The Mariners Tuesday named former catcher Dan Wilson the club’s minor league catching coordinator. A member of the club’s Hall of Fame, Wilson will work with catchers at all levels of the organization, beginning during spring training and continuing through the minor league season. He will travel to each of the Mariners affiliates several times during the season.
“We are happy to have Dan, one of our former players, affiliated with us,” said GM Jack Zduriencik. “His on-field experience and passion for the organization makes him a great fit in his new role with us. We are looking forward to Dan’s contributions as he spends hands-on time with our players.”
Wilson, 44, spent 14 seasons catching in the majors, debuting with Cincinnati (1992-93) and spending the bulk of his career with the Mariners (1994-2005). He caught more games (1,281) than any other player in Mariners history and was the starting catcher on every Mariners team to reach the post-season.
Wilson owns the Mariners career record for home runs by a catcher (88, including two inside-the-park homers), and the club’s single-season records for catchers’ RBIs (83, 1996) and home runs (18, 1996).
Wilson was an American League All-Star in 1996, and was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2012.
“I am excited and thankful for this opportunity,” Wilson said. “We have been blessed by the game of baseball and by this incredibly generous community, and I am privileged to join the Mariner family again and help pass along what I’ve learned with a very talented group of young catchers.”
4 Comments
Must be the money………..
Should put old butts in the seats… Fa-la-la…
Wow, another aging goodie-two shoes who will certainly contribute to the safe family atmosphere that is the #2 goal throughout the reach of the franchise– behind $$$$$$$ for the ownership, of course. Danny was a good catcher– back when a team of good players was the norm and the expectation. Totally non-offensive, Danny’s probably not gonna light the fire of excellence al la Buhner and his ilk, but he sure fits the looking back to the future model of this decrepit franchise.
This might be Dan’s way of seeing if he wants to get into managing a team someday without doing a total commitment to the idea. Just testing the waters as it were. And considering how since he left the M’s haven’t developed any solid catching prospects his help is needed. Since he retired probably the best catchers the M’s have had have benn Kenji Johhima and Miguel Olivo. They haven’t developed any from the farm yet despite investing some high draft picks. Maybe that’ll change for Montero and Zunino now.