The Seattle Mariners announced the organization’s minor-league coaching staffs on Tuesday and Louis Boyd is returning as manager of the Everett AquaSox for the 2020 Northwest League baseball season.
“I was ecstatic,” Boyd recalled about learning he was returning to manage the AquaSox. “That was a place where I really wanted to be. I really enjoyed my time. From the players there, the facilities, the front office and especially the fans and getting to know everyone there, it’s just an environment I got really comfortable in and it’s such a great league to be a part of and I can’t wait to be a part of it again.”
The AquaSox are a Short season-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
Boyd took over as Everett’s manager in July of last season when the AquaSox and manager Jose Moreno agreed to part ways. Boyd was 25 years old at the time and just two years removed from playing in Everett, making him one of the youngest managers in all of professional baseball. He led the AquaSox to a 19-19 record over the final 38 games of the 2019 season.
“I think it will be great to let him have a full season, as he kind of got thrown right into the fire last year,” AquaSox general manager Danny Tetzlaff said. “I liked the way he managed. He reminded me of someone that had been doing it for a long time, and it was just his first shot. I’m sure he learned some stuff in his brief tenure and it’s exciting that he’s coming back.”
Like Tetzlaff, Boyd is eager for a full season at the helm in a managerial role.
“I think that’s going to be amazing and I think that’s going to help me provide an even stronger impact for our players’ careers,” Boyd said, “whether it’s a player from extended spring training that I get to spend a couple of good months with putting in work before the season starts or a new draft guy that I get to see their face on day one. I’m excited to have the extended period of time that I have this year and now that I got my feet wet, I can take the next step in development for everybody.”
Boyd will report to Mariners’ spring training in early February, where he’ll assist with coaching the various minor-league camps throughout Seattle’s system before spearheading extended spring training with the Mariners’ Arizona Rookie League manager, Zac Livingston.
The Mariners also announced that Ari Ronick will return as Everett’s pitching coach, and Michael Fransoso, who spent three seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system (2013-2015), will join Boyd’s staff as the hitting coach.
Also, Amanda Lee, the first female athletic trainer in the Mariners’ organization, will return to Everett in 2020, as will performance specialist Brennan Mickelson.
The AquaSox open their 2020 season June 17 at Salem-Keizer. Their home opener is June 22 against Vancouver.
Josh Horton covers the AquaSox for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter, @JoshHortonEDH
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