The Tulsa Drillers have a new leader in their clubhouse as the Los Angeles Dodgers have named Eric Wedge as the new manager of their Double-A team. Wedge is a seasoned manager with a decade of experience in the major leagues and was recognized as the American League Manager of the Year in 2007 while with the Cleveland Indians. He is the first new manager for the team in seven years, succeeding Scott Hennessey, who has been appointed the new manager for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“I am excited that the Los Angeles Dodgers organization has given me the opportunity to manage the Tulsa Drillers for the 2025 baseball season,” expressed Wedge. “The fan base in Tulsa and ONEOK Field are well-known for being among the best in professional baseball, and I look forward to leading our team and players toward a thrilling and successful season.”
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 Join us in welcoming former AL Manager of the Year Eric Wedge to Tulsa! He’s #ALLIN for 2025 💪
Full story here ➡️ https://t.co/Qo1HgGrpwx pic.twitter.com/lwJULHCBxd
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) January 22, 2025
Wedge is recognized as one of the most successful managers in the history of Tulsa baseball. His managerial career encompasses ten seasons in the major leagues, including seven years with the Cleveland Indians from 2003 to 2009 and three with the Seattle Mariners from 2011 to 2013, during which he achieved a total of 774 wins at the major league level.
“We are thrilled to welcome someone with Eric’s extensive experience as our new manager,” stated Drillers President Mike Melega. “We were fortunate to have Henny as our manager for nearly seven seasons, and now we embrace Eric, who brings a decade of MLB managerial experience to Tulsa. This reflects the Dodgers’ dedication to player development, and the Drillers organization greatly benefits from that commitment.”
Wedge began his managerial journey in 1998 with Cleveland’s Single-A affiliate, spending five seasons in the minors, where he earned three Manager of the Year awards. His success in the minors led to his promotion to the major league manager position for the Indians before the start of the 2003 MLB season.
During his seven seasons with Cleveland, Wedge recorded a 561-573 (.495) win-loss record. His most remarkable season came in 2007 when he guided the team to a 96-66 regular-season record and a title in the American League Central Division, earning him the AL Manager of the Year award.
Wedge’s playing career was highlighted by his time at Wichita State, where he was recognized as an All-American catcher and contributed to the Shockers’ two College World Series appearances, capped by a national championship victory in 1989.
Following his playing career, he shifted to broadcasting, serving as a baseball analyst for ESPN from 2014 to 2015.
In 2020, Wedge returned to his alma mater as head coach, guiding the Shockers to a 65-61 (.515) record over three seasons from 2020 to 2022.
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