Drillers Announce Espy as Manager
The Tulsa Drillers will have a new manager for the 2011 Texas League season. The franchise recently announced that Duane Espy will replace Ron Gideon in the Tulsa dugout.
The 58-year-old veteran has spent the past three seasons as the hitting coach for Colorado’s Class A affiliate in the California League.
Prior to his stint with Modesto, Espy has spent parts of 12 seasons as a manager in the minor leagues, winning over 850 games. He also has experience as a coach in the major leagues, serving four seasons (2004-2006) as the Rockies’ major league hitting coach under former manager Clint Hurdle and two and a half years (2000-2002) as the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres.
Espy will be joined on the Tulsa staff by another newcomer, Dave Schuler. Schuler will replace Bryan Harvey as the team’s pitching coach. The former major league pitcher was the pitching coach for Colorado’s Class A affiliate in Asheville, N. C. last year.
The Drillers and Rockies also announced that hitting coach Dave Hajek, trainer Austin O’Shea and strength coach Al Sandoval will all return to their positions in Tulsa next season.
Updated 02-21-2011
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