Julio Vinas named Charlotte Knights manager
Julio Vinas, who led the Class AA Birmingham Barons to a Southern League Championship in 2013, was named manager of the Class AAA Charlotte Knights on Tuesday.
Vinas, 42, replaces Joel Skinner, the all-time winningest manager in Charlotte Knights franchise history. Skinner, who won 285 games with the Knights from 2012 to 2015, will manage the Class A Winston-Salem Dash this season.
Joining Vinas in Charlotte’s dugout are pitching coach Richard Dotson, hitting coach Andy Tomberlin and head athletic trainer Scott Johnson, members of last season’s staff. Newcomers are coach Tim Esmay and Shawn Powell (strength and conditioning). Esmay managed Winston-Salem to a 75-63 record last season.
“I’m very excited and humbled by this opportunity,” Vinas said in a statement. “I want to thank the Chicago White Sox for the opportunity to manage at the next level. I look forward to being a part of the Charlotte Knights and managing in their new ballpark in Charlotte.”
The 2016 season will be the sixth in the Chicago White Sox organization for Vinas, a Miami native. He managed Winston-Salem in 2011, Kannapolis in 2012 and Birmingham the past three seasons. Vinas was rated by Baseball America magazine as the Best Manager Prospect in the Southern League following the 2013 season.
Originally drafted by the White Sox in the 33rd round of the 1991 free-agent draft, Vinas played 11 seasons in the minors with the White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. He compiled a career .264 batting average with 84 home runs and 504 RBIs over 896 games.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming Julio to uptown Charlotte this year,” Knights chief operating officer Dan Rajkowski said. “Julio has had tremendous success as a manager in the organization and we think he is a perfect fit for the Knights.
“We wish Joel Skinner much success in his new role in the organization. Joel did a terrific job developing Knights players over the past four seasons.”
This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Julio Vinas named Charlotte Knights manager."