| Jeff Smith | |
|---|---|
 In 2008 with a Fort Myers Miracle fan | |
| Catcher / Coach / Manager | |
| Born:June 7, 1974 Akron, Ohio | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right |
Jeff Smith (born June 17,1974) is an American former professional baseball player and coach.
| Jeff Smith | |
|---|---|
| In 2008 with a Fort Myers Miracle fan | |
| Catcher / Coach / Manager | |
| Born:June 7, 1974 Akron, Ohio | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right |
Jeff Smith (born June 17,1974) is an American former professional baseball player and coach.
Smith played collegiately for Stetson University. From 1993 to 1995,he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League,where he greatly improved his draft stock by being named to the league all-star team in 1994 and hitting .260 in 1995. [1] [2] [3] He was selected as a catcher by the Twins in the twentieth round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft,and played at various levels within the organization from 1996 - 2002. Smith also played minor league ball with the Boston Red Sox in 2003,and the Texas Rangers in 2003 and 2004 until major left knee surgery after the 2004 season ended his career. He has no Major League experience. [4]
Smith accepted his first coaching job as hitting coach of the Gulf Coast League Twins before the start of the 2005 season. He was promoted to manager of the Beloit Snappers,the Twins' Midwest League Single-A affiliate the following year. He guided the Snappers into the post-season both seasons at the helm,compiling a 153-125 record for a .550 winning percentage. He was named Baseball America Class A Manager of the Year in 2007.[ citation needed ]
In 2008,Smith was promoted again to the Twins' advanced-A affiliate,the Fort Myers Miracle. In his first half season managing the Miracle,they captured the Florida State League first-half West Division title with a 45-24 record,tying the franchise record set in 2000 for wins in a half season. In the FSL Western division playoffs,the Miracle swept the second half winning Dunedin Blue Jays in two games to capture their first division crown since 1995. They lost the championship series to the Daytona Cubs in four games.
In Smith's second season as manager,the Miracle achieved a franchise first by capturing both the first and second half division crowns in the Florida State League's newly realigned South Division. They faced the Charlotte Stone Crabs,who finished second both halves,in the South Division Finals. [5] Despite a 14-6 regular season record against the Stone Crabs,the Miracle lost in three games to Charlotte. [6] On August 31,Jeff Smith was honored as the FSL’s Manager of Year. [7] Following the season,he replaced Tom Nieto as manager of the New Britain Rock Cats.
Smith's success in the Florida State League did not carry over to the Eastern League,as the Cats narrowly avoided a hundred losses (44-98) his first season at the helm,and had the worst record in Minor league baseball. His struggles would continue on through the next 2 seasons as the Cats would miss the playoffs by 1 game in each of those season,2013 brought even worse struggles as the Rock Cats finished in 5th place with a record of 66-76. Overall,in five seasons as manager of Rock Cats,Smith managed the team to a 330-380 record,and .465 winning percentage. [8] In 2015,he returned to Fort Myers.
On December 21,2016,Smith was named first base coach of the Minnesota Twins. His duties will also assist with baserunning instruction and oversee catching instruction. [9]
The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence,it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues. The league temporarily operated for the 2021 season as the Low-A Southeast before reassuming its original moniker in 2022.
The Daytona Tortugas are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Daytona Beach,Florida,and play their home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Opened in 1914,the park seats 4,200 people.
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Fort Myers,Florida,and play their home games at the Lee County Sports Complex at Hammond Stadium,which has a capacity of 7,500 and opened in 1991. The park is also used as the Minnesota Twins' spring training facility.
The Chatham Anglers,more commonly referred to as the Chatham A's and formerly the Chatham Athletics,are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chatham,Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. Chatham plays its home games at historic Veterans Field,the team's home since 1923,in the town of Chatham on the Lower Cape. The A's have been operated by the non-profit Chatham Athletic Association since 1963.
Thomas Gray "The Mayor" Watkins,Jr. is an American former professional baseball third baseman and current coach. He is the third base coach for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Twins. In 2018 he served as manager of the Twins' Double-A affiliate,the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League,after almost a decade as a coach in the Twins' farm system.
The Florida Complex League Twins are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins,competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays in Fort Myers,Florida,at the Lee County Sports Complex. Prior to 2021,the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Twins. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States,Canada,Dominican Republic,Venezuela and other countries.
The Bradenton Marauders are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Bradenton,Florida,and play their home games at LECOM Park,which also serves as the Pirates' spring training facility.
Stephen Wayne Mintz is an American former professional baseball pitcher and manager. Mintz played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and the Anaheim Angels.
Deolis Alexander Guerra is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Pittsburgh Pirates,Los Angeles Angels,Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics.
Anthony Thomas Slama is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He is 6'3",and weighs 207 lbs.,and bats and throws right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins.
Brian Adam Dinkelman is an American former professional baseball second baseman who is the manager of the Cedar Rapids Kernels,the High-A minor-league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Dinkelman was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round of the 2006 MLB draft,and made his MLB debut on June 4,2011. He last played professional baseball in 2013,transitioning into coaching in the Twins organization. He served as the Kernels' hitting coach prior to his promotion to manager for the 2019 season.
Rene Michael Tosoni is a Canadian former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins in 2011 and has also played in International competitions with the Canada national baseball team. He is 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighs 194 pounds (88 kg). He bats left-handed,yet plays his position right-handed.
Cole William De Vries is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball with the Minnesota Twins. He is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighs 180 pounds (82 kg).
Donald Charles "Jake" Mauer is a former Minor League Baseball player,and former NCAA Division III baseball standout. He is a coach in the Minnesota Twins system. As a senior in 2001,he set the University of St. Thomas season record for hits with 83,and is the school's career leader in hits (243),runs (181) &games (187). He was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. He is the older brother of Hall of Fame catcher Joe Mauer.
The Charlotte Stone Crabs were a Minor League Baseball team located in Port Charlotte,Florida,from 2009 to 2020. They competed in the Florida State League (FSL) as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball (MLB) team. They played their home games at Charlotte Sports Park and were named for the Florida stone crab,which is indigenous to the Charlotte County region.
Carlos Rafael Gutiérrez is a Puerto Rican-American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He last played in the Chicago Cubs organization in 2013. The 6'3" tall,205 lbs. right-hander was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft as a compensation pick from the Los Angeles Angels after signing Twins free agent Torii Hunter. He entered the 2010 season ranked as the Twins seventh best prospect by Baseball America.
Jeffrey Michael Manship is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Colorado Rockies,Philadelphia Phillies,and Cleveland Indians. Manship has also played for the NC Dinos of the KBO League.
Chris Cates is a former minor league shortstop selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 38th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He is currently a volunteer assistant coach for the Florida State University Seminoles baseball team. Also he is the manager of the North Adams Steeplecats of the NECBL.
Alex James Burnett is an American former professional baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He is 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) tall and weighs 215 pounds (98 kg). He was drafted in the 12th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins.
Pedro Orlando Grifol is an American former professional baseball catcher and coach. He is the former manager for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He also served in various coaching roles for the Kansas City Royals in both their minor league system and at the MLB level.