Four NJCAA Alumni Coaching in the 2023 MLB World Series
Charlotte, NC - The 2023 Major League Baseball Playoffs have been underway during the month of October. Four former NJCAA Baseball student-athletes will be coaching for either the Arizona Diamondbacks or Texas Rangers in the World Series.
Former Lee (TX) catcher Jeff Banister has had quite the journey in baseball. Banister started playing baseball at La Marque High School in Texas where he developed bone cancer during his sophomore year and went through multiple surgeries to save his left leg. Jeff then continued his baseball career at Lee College for two years. During his freshman year he suffered a collision at home plate that left him paralyzed for ten days due to three broken vertebrae in his neck. After going through rehab, he was able to play the following season and was selected as a 1986 NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America. Banister then received a scholarship to play at Houston but was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and started his professional career instead. Jeff played in minor league baseball from 1986 to 1993 and after his playing career ended, he started his coaching career, becoming manager of the Pirates' minor league affiliates from 1994 through 1998. He then became the field coordinator until 2010. The Pirates then hired Banister as their bench coach which he served until 2014. The Texas Rangers then hired Jeff to be the 25th manager in team history, where he won the 2015 American League Manager of the Year award. Banister was manager for the Rangers until 2018 and finished with a career record of 325 wins and 313 losses. In 2021, Jeff Banister was hired as the Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach, a role in which he currently still serves.
St. Petersburg (FL) alumni Bobby Wilson is playing a role with the Texas Rangers' catchers as the catching coordinator. Wilson attended St. Petersburg where he was named a 2003 NJCAA Second Team All-America member and was then selected by the Los Angles Angels in the MLB Draft. Wilson played at the Major League level for 11 seasons from 2008 to 2019. After his playing career Bobby was hired by the Rangers to serve as the Manager of their Minor League Baseball organization of the Frisco RoughRiders in 2019. In 2020 Wilso was named the catching coordinator for the Texas Rangers.
Longtime Texas Rangers assistant Tony Beasley's baseball roots trace back to the NJCAA. Beasley played at Louisburg (NC) under legendary coach Russ Frazier. After graduating in 1986 Tony continued his collegiate career at Liberty University where he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1989 draft. Beasley spent nine seasons in the Orioles and Pirates minor league system. After his playing career, Beasley began coaching in 2001 where he managed multiple minor league teams. Tony was hired by the Washington Nationals as the third base coach in 2006. Tony then spent the next five seasons as a minor league coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Beasley then returned back to the Nationals to work as a manager in their minor league system until 2015. The Texas Rangers then hired Tony to be the third base coach and was named as interim manager of the club in August 2022 and returned to his role as third base coach in 2023.
Former Eastern Florida State catcher Bruce Bochy looks to secure his fourth World Series title as a manager. Bochy played for Eastern Florida State for two years, winning a state title and being named 1975 NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America. Bruce then committed to play for South Alabama but decided to turn professional when the Houston Astros selected him in the 1975 Supplemental Draft. Bochy played professionally from 1975 until 1988. After retiring from playing, Bruce started his managing career in 1989 where he managed minor league teams until 1992. In 1993 the San Diego Padres hired Bochy as their third base coach a role he served until 1995 when the Padres named him manager. In 1996 Bochy was named National League Manager of the Year. Bruce managed the Padres until 2007 when he was hired by the San Francisco Giants in which he won three world series titles (2010, 2012, and 2014) with the team and decided to retire after the 2019 season. In 2023, Bochy came out of retirement to become the manager of the Texas Rangers in which he is currently the active leader in manager wins and currently tenth all-time in wins at 2,093. Eastern Florida State honors Bruce Bochy by having their baseball field named after him. Bochy is the tenth manager to have won three World Series rings and the third manager to lead three different franchises to the MLB World Series.
