The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and are entering their sixth season as the Class-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Stay tuned to the team website and social media for all up to date information. For ticket information, contact the Snappers' offices at 608-362-2272 or visit our website at www.snappersbaseball.com.