Dodgers Hire Former Manager of the Year to Lead Double-A Affiliate in Major Move
There is a new leader in the Tulsa Drillers clubhouse. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Eric Wedge as new manager of their Double-A affiliate.
Wedge is a 10-year major league veteran manager and 2007 American League Manager of the Year when he was with the Cleveland Indians. He is the team’s first new manager in seven years and is taking over for Scott Hennessey as the Dodgers previously announced him as the new manager for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“I am thrilled that the Los Angeles Dodgers organization has trusted me with the opportunity to manage the Tulsa Drillers for the 2025 baseball season,” said Wedge. “The Tulsa fan base and ONEOK Field have great reputations as being among the best in professional baseball, and I look forward to helping lead our team and ballplayers to an exciting and successful season this year.”
Wedge stands out as one of the most accomplished managers in Tulsa baseball history.
His managerial career spans 10 seasons in the majors, including seven years with Cleveland from 2003 to 2009 and three with the Seattle Mariners from 2011 to 2013. During that span, he amassed 774 wins at the major league level.
“We are excited to have someone with Eric’s experience as our new manager,” said Drillers President Mike Melega. “We were fortunate to have Henny as our manager for most of seven seasons, and now we welcome Eric who comes to Tulsa equipped with ten years of MLB managerial experience. It shows the commitment that the Dodgers have to player development, and the Drillers organization is a beneficiary of that commitment.”
Wedge began his managerial career in 1998 with Cleveland’s Single-A affiliate, spending five seasons in the minors and earning three Manager of the Year awards during that time. His success in the minors paved the way for his promotion to Cleveland’s major league manager role ahead of the 2003 MLB season.
More news: Former GM Praises Dodgers Front Office as ‘Platinum Standard’ of MLB
Over seven seasons with Cleveland, Wedge compiled a 561-573 (.495) record. His most notable year came in 2007, when he led the team to a 96-66 regular-season record and an American League Central Division title. That performance earned him the AL Manager of the Year award.
Wedge’s playing career included standout years at Wichita State, where he earned All-American honors as a catcher and helped lead the Shockers to two College World Series appearances, highlighted by a national championship win in 1989.
After his playing days, he transitioned into broadcasting, working as a baseball analyst for ESPN from 2014 to 2015.
In 2020, Wedge returned to his alma mater as head coach, where he led the Shockers to a 65-61 (.515) record over three seasons from 2020 to 2022.
More news: Dodgers Shopping Veterans, Including $4.5M Reliever, As LA Looks to Make Trades
Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and more!
