Schaeffer is new Isotopes manager
Warren Schaeffer, who guided the Colorado Rockies’ Class AA farm club in Hartford, Connecticut the past two seasons, is the Albuquerque Isotopes’ new manager.
Schaeffer, 34, will be introduced today during a media luncheon at Isotopes Park.
A Pennsylvania product and a Virginia Tech graduate, Schaeffer played six years in the Rockies organization as an infielder, ending his career in 2012. After his playing days ended, he spent two seasons (2012-13) as the hitting coach for Tri-City in the Northwest League. He managed the Rockies’ Class A farm club in Asheville, N.C. from 2015-17 before being promoted to Hartford.
A graduate of Greensburg (Pa.) Central Catholic, he started all four years at shortstop for Virginia Tech (2004-2007). He was voted a team captain as a senior.
His wife, Callie, was a Virginia Tech softball player.
Schaeffer had a combined record of 344-347 during his five seasons as a manager in the Rockies system. In 2015, Asheville went 72-67 and made the final series of the South Atlantic League playoffs.
He succeeds Glenallen Hill, who managed the Isotopes for five seasons and managed the Rockies’ Class AAA farm club in Colorado Springs before the Isotopes became a Rockies farm club. The ’Topes went 60-80 last year and finished last in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division.
Player development, not the won-lost record, is the most important function of a minor league manager.