(Sugar Land, Texas, Feb. 7, 2017) - The Sugar Land Skeeters announced they have re-signed manager Gary Gaetti to a one-year contract extension through the 2017 season. Gaetti, the only manager in franchise history, was hired as the club’s inaugural manager in 2011 and will be starting his sixth year as manager of the Skeeters in 2017.
Gaetti and the Skeeters recently captured their first Atlantic League Championship title in 2016, sweeping the York Revolution in the Freedom Division Series and then taking three straight over the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Skeeters became the first team to go 6-0 in the playoffs and ended the 2016 campaign with 10 straight wins. Under his leadership the team has reached the league playoffs in three of five seasons, including two Championship Series appearances (2014, 2016).
Gaetti in his five years as manager has compiled a 381-318 (.545) regular season record. The 2013 campaign was a record-breaking year compiling a 95-45 overall record and he was named the Atlantic League Manager of the Year in just his second season as manager.
A veteran of 20 major league seasons as a player with the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, the Illinois native was a two-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award Winner, 1995 Silver Slugger Award winner and the 1987 ALCS MVP with the Twins and would go on to help them win the 1987 World Series. Gaetti posted a .255 career batting average in 2,507 games with 2,280 hits, 360 HR and 1,341 RBI in 20 major league seasons.
After his playing career, Gaetti began coaching in 2002 as a member of the minor league New Orleans Zephyrs’ Triple-A staff. In 2004 he was appointed hitting coach for the Houston Astros where he helped the club to an NLCS championship in 2005 and their first ever World Series appearance. Gaetti held the same position with Tampa Bay’s AAA affiliate, the Durham Bulls, during the 2007-2008 (managed the last few weeks) seasons before being named the first manager of the Sugar Land Skeeters in 2011. Gary was recently inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame on February 2, 2017 and in 2007 was named to the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.
About the Sugar Land Skeeters
The Skeeters play at Constellation Field, a state-of-the-art stadium located at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land. The Skeeters play 140 regular season games in the Atlantic League, which offers an open classification of play, the highest level of professional baseball other than Major League Baseball.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 36 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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