The Mariners announced via news release within the past hour what had been known since Friday, that Eric Wedge will become their next manager. The ceremonial portion of the process will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday in a news conference at Safeco Field.
Here’s the official release from the Mariners:
Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President &General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that Eric Wedge has been named as the Seattle Mariners new manager. Wedge, who takes over from interim manager Daren Brown, becomes the 15th fulltime skipper in Mariners history.
“Eric brings the energy, passion and leadership that we think is important as we move forward,” Zduriencik said, “and he has a track record of winning at the Major League and minor league levels. Eric has taken clubs to the playoffs and he has twice won 90 games at the Major League level. As a former Manager of the Year he has experience working with both veteran and younger players and as we move ahead we look forward to his contributions.”
Wedge, 42, managed the Cleveland Indians for seven years (2003-2009) compiling a 561-573 (.495) record. Over a five-year span from 2004-2008, Wedge was 428-382 (.528). The Indians advanced to the American League Championship Series in 2007, and Wedge was voted AL Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), The Sporting News, and the Negro League Baseball Museum. He began his career with five seasons as a minor league manager, posting a 391-315 (.554) mark and earning Manager of the Year accolades in three separate seasons.
“I think this is a terrific opportunity and I am excited to be a part of it,” Wedge said. “Seattle is a great city for me and my family. With the fan support, the ballpark, the ownership and management, the Mariners are in a great position to be very successful.”
Wedge took over the Indians big league club in 2003, after five successful seasons as a minor league manager in their system. At just 35 years of age, was the youngest skipper in the Majors when he was hired. The 2003 Indians were 68-94, but despite managing 25 rookies during that campaign, led the team to a 55-56 mark from May 1-Sept. 1 and received votes in the BBWAA Manager of the Year balloting. Indians improved to 80-82 in his second season, and jumped to 93-69 in his third year (2005). Cleveland was not eliminated until the final day of the season in 2005, and had the best mark in the Majors from July 31-end of the season (39-18). Wedge was runner-up in the AL Manager of the Year voting, the third consecutive season he’d received votes in the balloting. After a 78-84 mark in 2006, club rebounded to win 96 games and advance to the AL Championship series where it lost in Game 7 to fall just short of the World Series. The 96 wins were the most in the Majors (tied with Boston). Trades and changes in personnel led to the Indians finishing at .500 in 2008 (81-81), but that team was 44-28 from July 10-end of the season.
Eric managed in the Cleveland Indians Player Development system for five seasons from 1998-2002, compiling a record of 391-315 (.554) over that span. He managed the AAA Buffalo Bisons for two seasons in 2001-02, guiding the Bisons to consecutive appearances in the International League playoffs. In 2001 he piloted the Bisons to a modern-day franchise record 91 wins and was later named International League Manager of the Year and was Baseball America’s Triple-A Manager of the Year. He began his managerial career in 1998 at Class A Columbus of the South Atlantic League. Was the Carolina League Manager of the Year in 1999 after he guided the Class A Kinston Indians to a spot in the California League playoffs. He managed the Akron Aeros to a 75-68 record in 2000 before being promoted to Buffalo.
Wedge spent parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues with Boston (1991, 1992, 1994) and Colorado (1993). He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies from Boston as the 48th pick in the 1992 expansion draft. During his Major League career, he hit .233 (20×86) with 13 runs, 2 doubles, 5 home runs and 12 RBI in 39 games.
Wedge was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 3rd round of the 1989 amateur draft. His playing career included 9 years, spread among four organizations (BOS, COL, DET, PHI), from 1989-1997. During his minor league career, he hit .249 (530×2132) with 298 runs, 114 doubles, 6 triples, 96 home runs and 354 RBI.
Wedge and his wife Kate, have two children: daughter Ava Catherine (4) and son Dalton Cash (2). The Ft. Wayne, IN, native currently resides in Richfield, OH. Wedge was a first-team All-America catcher at Wichita State University where he was a member of the Shockers 1989 National Championship team and was runner-up college player of the year. He was inducted into the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2007
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