(Trenton, NJ) - Your Trenton Thunder, presented by NJM Insurance Group, are proud to announce that manager Jeff Manto will become the latest member of the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday, August 12 before the team’s game against the West Virginia Black Bears. Manto is in his second season as your Thunder manager after guiding them to the inaugural Futures League Championship in 2021.
“It is a true honor to enter the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Manto. “This organization has meant a great deal to me and my family and it’s been a big part of our lives. I look forward to seeing our fans before the game on August 12 because they’ve been so supportive for our team all season long.”
Manto will become the 20th member of the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame since the inaugural class of George Case and Harold “Bus” Saidt was honored in 1994. He becomes the first honoree since former Thunder broadcaster and current Tampa Bay Rays radio announcer Andy Freed was inducted during the 2018 season.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Jeff Manto,” said Thunder President and General Manager Jeff Hurley. “He has been a fixture in our community for years and part of the fabric within the Thunder organization. Working alongside him these past two seasons has been seamless, and he is just the latest Hall of Fame manager that has led our Thunder.”
Manto joins former Thunder managers Ken Macha (2003), DeMarlo Hale (2011), and Tony Franklin (2015) in the Trenton Baseball Hall of Fame. The Bristol, Pennsylvania native guided the Thunder to a first place finish after compiling a 30-18-8 record in 2021, and so far this season, righthanders KC Hunt and Dan Kiritsis have been named Pitchers of the Week.
Manto was the Minor League hitting coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles from 2014 to 2019. Before Baltimore, Manto spent six seasons with the Chicago White Sox. During his first four seasons, he was the Minor League hitting coordinator before being promoted to the big league club as the hitting coach for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. In 2012, Manto helped guide Adam Dunn to the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year Award. He originally got his coaching career started with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2001 and was manager of the Lakewood BlueClaws in 2002. After spending 2003 to 2006 as the Minor League hitting coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Manto was promoted to Major League hitting coach for three seasons. During that time, he helped former Thunder star Freddy Sanchez win the 2006 National League batting title with a .344 average.
His playing career began in 1985 after being drafted out of Temple University by the California Angels in the 14th round. He later made his Major League debut in 1990 with the Cleveland Indians. During his career, he also played for the Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Yankees, and Rockies. He shares two MLB records during his playing career with five home runs in three days and four home runs in four consecutive at bats.
Tickets are still available for Jeff Manto’s Hall of Fame Induction ceremony before the Thunder take on the West Virginia Black Bears on Friday, August 12 at 7:00 PM. It’s also 90s Night at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, and the first 2,000 fans ages 5 and up will receive a Thunder Fanny Pack! For full ticket pricing and information, partnership/sponsorship opportunities, and information about special events at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, please visit trentonthunder.com or call the Thunder Box Office at (609) 394-3300, opt 4.
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The Trenton Thunder have drawn over 10 million fans over 28 years and have won the three major awards that Minor League Baseball teams can win; the Johnson Trophy for the "Nation's Best Franchise", the Larry MacPhail Trophy for Outstanding Club Promotion, and the Bob Frietas Award for Long-Term Success (Given by Baseball America). The team has given back over $7.5 million worth of goods, services, and monetary donations through Trenton Thunder Charities, under the Grand Slam We Care Foundation umbrella. The Thunder can be found online at trentonthunder.com, facebook.com/trentonthunder, twitter.com/trentonthunder, and on youtube.com/AATrentonThunder.
