Shuckers Announce 2016 Coaching Staff, Mike Guerrero Named Manager

Published on January 13, 2016 under Southern League (SL1)
Biloxi Shuckers News Release

BILOXI, MS - Former Brewers First Base Coach Mike Guerrero has been named the Shuckers Manager for 2016. This marks his return to the Double-A level, where he served as skipper of the Huntsville Stars from 2010-11. Pitching Coach Chris Hook, Coach Sandy Guerrero, Athletic Trainer Steve Patera and Strength and Conditioning Specialist Nate Dine will all return to the staff.

The 48-year-old Guerrero, brother of Coach Sandy Guerrero ,replaces 2015 Southern League Manager of the Year, Carlos Subero who was announced as part of the Brewers Major League staff as First Base Coach and Infield Coach in December. Mike spent two seasons as the Brewers First Base Coach and Infield Coach, joining them in 2013.

Guerrero has managed at every level in the Minor Leagues, going 953-826 (.536) over 18 seasons, with all but one season coming with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He last served as Manager for two seasons at Triple-A Nashville in 2012-13, prior to joining the Major League coaching staff.

In 2013, Guerrero earned the Mike Coolbaugh Award, presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field.

Guerrero began his Managing career in the Blue Jays organization in 1995 in the Dominican Summer League. He won the 2001 Dominican Summer League championship and qualified for the playoffs five times (1995, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2009). He also gained additional Managerial experience in 2008 with the Oahu CaneFires of the Hawaiian Winter League and in 2010 with the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. He has also managed in the Dominican Winter League.

The former Minor League infielder spent nine seasons with the Milwaukee (1987-92, '94-95) and Kansas City (1993) organizations. He collected a .242 career batting average over nine seasons as a middle infielder.

Mike was born into a baseball family as Sandy and his father, Epy, was a renowned scout in the Dominican Republic who unearthed over 40 Major League players. Mike was named after former Major League pitcher Mike Torrez, who was a friend of his father. His uncle, Mario Guerrero, was a Major League infielder with Boston (1973-74), St. Louis (1975), California (1976-77) and Oakland (1978-80).

Mike and his wife Larissa reside in Melbourne, Fla and the couple has two sons, Michael and Daniel. Mike was born in Santo Domingo, DR.

Sandy Guerrero, 49, enters his 14th season as a coach in the Brewers organization. Prior to joining the Shuckers in 2015, he coached at Double-A Huntsville (2003-08, 2014) and Triple-A Nashville (2009-11).

In addition, he spent two seasons as Hitting Coordinator from 2012-13. Guerrero served as Manager for the Northern Division in the 2007 Southern League All-Star Game after scheduled Manager Don Money pulled out of the contest to coach in the All-Star Futures Game. Before coaching, Guerrero had a 19-year playing career that included stints in the minors with Toronto and Milwaukee. He also played professionally in Mexico, Taiwan and the independent Northern League.

The former infielder played in the Brewers' farm system with Class-A Stockton (1986-88), Double-A El Paso (1989-90) and Triple-A Denver (1991-92). In 1998, Guerrero won a league championship in Taiwan, claiming the batting title with a .361 batting average.

Sandy and his wife, Jessica, reside in Huntsville, Alabama.

Chris Hook, 46, is in his ninth season in the Brewers organization. He served as Pitching Coach at Double-A Huntsville the three seasons prior to joining Biloxi in 2015. Hook originally joined the organization as pitching coach at Huntsville in 2008, and spent three seasons in the same role with Class-A Wisconsin from 2009-11 before returning to Huntsville (2012-14).

In 2015, he served as a pitching coach for the U.S. squad during the All-Star Futures Game in his hometown of Cincinnati. In 2014, he served as Pitching Coach with the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League.

Prior to joining the Brewers, Hook was the Pitching coach for the Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League from 2003-07. He also spent three seasons as the pitching coach for Northern Kentucky University from 2000-02.

Hook was a pitcher for 11 professional seasons (1989-99), including two years in the Major Leagues with San Francisco from 1995-96. He went 5-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 55 career Major League games. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Cincinnati in 1989, he also pitched in the minor leagues with San Diego, San Francisco, California and Houston. He finished his playing career in the independent Atlantic League.

Since 2001, Hook has owned and operated a baseball training center based in Florence, Kentucky, where he resides along with his wife, Toni, and their two sons, Christian and Brennan.

New Biloxi Shuckers Manager Mike Guerrero

New Biloxi Shuckers Manager Mike Guerrero with the Milwaukee Brewers (Scott Paulus)

Southern League Stories from January 13, 2016

• Join the Most Fun Team in Town - Chattanooga Lookouts
• Shuckers Announce 2016 Coaching Staff, Mike Guerrero Named Manager - Biloxi Shuckers

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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