Seoane returns for second season as BC manager

Published on March 1, 2004 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release


Mitch Seoane will return for a second season as manager of the Battle Creek Yankees. Last season, Seoane took Battle Creek — in its first year as an affiliate of the New York Yankees — to the second round of the playoffs. Battle Creek won 17 of its final 20 regular-season games to make the playoffs for a Midwest League record-tying seventh straight season.

Pitching coach Steve Renko also returns for a second straight season. Hitting coach Bill Mosiello joins the staff. Trainer Zac Womack is back for a second straight season.

The field staff announcement comes just 38 days before the start of the 2004 season. The Battle Creek Yankees open the season April 8 at home against the Lansing Lugnuts.

Seoane is the fourth manager in the franchise's 10-year history to guide the team in back-to-back seasons. Billy Gardner Jr. (1997-98), Al Pedrique (1999-2000) and John Massarelli (2001-2002) also recorded two-year stints as manager.

"I'm excited to be coming back to Battle Creek," Seoane said. "I'm looking forward to another challenge and working with new players. We'll probably be young again. But if the players get better like they did last year, we'll have another good season."

Seoane has a 13-year minor-league managing career, which includes five seasons in the Midwest League, four in the California League, and one each in the Texas League, Pacific Coast League, South Atlantic League and Florida State League. His 1992 Quad City team won 91 games, and his 1996 Lake Elsinore team won the California League championship.

The 43-year-old Seoane is in his fifth year in the Yankee organization, having served as manager at Tampa in 2002 and at Greensboro in 2001, and as coach at Staten Island in 2000.

Seoane played second base at the University of Miami from 1980-83, with the Hurricanes winning a national championship in 1982. He signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Yankees in 1983 and spent three seasons in the organization, making stops at Greensboro, Fort Lauderdale and Albany. He then played three seasons in the Angels organization, making stops at Palm Springs and Midland.

Seoane resides in Land O'Lakes, Fla.

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