Drew Saylor is back among the managerial ranks in the minor leagues.
Unlike in years past, however, the 2002 Wadsworth graduate will be doing it for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization instead of the Colorado Rockies.
Drew Saylor
He’ll still be in the high Class A California League, like he was last year as a hitting instructor for the Modesto Nuts, but will be managing the defending champion Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Saylor made the switch after seeing the direction director of player development Gabe Kapler and assistant Nick Francona were taking with the Los Angeles organization.
“I switched organizations because of the energy and excitement that Gabe Kapler had, that Nick Francona had. I felt reinvigorated and am ready to go back to work for another 140 games,” Saylor said. “The passion they have and the optimism they have. The way they inspire and want to be inspired are the things that really drew me to the opportunity.
“Yes, I want to get back to the managing side. That’s not to say that I didn’t like the hitting side. I think I’m ready to make jumps to hitting coordinator or any other type of upper level coordinator or management position in baseball. My quest is to be able to see the games from many different situations. When you get the opportunity to go into a storied franchise like the Dodgers, it excites me.”
Management isn’t anything new for Saylor, 31, who is a Medina County Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Prior to his time in Modesto, the two-time Gazette MVP led the short-season Tri-City Dust Devils, Colorado’s Northwest League affiliate, from 2013 through 2014.
He began his coaching career in college at Cleveland State in 2009 and the University of Akron in 2011.
A 13th-round pick by the Florida Marlins and All-American at Kent State, Saylor was the Division I Player of the Year as a senior for Wadsworth. He still holds career marks for hits (130), runs (126), RBIs (93) and walks (72). He also holds season marks for runs (40), RBIs (43) and walks (26).
Saylor also won a championship as a player for the Frontier League Lake Erie Crushers.
He’ll need that background after taking over for Bill Haselman, who was promoted to Class AAA Oklahoma City after leading Rancho Cucamonga to its first California League title since 1994.
“In minor league baseball, it’s kind of like you’re in junior college or you’re in NCAA men’s basketball,” Saylor said. “Every year has a different dynamic because, especially the successful teams, they have three, four or five guys that leave. You look at the Kentuckys of the world and they almost have a brand new five every year.”
As for taking the next step in a new organization, the fact he’s headed to a league he was part of last season should help smooth things over.
“The California League is a very competitive league,” Saylor said. “It’s 10 teams. A lot of the ballparks present a lot of unique challenges. Rancho is a pretty good left-hand hitters ballpark. Lancaster, which is in our division, is a launching pad. It’s one of the best hitting ballparks in all of baseball. High Desert is the same thing.
“We’ll be on the road playing 15-18 games against these guys. I think having that type of understanding of how difficult it is. That’s something that will help me out.”
Contact Brad Bournival at sports@medina-gazette.com.
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