Barons Name Gold Glove Winner Omar Vizquel As Manager

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Birmingham Barons are getting ready for the 2019 season, starting with announcing this week their coaching staff for the new season, which includes a new manager in 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel. Vizquel played 24 seasons in the majors, including a stint with the Barons' parent team, the Chicago White Sox.

Vizquel will be assisted this season by new hitting coach Charlie Poe and bench coach Wes Helms. Returning to the Barons coaching staff this season will be pitching coach Richard Dotson, strength and conditioning coach Tim Rodmaker, and athletic trainer Cory Barton.

Vizquel, 51, is entering his second season as a manager in the White Sox organization. In his first year as a manager, he was named Carolina League Manager of the Year after leading the Winston-Salem Dash (Single-A) to an 84-54 record and a first half title.

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A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Vizquel was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Seattle Mariners in 1984. He appeared in 2,968 games with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. He won two American League pennants with the Cleveland Indians in 1995 and 1997.

His .985 fielding percentage is second all-time among shortstops and ranks first in career games played at shortstop (2,709). During his career, Vizquel hit .272 and recorded 456 doubles, 77 triples, 80 home runs, 951 RBI, 404 stolen bases, and 1,038 walks.

In 2018, Vizquel was nominated for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his first year of eligibility, he finished 10th in voting after receiving 156 votes (37%) from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The 2019 National Baseball Hall of Fame Class will be announced on Tuesday, January 22.

The Barons will open the home portion of their 2019 season at Regions Field on Wednesday, April 10.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images