CalL1 San Jose Giants

San Jose Giants Announce 2009 Coaching Staff

Published on December 15, 2008 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CALIF December 15, 2008- The San Jose Giants announced their 2009 coaching staff today with Andy Skeels joining the club as manager, Jerry Cram as pitching coach and Gary Davenport returning as hitting coach. Yukiya Oba also returns as the team's athletic trainer.

Andy Skeels, 43, is set to begin his fourth season in the San Francisco Giants organization and second season as a manager. In 2008, Skeels directed the Augusta GreenJackets (Low-A) to the best record in Minor League Baseball among full-season teams and a South Atlantic League championship. The GreenJackets posted an outstanding 88-50 mark with Skeels at the helm to earn MiLB.com's Team of the Year award. Augusta's squad led the minor league ranks in team ERA (2.95) and was undefeated in five post-season contests en route to the league title. Previously, Skeels served two seasons (2006-2007) as the GreenJackets' hitting coach.

Skeels was an All-American at the University of Arkansas before the San Diego Padres selected him in the seventh round of the 1987 draft. The former catcher spent 12 years playing professional baseball with the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees organizations, including stints in the California League with the Riverside Red Wave (1988-1989), Salinas Spurs (1992) and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1993). Skeels advanced as high as Triple-A before embarking on a career in coaching.

Jerry Cram is familiar with San Jose after spending three years as the Giants pitching coach from 2001-2003. The former major leaguer is now entering his ninth season in the San Francisco organization after working the last five years (2004-2008) as pitching coach of the Salem- Keizer Volcanoes (Short-Season). During his time in the Giants farm system, Cram's teams have won three league championships: San Jose in 2001 and Salem-Keizer in 2006 and 2007.

Cram spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals (1969, 1976) and New York Mets (1974-1975), compiling a 0-3 record and 2.98 ERA over 23 career appearances. Cram has devoted 28 years to the Kansas City organization, the last 14 as a pitching instructor, in a tenure that ended in 1997. Cram then spent three seasons as a pitching coach in the Colorado Rockies minor league system before joining the San Francisco organization prior to the 2001 campaign.

Gary Davenport returns to San Jose marking his sixth season as a coach in the Giants minor league system. Davenport served as San Jose's hitting coach last season in guiding the club to the second-best team batting average in the California League. Previously, Davenport spent two years as hitting coach for the Connecticut Defenders (Double-A) after a record-setting year in San Jose during the 2005 season. While hitting coach of the California League champions that year, Davenport oversaw a Giants squad that set franchise records for batting average (.295), doubles (242) and home runs (143).

Davenport was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1981 out of Santa Clara University and has a long history of playing and instructing overseas, working in both South Africa and Italy.

Davenport is the son of former San Francisco Giants star and current Special Assistant of Player Personnel, Jim Davenport.

Yukiya Oba returns to San Jose for his fourth season as athletic trainer and his sixth season working within the Giants organization. Oba began his career as a certified athletic trainer intern in the San Francisco organization during the 2003-2004 seasons before joining the San Jose staff full-time prior to the 2006 campaign.

The San Jose Giants open their 2009 season on Thursday, April 9th at Municipal Stadium vs. the Stockton Ports. The Opening Night Extravaganza will include a post-game fireworks display, 2009 magnet schedule giveaway, the return of Gigante and much more.

Check out the San Jose Giants Statistics

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