Veteran attacker Jedd Gyorko was named manager of the West Virginia Black Bears, one of six teams in the newly created MLB Draft League. The draft league, originally launched in November by the Major League Baseball and Prep Baseball Report, has a 68-match scheme this summer, and the rosters of the six clubs will be filled with players eligible for this year’s amateur concept. The draft league is intended as a showcase for these prospects to practice and play in real game environments in front of scouts and judges, as well as to receive ‘educational programming that prepares them for careers as professional athletes’, according to today’s league media statement. .
The longtime minor league coach, Billy Horton, manages the Williamsport Crosscutters, and the other five clubs are run by former MLB players – Coco Crisp (Mahoning Valley Scrappers), Derrick May (Frederick Keys), Jeff Manto (Trenton Thunder), Delwyn Young (State College Spikes), and Gyorko. While these other names have been retired for years and switched to other coaching / management positions, Gyorko has only played 42 games with the Brewers in the 2020 season. Since Gyorko and Crisp (who last played in 2016) are described in the media statement as “just removed from their Major League careers”, it looks like Gyorko may be hanging on after eight MLB seasons.
‘I hope to give these young players experiences and give them knowledge on what the next level will look like and hopefully prepare them for successful careers.“Gyorko said in the press release. ‘I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to gaining management experience, especially in my hometown, where I can spend more time with my family. ”
The news is a bit surprising as Gyorko is only 32 years old and he is going to make a very productive year. Gyorko hit .248 / .333 / .504 last season with nine home games in 135 PA for Milwaukee, while playing positions on both cornerfields. Back on March 7, Anthony Franco of MLBTR Gyorko listed among his top five preferences of the best remaining free agents left on the market, noting that Gyorko has not attracted any public interest from clubs this winter. Gyorko has long been very productive at left-handed pitch, and has added versatile versatility due to his previous experience as a second baseman and shortstop.
It could be that Gyorko has not completely closed the door of his playing career, and may just be taking a season off for (as he noted in his statement) this unique opportunity to manage a team in his hometown. However, if it is for Gyorko, he will call it a career after hitting 245 / .310 / .424 more than 846 games and 2983 record jockeys with the 2013-20 Padres, Cardinals, Dodgers and Brewers.
Gyorko, who was a second-round pick for San Diego in the draft in 2010, finished sixth in the NL Rookie Of The Year votes in his debut season, leading to the Padres signing him in a six-year deal worth more as $ 35.5 million in April. 2014. While the 2014-15 seasons were a struggle for Gyorko, he flourished after a trade to St. Louis. Louis, with a 111 OPS + / 112 wRC + placed and beaten 0.259 / .331 / .463 over 1321 PA with the 2016-18 charts. After struggling in 2019, Gyorko caught up with the Brewers and delivered another productive season, although the Brew Crew denied their $ 4.5 million club option on Gyorko’s services last October.