Ryan Christenson Returns as RockHounds Manager
November 23, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
The man who guided the RockHounds to the 2015 Texas League championship will return to lead the club in 2016. The Oakland Athletics today announced that Ryan Christenson will be back for his second season as field manager of the 'Hounds.
Also returning from last season's championship club are pitching coach John Wasdin and athletic trainer Justin Whitehouse. They will be joined by hitting coach Brian McArn (who was previously with the RockHounds in 2004 and 2013) and strength & conditioning coach Henry Torres.
In capturing the 2015 Texas League championship (the RockHounds' fourth outright title and the second in as many seasons), Christenson's club established a new franchise record for most wins in a season, finishing at 83-57. After a 35-35 first half, the 'Hounds went 48-22 in the second half, the best half-season mark in franchise history (by a margin of five games). The club's .593 winning percentage was second-best in the franchise's 44 seasons, and its combined winning percentage (including playoffs) of .605 was a new all-time mark. The RockHounds defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (3-1) in the Texas League South Division Championship Series and swept the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3-0) to win the league title.
In each of his three seasons as a manager on Oakland's farm, Christenson has led his club to the postseason. His 2013 Beloit Snappers team reached the (Single-A) Midwest League semifinals and, in 2014, he led the Stockton Ports to the (Advanced-A) California League playoffs, posting the league's best record (85-55) and being named Manager of the Year in the process.
The RockHounds, who became just the seventh team in the last 90 years to win back-to-back Texas League championships, open the 2016 season on April 7 (at North Little Rock, Arkansas) with the home opener set for Thursday, April 14, when they host the Arkansas Travelers at Security Bank Ballpark.
The 2016 season marks the 45th year in franchise history and the 18th season in the affiliation between the RockHounds and Oakland A's. The partnership is the longest in franchise history (Cubs, 1972-84 and Angels, 1985-98) and is among the longest-tenured affiliations in Double-A Baseball.
RYAN CHRISTENSON - MANAGER
The 41-year-old native of Redlands, California (Ryan now makes his home in Tyrone, Georgia), was selected by Oakland in the 10th round of the 1995 draft out of Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA) and spent parts of six seasons (1998-2003) in the Major Leagues (452 games). He spent the majority of his career with Oakland, appearing in 351 games with the Athletics between 1998 and 2001. The centerfielder also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2001) and Milwaukee Brewers (2002) before finishing his big league playing career with the Texas Rangers in 2003.
He was a member of Oakland's American League West championship club in 2000 and appeared in two games in the AL Division Series versus the New York Yankees (Ryan went 1-for-2 with an RBI single off Dwight Gooden in Game 4). The following year, he was traded from the A's to Arizona in mid-June and spent the rest of the season with the Diamondbacks, who went on to win the 2001 World Series (he was not on the postseason roster).
While managing in the minor leagues for just three seasons, Christenson's résumé is outstanding. Ryan has taken each of his three clubs to the postseason, capped by the RockHounds' 2015 Texas League championship. In three of his six half-season pennant races, his teams have recorded 40 or more victories (each with a .600 or higher winning percentage).
2013 Beloit Snappers (Single-A) Midwest League
Beloit won the Western Division first half title with a 43-27 mark and finished fifth overall in the (16-team) Midwest League. The Snappers defeated the Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings (Seattle Mariners affiliate) before falling to the Quad Cities River Bandits (Houston Astros) in the league semifinals.
2014 Stockton Ports (Advanced-A) California League
After a 37-33 first half, Stockton dominated the second half pennant race, winning the California League North Division title (by nine games) with a 48-22 record. Among the seven minor leagues employing the split-season format, only the Asheville Tourists of the (Single-A) South Atlantic League had a better half-season record (first or second half) in 2014 (48-21). The Ports then fell to the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks) in the playoffs (2-0).
2015 RockHounds (Double-A) Texas League
Corpus Christi (89-51) and the RockHounds (83-57) were, far and away, the Texas League's top two clubs (the Arkansas Travelers were third with a 71-68 mark). The Hooks (Houston Astros) won the first half pennant race by 13 games and the RockHounds captured the second half title by seven games. In winning their respective half-season races, the Hooks and 'Hounds each went 48-22, tying for the fifth-best mark since the Texas League adopted the half-season format (in 1977). The RockHounds defeated the Hooks, 3-1, to win the South Division championship, and swept the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals) to capture the franchise's first-ever back-to-back TL titles. Perhaps the most remarkable statistic for Christenson's club was an astounding 40-14 mark over its last 54 games (regular season and playoffs), a .741 winning percentage over that span.
Ryan Christenson: Minor League Managerial Record (245-174)
Year Team League Class 1st H 2nd?H W-L Pct. Div.?Finish Overall Playoffs
2013 Beloit Midwest A 43-27 34-35 77-62 0.554 1st / 3rd 5th (16) Lost to Quad Cities 2-1, in semifinals
2014 Stockton California Adv-A 37-33 48-22 85-55 0.607 2nd / 1st 1st (10) Lost to Visalia 2-0, in first round
2015 RockHounds Texas AA 35-35 48-22 83-57 0.593 2nd / 1st 2nd (8) Defeated Corpus Christi 3-1, in TLDS
Defeated NW Arkansas 3-0, in TLCS
JOHN WASDIN - PITCHING COACH
The former Major Leaguer enters his sixth season as a pitching coach in the Oakland organization and returns for his second season with the RockHounds.
He began his coaching career in 2011 with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the (Short Season Single-A) New York-Penn League, followed by two seasons with Oakland's clubs in the (Single-A) Midwest League - - the Burlington Bees in 2012 and the Beloit Snappers in 2013. In the second of those seasons, he was part of Ryan Christenson's staff and the pair then moved up to the Stockton Ports of the (Advanced-A) California League in 2014 and to the Double-A level with the RockHounds last season.
The return to the A's organization was a "homecoming" for the 43-year-old native of Fort Belvoir, Virginia (John now makes his home in Jacksonville, Florida). He was Oakland's first round draft choice in 1993, selected 25th overall after his junior season at Florida State University. The right-hander went on to a 12-year career in the Major Leagues (1995-2007), pitching for seven clubs (primarily Boston and the Texas Rangers). His career record was 39-39 and a 5.28 earned run average, with 19 of his wins coming in a Red Sox uniform (he also appeared with Boston in the 1998 and 1999 ALDS, both versus Cleveland). He went to the Red Sox in 1997 in a one-for-one (plus cash) trade that sent Jose Canseco back to Oakland. In addition to his time in "the Show," Wasdin spent two seasons (2002 and 2009) in Japan's major leagues and fashioned a perfect game with (Triple-A) Nashville in 2003.
BRIAN McARN - HITTING COACH
Now in his 18th season with the A's organization, "Mac" returns to the RockHounds for a third tour of duty as Oakland's Double-A hitting coach after serving in the same capacity with the 'Hounds in 2004 and in 2013.
His extensive résumé with the A's also includes six seasons as the hitting coach for the (Triple-A) Sacramento RiverCats (2005-10) and 10 seasons in two stints at the Advanced-A level with Oakland's California League clubs in Modesto (1998-2003) and Stockton (2011-12, 2014-15).
McArn was Oakland's 26th round draft choice in 1991, following an outstanding career at the University of Nebraska. He was the Cornhuskers' top hitter in both 1990 (.354) and 1991 (.393), earning All-Big Eight all-conference honors in both seasons (honorable mention in 1990 and second team in 1991). His career .369 batting average ranks eighth all-time in Nebraska history (coincidentally, former RockHounds Jed Morris and Dan Johnson rank ninth and tenth, respectively, on the Huskers' all-time list). Brian's pro career lasted just two seasons before being cut short due to injuries.
Before joining the A's organization, the 47-year-old California native (born in Davis and makes his home in Elk Grove) coached at American River Junior College in Sacramento and with the Vermont Expos, (at that time) Montreal's Short-A club in the New York-Penn League.
JUSTIN WHITEHOUSE - ATHLETIC TRAINER
Now entering his ninth season with the RockHounds, and his 16th as an Athletic Trainer with the A's organization, Justin has been part of three Texas League championship field staffs (2009, 2014 and 1015).
Whitehouse joined the A's minor league training staff in 2001 and spent his first two seasons in the (Advanced-A) California League with the Visalia Oaks. When Oakland moved one of its Single-A affiliates to the Midwest League, Justin made the move as well, spending the next five seasons (2003-07) with the Kane County Cougars. He was named Midwest League Athletic Trainer of the Year in his final season with the club. A promotion to the Double-A level with the RockHounds followed in 2008, a season in which he was also selected to work the prestigious Arizona Fall League.
His tenure with the franchise is now the second-longest of the Oakland affiliation, which began in 1999. Only Webster Garrison (see below), with 10 seasons as a player-coach, coach and manager, has been a member of more RockHounds teams.
A native of Stockton, California, Justin is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, where his wife, Susan, is a member of the Wolfpack's Athletic Hall of Fame (swimming & diving). A Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), he earned his master's degree at San Diego State University.
HENRY TORRES - STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Now in his third season with Oakland, Torres joins the RockHounds as strength and conditioning coach after serving in the same position with the Stockton Ports of the (Advanced-A) California League last season. The University of Texas, San Antonio, graduate joined the Athletics organization in 2014 with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the (Short Season Single-A) New York-Penn League. Henry began his career in professional baseball in 2013 as strength and conditioning coach for the Idaho Falls Chukars, the Kansas City Royals' affiliate in the (Rookie) Pioneer League.
ROCKHOUNDS FIELD STAFF ALUMNI NOTES / OAKLAND ORGANIZATION
Curt Young (RockHounds pitching coach, 2000-02) enters his 12th season (two stints) as the Oakland A's pitching coach.
Darren Bush (RockHounds manager, 2009-10) enters his third season at the Major League level with the A's ... his second as Oakland's hitting coach.
Scott Emerson (RockHounds pitching coach, 2007-10) enters his second season as Oakland's bullpen coach.
Steve Scarsone (RockHounds manager, 2011-12) enters his second season managng the Nashville Sounds ... his fourth at the Triple-A level on the A's farm.
Eric Martins (RockHounds hitting coach, 2015) enters his first season as hitting coach for the Pacific Coast League Sounds.
A.J. Seeliger (RockHounds strength & conditioning coach, 2015) enters his first season as the Sounds' strength & conditioning coach.
Tommy Everidge (RockHounds player, 2007-09) enters his third season as a hitting coach on the A's farm ... his first with the (Advanced-A) Stockton Ports.
Don Schulze (RockHounds pitching coach, 2011-14) enters his 11th season as a pitching coach on the A's farm ... his first with the (Single-A) Beloit Snappers.
Brian "Doc" Thorson (RockHounds Athletic Trainer, 1999-2004) enters his 33rd season with Oakland ... his fourth with the (Midwest League) Snappers.
Aaron Nieckula (RockHounds manager, 2013-14) enters his 14th season on the A's farm, his 11th as a manager. Now in his second season at the helm of the (Short Season Single-A) Vermont Lake Monsters, "Nuke" is also in his second season serving as Oakland's Minor League Field Coordinator.
Lloyd Turner (RockHounds player, 2005-06) enters his fourth season as a hitting coach on the A's farm ... his second (in two stints) with (Short-A) Vermont.
Webster Garrison (RockHounds coach & manager, 10 seasons, 1999-2014) enters his 18th season in the Oakland organizatrion, his first managing the Arizona (Rookie League) A's. "Webby" has managed and/or coached at virtually every level of A's minor league system (he managed the 'Hounds in 2004 and 2008).
Gabe Ortiz (RockHounds player, 2009-10) enters his second season as a hitting coach at the Rookie level on the A's farm.
Terence Brannic (RockHounds strength & conditioning coach, 2014) enters his third season on the A's farm ... his first with the Arizona A's.
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