James Michael Sarbaugh (born April 25, 1967) is an American baseball coach currently serving as the third base coach for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a former minor league baseball player and minor league manager for the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A farm team of the Guardians. He also served as the third base/infielders coach for the Cleveland Indians/Guardians from 2013 to 2023.
| Mike Sarbaugh | |
|---|---|
 Sarbaugh with the Cleveland Guardians | |
| New York Mets – No. 88 | |
| Shortstop/Coach | |
| Born: April 25, 1967 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
|
Career
editPlaying
editSarbaugh attended Lamar University, where he was an all-conference shortstop, graduating with a degree in kinesiology.
Sarbaugh played six seasons in the minors, beginning with the Helena Brewers in 1989, then was in the Cleveland Indians' system from 1990 to 1994, where he won a Carolina League championship as a member of the 1991 Kinston Indians.
Additionally, he appeared as an extra in the 1994 movie, Major League II (as J Michael Sarbaugh), playing a shortstop for the Pirates.
Coaching
editSarbaugh later became a minor league coach, being named the hitting coach for the Kinston Indians in 1995, where the "K-Tribe" was able to win the Carolina League championship that year. He next moved on to the Columbus RedStixx of the South Atlantic League in 1996 and 1997 then was back to Kinston in 1998 and 1999 and also served as the hitting coach for the Akron Aeros from 2000 to 2003.
In 2004, he was named manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers leading them to a New York–Penn League championship.
The next season, he managed the Lake County Captains.
In 2006, he became skipper of the Kinston Indians and won the league championship making him a Carolina League champion as a player, coach, and manager. His 2006 group was voted the Advanced Class A Team of the Year by both Minor League Baseball and Baseball America. He remained the manager in Kinston for the 2007 season and managed the Carolina League team in the California League/Carolina League All-Star Game held in Stockton, California.
On December 1, 2009, Sarbaugh was named the manager of the Columbus Clippers for the 2010 season.[1] Sarbaugh won both the 2010 and 2011 Triple-A championships as Clippers' manager.
Cleveland Indians/Guardians
editSarbaugh was named the third base coach/infielders coach for the Cleveland Indians in 2013.[2] During the 2020 season, Sarbaugh filled in as Cleveland's bench coach as Sandy Alomar Jr., the bench coach, filled in for manager Terry Francona, who was away from the team due to a medical condition.[3]
On October 31, 2023, the Guardians announced that Sarbaugh would not be returning as a member of the major league coaching staff for the 2024 season.[4]
New York Mets
editIn November 2023, Sarbaugh was hired by the New York Mets to be their third base coach for the 2024 season.[5]
Personal life
editSarbaugh and his wife Nicole live in Shillington, Pennsylvania, with their three children.
References
edit- ^ Sarsbaugh named new Clippers manager[permanent dead link]
- ^ Wolf, Paula (March 24, 2015). "Donegal's Mike Sarbaugh prepares for third season as Cleveland Indians' coach". LNP. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ^ "Francona still not managing Indians due to medical condition - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (October 31, 2023). "Guardians coaches Mike Sarbaugh, Rigo Beltran, replay coordinator Mike Barnett won't be back". Cleveland.com.
- ^ "REPORTS: Mike Sarbaugh To Join New York Mets Coaching Staff". Sports Illustrated. November 23, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
External links
edit
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- The Baseball Cube player profile