Ports Announce 2010 Field Staff
January 6, 2010 - California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Ports, 11-time champions of the California League, are proud to announce their field staff for the 2010 season. The Ports welcome Steve Scarsone as the team's new manager and Nate Brooks as the team's new athletic trainer. Returning for the 2010 campaign are pitching coach Don Schulze and hitting coach Tim Garland. This will be Schulze's second season and Garland's fourth season with the Ports.
"We are very excited to welcome Steve and Nate to Stockton for the 2010 season as the Ports make a run for an unprecedented 12th League championship title," said Ports President and General Manager Pat Filippone. "I look forward to working with them, as well as Don Schulze and Tim Garland, both on the field and in the community. I also wish Aaron Nieckula and Brian Thorson the best of luck at their new assignments."
Scarsone and Brooks both come to Stockton from Single-A Kane County of the Midwest League. The 2009 season was Scarsone's first in the Oakland organization, after managing Single-A South Bend (2001-Midwest League) and Single-A Lancaster (2002, California League). He has a 209-207 record in three seasons overall as a manager. Scarsone led the Kane County Cougars to a 76-64 record and a playoff appearance. The Cougars finished the 2009 season third in the Western Division.
Scarsone played seven seasons in the Major Leagues, competing with Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco, St. Louis and Kansas City. Scarsone was drafted by Philadelphia in the 2nd Round of the 1986 draft and spent six seasons in the minor leagues before his Major League debut in 1992 with the Phillies.
Schulze, who was a former first round pick in 1980 by the Cubs and pitched for Chicago, Cleveland, San Diego and both New York teams, serves as the pitching coach for the Ports for the second straight season. Under Schulze's tutelage, the Ports pitching staff led the A's farm system in strikeouts (1268) in 2009. Stockton had the second-best Team ERA (4.15) in the Oakland organization in 2009 as well. Six of the Top 10 pitchers in the A's minor league system for the 2009 season worked under Schulze last summer.
Garland comes back to Stockton for his fourth season as the club's hitting coach. Before he made his coaching debut in 2006 with Kane County, Garland spent 14 years as a minor league outfielder after being drafted by the New York Yankees in 1989. During his minor league career, he advanced as far as Double-A, spending time with the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Oakland A's.
Nate Brooks joins the Stockton Ports as the Head Athletic Trainer in 2010, after serving two seasons at Single-A Kane County as the Cougars' athletic trainer. Brooks also served as the athletic trainer for South Africa in the second World Baseball Classic in 2009. A graduate of Auburn University, Brooks spent two seasons (2006-07) as the athletic trainer for the A's Short-A Vancouver Canadians and won the Northwest League Trainer of the Year award in 2007.
Former manager of the Stockton Ports Aaron Nieckula has been assigned by the Oakland A's as manager of Kane County. Former Ports Athletic Trainer, Brian "Doc" Thorson, has been assigned by the Oakland A's as the trainer for Kane County.
The Ports home opener is scheduled for April 15, 2010. For information on season ticket and mini-plan ticket packages, or group outings, contact the Ports front office at (209) 644-1900 or visit www.stocktonports.com.
California League Stories from January 6, 2010
- San Jose Giants Unveil New Home Uniforms - San Jose Giants
- Ports Announce 2010 Field Staff - Stockton Ports
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