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 Birmingham Barons

Ever Magallanes Named Southern League Manager of the Year

August 31, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional baseball is pleased to announce that Birmingham Barons manager Ever Magallanes has been named its Manager of the Year as voted upon by the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and print media.

Magallanes is the fifth Barons manager to win the award since its inception in 1972. He joins Roy Majtyka (1983), Terry Francona (1993), Wally Backman (2002) and Razor Shines (2005).

Despite a steady flux in Birmingham's roster, the Barons remained dominant throughout the season under the steady of Magallanes. Birmingham cruised to a 48-21 first-half record and its second-straight South Division first-half title, outpacing Mobile by a staggering 11.5 games. The 48-21 mark was the club's best first-half record since the 1989 Barons went 53-18.

Magallanes inherited a supremely talented Barons roster, starting the season with six of the top-10 prospects in the Chicago White Sox farm system. While many expected the Barons to contend for the first-half crown with that core, few would have guessed Birmingham would continue to dominate after the majority of those players were promoted. Of the 24 players that started the season with Birmingham, 12 have been promoted and are no longer on the Barons roster.

Magallanes has his club competing for the second-half division title as well, as the Barons are currently 3.5 games behind Jacksonville at 37-25. If the Barons manage to overtake the Suns, they will be the first club to win both halves since the Huntsville Stars swept the North Division in 2007.

Birmingham leads the league in hitting (.271), runs (692), home runs (129), wins (85), shutouts (13), home runs allowed (54) and is second in ERA (3.35). The Barons currently hold the third-best record in professional baseball among full- season teams at 85-46. (.649) and can break the franchise record for winning percentage of .651 that was set in 1906 by going 6-2 down the stretch. A 7-1 mark down the stretch for the Barons will also set the modern franchise record for wins, which was set in 1983 when the club went 91-54.

Prior to joining the Barons, Magallanes managed the previous three years in the Angels organization. A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, the 42-year old Magallanes owns a career managerial record of 264-202 and was also named the Arizona League's Manager of the Year in 2006. A left-handed hitting middle infielder, he appeared in three games with the Cleveland Indians in 1991, his only Major League service time.

The Barons won the South Division First-Half Title and will open the playoffs on Thursday, September 10 at Regions Park. Game two will be played Friday, September 11 at Regions Park. Tickets to both games are available online at the Baron's website, in-person at the Regions Park Box Office or over the phone.


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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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