Mike Shildt

Mike Shildt is an American baseball coach and manager and, as of 2012, the manager of the Springfield Cardinals minor league baseball team, the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. His boss Mark DeJohn, the head field coordinator of the Cardinals Minor League system compared Shildt to former Cardinals executive and King of Baseball recipient George Kissell.[1]

Early career

Shildt played college baseball for University of North Carolina (UNC) Asheville Bulldogs.[2] After his playing career ended as he "couldn't hit a curve ball", Scildt became a coach at West Charlotte High School,[3] his high-school alma mater.[2] After leaving the high school, Shildt was hired by the UNC Charlotte to become an assistant coach for the UNC Charlotte 49ers baseball team.[2][3] He held the position for five years.[2] During the off-season he owned a baseball training facility in North Carolina, becoming a full-time baseball instructor to area youths.[2]

St. Louis Cardinals system

Shildt started his Major League Baseball career as an associate scout with the league for three seasons.[2] He moved on to the Cardinals organization, working as the area scout for North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.[2] On a recommendation from future Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, Shildt began his minor league coaching career as a part-time coach. Shildt was sent to the Cardinals' Single-A affiliate in the New York–Penn League. He was a part-time coach during 2004 and 2005, while continuing his scouting duties.[2] He was promoted to a full-time coaching position in 2006, and kept coaching with the single A affiliate until the 2007 season.[2] In 2008, Shildt coordinated the Cardinals' minor league spring training workout camp.[4] Afterwards he became the hitting coach for the Johnson City Cardinals for the 2008 season.[4]

Shildt was promoted to manage Johnson City in 2009, where he finished with a 37–30 record.[5] In his second season, Johnson City posted a 42–24 win-loss record, and after defeating its two playoff opponents, won the Appalachian League championship.[1] For his effort, Shildt was named St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Manager of the Year by Scout.com.[1] He was also named the Appalachian League Manager of the Year.[1] Among the players he helped improve during the season include Appalachian League's Pitcher of the Year Ryan Copeland, and batting average champion Phil Cerreto.[1] After Johnson City's season ended, Shildt was invited to spend some time on the St. Louis Cardinals roster in order to gain experience.[1] After the season, Shildt was awarded the Appalachian League Manager of the Year award, and the George Kissell Award for his "excellence in player development" by the St. Louis Cardinals organization.[6]

Johnson City repeated as league champions in 2011 under Shildt.[7] It was the first time that Johnson City clinched two consecutive league championships since 1975–1976.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Walton, Brian (5 November 2010). "The Cardinal Nation minor league Manager of the Year". Cardinalnation.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Walton, Brian (21 August 2007). "Who is Mike Shildt & Why StL Fans Should Care". Scout.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 "FOCUS ON". Charlotte Observer. 1 August 1996. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 Kerrick, Shawn (17 June 2008). "Johnson City Cardinals 2008 Preseason Report". TheCardinalNation.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "2009 Johnson City Cardinals season". Baseball Reference. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Walton, Brian (13 March 2011). "Mike Shildt Wins Cards George' Kissell Award". Cardinalnation.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  7. 1 2 Avento, Joe. "Cards keep winning big under Shildt". timesnews.net. Kingsport Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
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