Bobby Mitchell Named Manager of the Year

Portland, ME - The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce that Trenton Thunder manager Bobby Mitchell has been selected as the 2017 Eastern League Manager of the Year.

Mitchell has led the Thunder to a league-best record of 91-46 this season while helping the team clinch their first Eastern Division regular season crown since the 2012 season. The 91 wins are the second highest total in Trenton franchise history and are just one shy of the franchise record of 92 wins, which was set during the 1999 season. Bobby is joined on his coaching staff in Trenton this season by hitting coach Tom Slater, pitching coach Jose Rosado, defensive coach Lino Diaz, bullpen coach JD Closser, athletic trainer Jimmy Downam, and strength and conditioning coach Anthony Velazquez.
The 2017 season is Mitchell's second as the manager in Trenton, and the 10th season of his managerial career. In his two seasons with the Thunder, Mitchell has a record of 177-101 and has led the team to a playoff berth in each season. Bobby began his managerial career in 2006 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League and spent two years there before moving to the Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League from 2008-2010. Mitchell also had a stint as an interim manager with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League in 2011 and spent two years as the manager of the Arizona League Cubs from 2012-2013. Over his 10 seasons as a manager, Bobby has a career record of 619-516 (.545).
As a player, Mitchell was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh round of the 1977 draft out of the University of Southern California. Bobby went on to appear in 202 major league games over four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins. His playing career ended in 1986 and he started a coaching career that included serving as an outfield, base running & bunting coordinator for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Montreal Expos.
Binghamton manager Luis Rojas finished second in the voting for the Manager of the Year Award and Altoona's Michael Ryan finished in third place in the voting. This award was voted on by Eastern League managers and coaches and members of the media.