Celebrating Black Greenville Drive Players and Coaches

As part of Black History Month, and the Drive’s participation in Minor League Baseball’s new “The Nine” initiative, we’ll be spotlighting all of our Black alumni during the month of February. Over the span of the Drive’s 15 seasons, we’ve had 20 Black players, and 7 Black field staff members.

We’ll be highlighting the players in alphabetical order, and concluding with the field staff. This write-up will be added to every week during the month of February, and will include additional photos of each player on Drive social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

DRIVE PLAYERS

Luke Bandy, Outfielder // 2021

Began the 2021 season with the Drive…appeared in 19 games (14 in centerfield and 5 in leftfield)…amassed a .972 fielding percentage…hit his first professional home run on May 18th, 2021 at the Asheville Tourists…drafted by the Red Sox in the 29th round of the 2019 MLB Draft…spent three seasons at Dallas Baptist University, where he earned First-Team All-MVC honors as a junior, also being named to the league’s All-Defensive Team

Mookie Betts, Infielder // 2013

One of the Drive’s most heralded alumni…appeared in 76 games with the Drive during the 2013 season, hitting .296 with 8 home runs, 63 runs, 26 RBI, 63 runs scored, 24 doubles, and 18 stolen bases before a July call-up to the Salem Red Sox…was named a mid-season South Atlantic League All-Star…made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox on June 29th, 2014 – becoming the 37th Greenville alum to reach the big leagues…in 2018, he became the first player in MLB history to win the MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title, and World Series all in the same season…MLB accomplishments include a 5x All-Star (2016-2019, 2021), 2x World Series Champion (2018, 2020), 2020 MLB First Team (2020), All-MLB Second Team (2019), 4x Silver Slugger (2016, 2018-2020), 5x Gold Glove (2016-2020), Wilson Defensive Player of the Year (2016), and 30/30 Club (2018)

Jackie Bradley, Jr, Outfielder // 2011

Following a standout career at the University of South Carolina, where he was a two-time College World Series Champion (2010, 2011) and named the CWS Most Outstanding Player honors in 2010, was selected 40th overall by the Red Sox in the 2011 MLB Draft…appeared in 4 games with the Drive at the end of the 2011 season, all on the road – which means he’s played more games at Fluor Field as a member of the Gamecocks than he did with the Drive…made his MLB debut on April 1st, 2013 for the Red Sox, becoming the 24th Drive alum to reach the big leagues…in 2016, amassed a 29-game hit streak tying Johnny Damon for the fourth longest in Red Sox franchise history…earned MLB’s AL Player of the Month honors for May 2016…became a World Series Champion and won a Gold Glove in 2018…was named the American League Championship Series MVP in 2018

Ryan Dent, Infielder // 2009

Appeared in 99 games with the Drive in 2009, helping lead the team to the South Atlantic League’s First-Half Southern Division Championship…tied a career-high with 6 homers while, tying for third on the club with 24 doubles…spent 8 seasons in the minors, reaching Triple-A with both the Red Sox (Pawtucket 2012 and 2013) and Cubs (Iowa in 2015) organizations…was a career .236 hitter, totaling 508 hits, 144 doubles, and 288 runs scored…spent the 2019 season with the independent York Revolution, where he was named a mid-season All-Star…originally selected by the Red Sox as the 32nd overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft

Jerry Downs, Infielder // 2015, 2017

Made his Drive debut on the final day of the 2015 regular season, going 1-for-4 …played in 34 games with the Drive during the 2017 season, helping lead the team their first South Atlantic League Championship in franchise history…was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 15th round of the 2015 MLB Draft…spent five seasons in Boston’s organization, reaching Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs in 2019…spent the 2021 season with the independent High Point Rockers…his younger brother, Jeter, currently ranks as the 5th prospect in the Red Sox organization, according to SoxProspects.com.

Derrik Gibson, Infielder // 2010

Spent the entire 2010 season with the Drive, helping lead the team to their second consecutive appearance in the South Atlantic League Championship series…hit .230 over the span of 122 games with the Drive, while ranking 3rd on the club with 112 hits and 39 stolen bases…originally selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 MLB Draft by Boston, spent 7 seasons with the Red Sox organization, reaching Triple-A in 2014…also had stints with the Orioles, Mets, and Rockies organizations…spent his final season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies) in 2018, where he hit .275 over 34 games with four homers and 16 RBI

Tyler Hill, Outfielder // 2017

Spent the entire 2017 season with the Drive, helping lead the team to their first South Atlantic League Championship in franchise history…led the club with 42 stolen bases, 65 runs scored and 4 triples, while also ranking 2nd in total bases (179), and 3rd in RBI (57)…after five seasons in the Red Sox organization, split the 2019 season between the Yankees and Royals minor league teams…finishes out the 2019 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), where he hit .403 in 21 games to guide the club to the Carolina League Championship…spent the 2019 and 2021 seasons with the independent Winnipeg Goldeyes…led the club in 2019 with a .375 batting average

Brandon Howlett // 2019, 2021

Spent all of the 2019 and 2021 seasons with the Drive…finished 2nd on the club in ’21 in home runs (17), RBI (57), and 3rd in doubles (19) and total bases (169)…finished tied for 2nd on the club in ’19 with 8 home runs…split his first professional season in 2018 between the Rookie-level GCL Red Sox and Short-Season-A Lowell Spinners…entered the 2020 season (before it was postponed) as the Red Sox #20 prospect, according to Baseball America…was drafted in the 21st round of the 2018 MLB Draft, out of George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Florida, where he was named the Lakeland Ledger Hitter of the Year during his senior season

Brandon Jacobs // 2011

Spent the entire 2011 season with the Drive, where he led the club in hits (134) and doubles (22), and was second on the team and 4th among all Red Sox minor leaguers with 30 stolen bases…ranked 2nd in the Red Sox farm system and 6th in the South Atlantic League with a .303 batting average…selected as a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star, going 2-for-4 with a double, walk, and a run scored in the All-Star Game on June 21st in Salisbury, MD…also selected as a South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star…was drafted by the Red Sox in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Parkview (GA) High School, where he hit .511 with 7 homers and 16 RBI as a senior…had committed to Auburn University to be a running back on the football team…was traded from the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox organization during the 2013 season, and then to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization prior to the 2014 season…was signed by Kansas City Royals organization prior to the 2015 season, his last in affiliated baseball.

Matty Johnson // 2011

Appeared in 28 games with the Drive during the 2011 season, splitting the season along with the Lowell Spinners…batted .307 with 7 doubles, 14 RBI, 38 runs, 29 walks, 19 stolen bases in 60 games between the Drive and Spinners…was named New York-Penn League Mid-Season All-Star while with the Spinners…spent the 2010 season with the independent Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League, en route to being named Baseball America’s top independent league prospect…was signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent in September of 2010…played his college ball at Bellevue (NE) University, where led the team with a .427 batting average and 26 stolen bases…was named a 2nd-Team NAIA All-American, 1st-Team All-MCAC, and earned a MCAC Gold Glove

Mike Jones // 2007, 2008

Split parts of the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Drive…combined to play in 108 games with Greenville over those two season, hitting .310 with 7 homers, 62 RBI, and 56 runs scored…also spent part of the 2008 season with the Lancaster JetHawks, establishing career-highs in nearly every major offensive category…combined to rank among Red Sox minor leaguers in hits (T-2nd, 154), doubles (T-2nd, 32), RBI (T-4th, 80), and 9th with a .303 batting average…set career highs with 72 runs scored, 13 homers, and 47 extra-base hits…was named a South Atlantic League All-Star with the Drive before being promoted to Lancaster in July…set a Drive franchise record with a 28-game hit streak from April 9th through May 7th, the 2nd-longest among all minor leaguers in 2008…split the 2007 season with the Lowell Spinners, where he was named a New York-Penn League All-Star…originally selected in the 25th round of the 2004 MLB Draft by the Red Sox, out of Arizona Western College…joined the Atlanta Braves organization in 2010, spending his final professional season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans…over the course of 6 seasons in the minors, had a career .296 batting average with 38 homers, 268 RBI, 244 runs scored, and 109 doubles.

Josh Ockimey // 2016

Spent the entire 2016 season with the Drive, finishing second amongst Red Sox farmhands with 18 homers…led the South Atlantic League 88 walks, and ranked among league leaders in homers (5th) and RBI (T-12th, 62)…was named a South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star, and finished 2nd in the All-Star Hitting Challenge behind Drive teammate, Mitch Gunsolous…was a invitee to Major League Spring Training with the Red Sox for 2019 through 2021…was named a mid-season All-Star in 4 consecutive seasons from 2015 through 2018 – New York-Penn League (2015), South Atlantic League (2016), Carolina League (2017), Eastern League (2018)…from 2018-19 ranked 2nd among all Red Sox minor leaguers in homers (45), RBI (128), and extra-base hits (87)…was a 5th round selection by the Red Sox in the 2014 MLB Draft…recently signed as a free agent with Philadelphia Phillies organization for the 2022 season, his hometown team…attended Neuman & Goretti Catholic High School, where he led the school to three Catholic League titles and had his number retired after amassing a .411 average with 13 homers and 100 RBIs during his high school career

Kendrick Perkins // 2013, 2014

Spent parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Drive…in 2014 combined with the Drive and Salem Red Sox to hit .261 over 74 games…started the season in Greenville where he produced a .353 OBP and .473 SLG in 51 games…finished 7th on the team with 6 home runs…split the 2013 season between the Lowell Spinners and Drive…spent all of 2012 with the with Spinners, ranking amongst club leaders in runs (4th, 24), and home runs (T-2nd, 4)- despite missing the final month of the season with injuries…was selected by the Red Sox in the 6th round of the 2010 MLB Draft, after hitting .421 with four homers and 26 RBI as a senior at La Porte (TX) High School…had committed to playing baseball and football at Texas A&M before signing with Boston

Tyreque Reed // 2021

Began the 2021 season with the Drive, appearing in 48 games before being promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs…hit .296 while with Greenville, and finished amongst club leaders in home runs (4th, 14) and RBI (4th, 50), despite playing in half as many games as the team leaders ahead of him…homered twice and drove in five runs on July 1st versus Winston-Salem…belted a walk-off homer on May 16th versus Brooklyn…was selected by the Red Sox in the Triple-A phase of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft after spending 2017-2020 in the Texas Rangers organization…ranked tied for 3rd among Rangers minor leaguers in 2018 with 18 home runs, while also ranking 3rd in the South Atlantic League in OPS (.846) and SLG (.503)

Matt Sheely // 2007

Spent the majority of the 2007 season with the Drive, while also making appearances with the High-A Lancaster JetHawks (5 games) and the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox (2 games)…hit .300 in 40 games with Greenville, and ranked 3rd on the team with 11 stolen bases…amassed a 14-game hit streak from August 2nd through 26th…spent six seasons in the Red Sox organization, spending his final year in 2011 with the Pawtucket Red Sox…was originally a 48th round selection by the Red Sox in the 2005 MLB Draft after hitting .390 with 5 triples and 18 steals as a freshman at Seminole (FL) Community College where he was named a First-Team All Mid-Florida Conference

Myles Smith // 2014

Spent the entire 2014 season with the Drive, appearing in 26 games – 12 as a starter and 14 out of the bullpen…ranked amongst team leaders in games, wins (T-4th, 5), innings pitched (3rd, 103.2), and strikeouts (5th, 73)…was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Red Sox…during his junior year at Lee (TN) University in 2013 he ranked among Southern State Athletic Conference leaders in wins (T-3rd, 11), strikeouts (3rd, 94), opponent AVG (4th, .202), and ERA (10th, 2.67)…was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization prior to the 2015 season…spent two seasons in Arizona’s farm system, appearing in games as high as the Triple-A level

Michael Thomas // 2009, 2010

Spent portions of the 2009 and 2010 season in Greenville…appeared in 31 games with the Drive in 2010 before being traded to the Texas Rangers organization…as a catcher, combined to throw out 29% of attempted base stealers in 2009…concluded the 2009 season by homering in each of his last two games, September 5th and 7th, tallying three homers over the span of his final four games…originally selected in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Red Sox…paced Southern University A&M with a .358 average as a junior in 2009…helped the Jaguars to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship…played for Falmouth of the Cape Cod League during the 2008 season

Chris Turner // 2006

Spent the entire 2006 season with the Drive, during the team’s Inaugural Season…paced the club with 18 home runs, a single-season mark that ranks tied for 5th all-time in Drive franchise history…also ranked amongst club leaders in RBI (3rd, 63), total bases (3rd, 184), hits (4th, 98), triples (2nd, 7), slugging percentage (.457)…finished his professional career following the 2007 season…belted 44 homers over 305 career games…was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 15th round of the 2003 MLB Draft

Kyri Washington // 2016

Spent the entire 2016 season with the Drive, ranking 3rd among all Red Sox minor leaguers with 16 home runs and 73 RBI…led Greenville in RBI, slugging (.487, 3rd in the South Atlantic League), and triples (9, 3rd in the South Atlantic League)…was named the Red Sox Minor League Hitter of the Month for June after hitting .319 with 5 homers, 24 RBI, 9 runs, 6 doubles and 4 stolen bases…appeared in the Red Sox spring training exhibition game versus Northeastern University on February 22nd, 2018 and hit a 3rd inning grad slam, the first home run in any 2018 Spring Training game…was selected by the Red Sox in the 23rd round of the 2015 MLB Draft…played three seasons at Longwood University (VA)…led the team in homers (15), RBI (52), runs (40), slugging (.548) and walks (25) as a junior…now serves as a Scout in the Red Sox organization, a role he has held since the 2019 season

Fabian Williamson // 2009

Made his organizational debut with the Drive in 2009, and ranked among Red Sox minor leaguers in wins (T-2nd, 10) and strikeouts (3rd, 104)…finished among club leaders in K’s (1st), wins (T-1st), saves (3rd, 5), and innings (4th, 108.0)…went 6-1 with 5 saves and a 2.53 ERA over 16 relief outings…was acquired from the Seattle Mariners organization in a trade prior to the 2009 season…spent 12 seasons in the minors, reaching as high as Triple-A…was traded from the Red Sox organization to the Oakland Athletic organization during the 2010 season…graduated from Kennedy High School (CA) in 2006, where he was named First Team All-City in back-to-back season (2005 and 2006)

DRIVE COACHES

Lee May, Jr. // 2016

Spent the 2016 season as the Drive’s hitting coach, his first in the Red Sox organization…went on to serve in the same capacity with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs from 2017 through 2019…joined the Red Sox organization after previously serving as minor league hitting coordinator in the Seattle Mariners organization from 2011 through 2015…played 8 seasons in the minors from 1986 through 1993…he also coached in the Mets (1999) and Indians (2004-11) organizations…Lee’s son, Jacob, played at Coastal Carolina and was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 3rd round of the 2013 MLB Draft…he is the son of 1985 World Series Champion, three-time All-Star, and member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, Lee May

Billy McMillon // 2008-2011

Managed the Drive during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, after serving as the club’s hitting coach in 2008 and 2009…the Drive compiled a 77-62 record during his managerial debut, and a trip to the South Atlantic League Championship Series…following his stint in Greenville, went on to manage the Salem Red Sox in 2012 and 2013, including the Mills Cup Championship in 2013…guided the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs to the Eastern Championship Series in 2014, and was also named the league’s Manager of the Year…served as the Red Sox Minor League Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator from 2015 through 2018, before becoming the organization’s Triple-A manager from 2019 through 2021…has compiled a career managerial record of 573-535, for a .517 winning percentage…joined the Washington Nationals organization for the 2022 season, where he will serve as the development coach for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings…played six seasons in the Major Leagues with the Florida Marlins (1996-1997), Philadelphia Phillies (1997), Detroit Tigers (2000-01) and Oakland Athletics (2001-04)…was an All-American at Clemson University, and was inducted into the Clemson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012, along with his head coach, Bill Wilhelm

John Shelby, III // 2021

Made his professional coaching debut with the Drive during the 2021 season…joined the Red Sox organization in 2020, following a stint as Assistant Baseball Coach at the University of Kentucky…prior to that he spent three seasons as a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers covering Central Florida…selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 5th round of the 2006 MLB Draft, playing seven seasons professionally…son of John T. Shelby who spent 10 seasons in Major League Baseball…younger brother Jeremy played one season in the Baltimore Orioles system…youngest brother JaVon was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 2016 MLB Draft…cousin Josh Harrison is a two-time MLB All-Star

UL Washington // 2013

Spent the 2013 season as the Drive’s hitting coach, playing a major role in the development of then-prospect Mookie Betts…was the hitting coach for the Rookie-level GCL Red Sox from 2006 through 2012 before joining Greenville…had also served as the Red Sox minor league hitting coordinator for two seasons, and the hitting coach for Triple-A Pawtucket for one season…began his coaching career in 1989, spending seasons with the Pirates, Royals, and Dodgers organizations before joining the Red Sox…a former shortstop, Washington played parts of 11 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1977-87, batting .251 with 27 homers and 255 RBI in 907 games…he spent his first 8 years with Kansas City Royals, hitting .303 in nine postseason contests…played in Montreal during the 1985 season, and closed out his career with two seasons in Pittsburgh

Corey Wimberly // 2017

Served as the Drive’s assistant coach during the 2017 season, help guide the club to their first South Atlantic League Championship in franchise history…made his managerial debut the following year with the Lowell Spinners, leading them to a 3rd place finish…spent the 2019 season with the Salem Red Sox, where they reached the Carolina League playoffs, falling to Wilmington in the first round…managed the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in 2021, where they finished 67-47 but failed to reach the playoffs…has a career managerial record of 171-155, for a .525 winning percentage…was named the Red Sox Minor League Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator heading into the 2022 season…spent 12 seasons professionally as a player, reaching as high as Triple-A…was a utility player, having played every infield position with the exception of 1st base, and every outfield position…stole 50 or more bases in a season three times, including 59 with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in 2008