NABL: Arizona Winter League

2012 AWL Managers and Coaches

Team Managers/Instructors, including NAL Managers, are:(Subject to Change)

  • Garry Templeton: Maui Na Koa Ikaika Manager, 16-year major league career, 4-Time National League All-Star with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, 2 major league Silver Slugger Awards, 5-year AAA Manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, has signed over 25 players from the Arizona Winter League in the last three seasons.
  • Les Lancaster: Philadelphia Phillies minor league pitching coach, 7-year major league career, former Sporting News National League All-Star and All-Rookie Team, 9-year pro managing career including Baseball America Manager of the Year Award and multiple Championships, holds record for number of players signed by major league organizations off one independent league team.
  • Mike Marshall: San Rafael Pacifics Manager, 11-year major league career, former National League All-Star, 1988 World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-year pro managing career, former VP of Baseball Operations for the Northern League.  Has signed over 30 Arizona Winter League players to pro contracts in five years.
  • Morgan Burkhart: Windy City Thunderbolts manager in the Frontier League, legendary independent pro player with the Frontier League MVP Award named after him, three years with the Boston Red Sox in the big leagues, 6 seasons as a coach or manager in minor league baseball.  Had five players from the 2011 AWL starting on his pro team in the North American League this summer.
  • Eddie Dennis: Manager of the Rio Grande Valley Whitewings in the North American League.  Former major league player and minor league coach in affiliated baseball he has signed over 20 AWL players in three years
  • James Frisbie: Chico Outlaws pitching coach in the North American League, 3 years experience as a pro manager and considered one of the top minor league pitching coaching in the country. 10-year minor league career. Managed Saskatchewan Silver Sox last year and had 8 of his players signed to pro contracts, including a Korean pitcher that is the leading candiate for pitcher of the year in the American Association at this time.
  • Brooks Carey:Four year minor league career in the Orioles organization where he rocketed to AAA as a left-handed pitcher before injuries derailed him. Has managed and coached in the minor leagues and is currently the pitching coach for the Can-Am League champion Sussex Skyhawks. Has had over 35 players of his in the first  five seasons  of the AWL signed to professional contracts. Has a reputation for giving pitchers the something extra they need to succeed at the next level, and considered as a pitching guru by players not only for his knowledge and pitching instruction techniques but for his deep profound wisdom that he dispenses tying his life lessons to pitching success.
  • Nick Belmonte, AWL roving base-running and fielding instructor: Former Salt Lake City Trappers manager, Boston Red Sox Independent Leagues scout, scout and player procurement for Can-Am, Frontier, New York State, and American Association teams. Scout for 5 independent leagues and the leading player procurement consultant in minor league baseball. He placed 120 players on the rosters of 2009 independent league clubs.
  • Chris Paterson, Manager: Chris is currently a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and is a manager in the professional Pecos League as well as the league's Player Procurement Director. He had a very successful collegiate career as a pitcher and used the AWL to launch his professional playing career. He joins the 2012 AWL after instructing in the fledgling California Winter League where he was responsible for over 40 players signing professional contracts last year. Chris will be sourcing players for the Rays, his team the White Sands Pupfish, and the entire Pecos League.
  • Manabu Kuramochi, Manager: Kuramochi-san joins the AWL after a very successful playing career overseas and in the Northern League, where he was named Rookie of the Year. After his playing career, Kuramochi returned to Japan where he sources players for several professional Japanese leagues. He will be looking to sign players to play in Japan and Europe as he manages his 2012 AWL club.
  • John Harris, Manager: John Harris was drafted by the California Angels in 1976 and reached the Major Leagues in 1979 after just two seasons in the minor leagues. In 56 games with the Angels between 1979 and 1981, Harris hit .258 with 5 homeruns and 16 RBI as a first baseman and left fielder. Following his playing career, Harris became a baseball coach at Texas Tech University. He was named manager of the Sox before their inaugural 2011 season, and has managed and been a hitting coach for several independent teams during the course of his coaching career.

  • Jorge Alvarez, Manager: Jorge Alvarez played 22 seasons in the minor and independent leagues before becoming manager of the El Paso Diablos last season in 2011. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Alvarez began his playing career in 1988 with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He was very productive over the course of 7 minor league seasons with the Dodgers and Florida Marlins before entering the independent leagues. In 2006, he joined El Paso as a player and led the team to a championship in 2007, being named the American Association’s Player of the Year. Now, he brings the experience of 1,998 regular season games played with him to the AWL as he looks to sign players for his 2012 Diablos roster.