Bailey to return as Smokies skipper in 2015
The Chicago Cubs announced their minor league coaching staff assignments for the upcoming 2015 campaign Wednesday with 2014 manager Buddy Bailey returning to the Tennessee Smokies, along with 2014 pitching coach Storm Davis, hitting coach Desi Wilson and trainer Shane Nelson. Guillermo Martinez also joins the Smokies' 2015 field staff for his first season in Kodak as an assistant coach.
2015 will mark the fifth season at the helm of the Smokies for Bailey, becoming the first manager in the franchise's Southern League history to manage that many years. The Virginia native has amassed 276 victories over his first four seasons with Tennessee during the 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014 campaigns, and in his Tennesee tenure has had a hand in developing many players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues, including Jeff Samardzija, Welington Castillo, Junior Lake, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin, Kyle Hendricks, Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler.
Bailey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience back to Kodak, and will enter his 33rd season as a Minor League instructor in 2015, including his 10th in the Chicago Cubs organization. It will also be his 26th managerial season in the Minor Leagues, having recorded 1,694 victories over that period of time. Bailey has previously been named the International League's Manager of the Year twice while with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox during the 1996 and 2003 seasons and also led the Class A Advanced Daytona Cubs to the 2011 Florida State League Championship.
Wilson also comes back to the Smokies for his third consecutive year as hitting coach, in addition to his eighth in the Cubs organization. Combined over his first two seasons in Kodak, Tennessee's offense ranks first among all Southern League teams in batting average (.256), hits (2,342), doubles (516), home runs (217), total bases (3,645) and slugging percentage (.398). Wilson has also worked with many of the Chicago Cubs' top offensive prospects, as well as some of the best in baseball, in Baez, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Albert Almora, Soler and Alcantara among others, with Bryant ending the 2014 campaign second in the league in homers despite only playing the first half of the season with the Smokies.
Wilson has held the same position with Daytona (2012), Class A Short Season Boise Hawks (2009, 11) and Rookie-level Mesa Cubs (2008, 10) prior to his time in Tennessee. The Arizona resident appeared in 41 games as a player for the San Francisco Giants in 1996, batting .271 with two home runs and 12 RBIs and also posted a .307 batting average in 10 Minor League seasons with five different organizations (Texas, San Francisco, Arizona, Chicago White Sox and Montreal). He originally was drafted as a player in the 15th round of the 1987 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, though he did not sign, before being selected in the 30th round of the 1991 draft by the Texas Rangers.
Davis returns to Tennessee for his second consecutive season as pitching coach after managing a staff that included four of the Chicago Cubs' top pitching prospects according to Baseball America, including a pair of the publication's top 100 preseason overall prospects in C.J. Edwards (No. 28) and Pierce Johnson (No. 98). The club finished the 2014 campaign ranking third in the Southern League in strikeouts (1,026), while starter Corey Black tied for first among all Southern League hurlers in batting average against (.224), in addition to third in strikeouts (119) and tied for eighth in earned-run average (3.47).
Prior to working as pitching coach with Daytona (2013) and Class A Hickory Crawdads (2012), Davis pitched in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons from 1982-94 and was a member of three World Series clubs, including the Baltimore Orioles (1983) and Oakland Athletics (1989). In total, the Florida native posted a 113-96 record and 4.02 ERA over 442 games (239 starts) in the Major Leagues.
Newcomer Guillermo Martinez joins the Smokies as an assistant coach after holding the same role with Boise in 2014. In his first season in the Cubs organization last season, Martinez assisted the Hawks in pacing the Northwest League in triples (27), RBIs (392), total bases (1,052), on-base percentage (.353) and slugging percentage (.398), in addition to tying for first in batting average (.274) and hits (725). Prior to serving as a hitting coach in the Toronto Blue Jays system in 2012 and 2013, the Florida native played three years of professional ball in the Miami Marlins organization and was selected by the Marlins in the 15th round of the 2006 MLB Draft out of the University of South Alabama.
Trainer Shane Nelson also comes back to Tennessee for his second straight season. The upcoming campaign will also be Nelson's fifth in the Cubs organization after stints with Class A Kane County (2013) and Class A Peoria (2012). Nelson began his current employment with the Chicago Cubs in 2011 as an athletic training intern.
The Smokies are slated to begin the 2015 campaign on the road against the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, on Thursday, April 9, before returning to Tennessee to begin their 2015 home slate on Wednesday, April 15 versus the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Season ticket and multi-game voucher plans are currently available. To learn more about those plans and about the Smokies' new Smokies Plus Membership packages, please click here or by call the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and