NEW YORK -- The MLB Draft League has announced the coaching staffs for its fifth season in 2025. Returning are 10 coaches with two in new roles within their respective organizations. This year's group of managers includes four with previous Major League experience, adding to a list that includes Coco Crisp, Homer Bush, Dmitri Young, Jed Gyorko, David Carpenter, Ryan Hanigan, Jesse Litsch, Joe Oliver, Rene Rivera, Jeff Manto and Jacque Jones.
Frederick Keys
World Series champion, 10-year MLB veteran and former television analyst Preston Wilson will make his coaching debut as the manager for the Frederick Keys. Drafted in 1992 by the New York Mets, Wilson made his debut in 1998 before being traded to the Miami Marlins that season in the Mike Piazza deal. Finishing second in the Rookie of the Year race, he followed up the next season joining the 30-30 club. In 2002, Wilson joined the Colorado Rockies where he led the National League in RBI (141) in 2003 and was named an All-Star. After stints in Washington and Houston, Wilson won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 before retiring in 2009 and working as an analyst for Fox Sports Florida, MLB Network and AT&T Sports Network. More »
Mahoning Valley Scrappers
With a 12-year MLB career on his resume, Quinton McCracken returns to Mahoning Valley for his second consecutive season as manager. A 25th round pick in the 1992 MLB Draft by the Rockies, McCracken was also the Tampa Bay Rays second overall pick in the 1997 expansion draft. In his first season with the Scrappers, the team finished second overall in runs (404), home runs (35), stolen bases (179), team batting average (.258), ERA (4.61) and saves (16). More »
State College Spikes
For the second consecutive season, Tim Battle Jr. will manage in Happy Valley for the Spikes. Beginning his coaching career with State College in 2023 as the hitting coach, Battle guided the team to be the highest scoring in the Draft League last season with 437 total runs and 377 RBI to go along with a league-leading 183 stolen bases. More »
Trenton Thunder
In his first season as the team’s manager, MLB veteran Shawn Chacon returns for his fourth season with the Thunder after spending the previous three as the pitching coach. Spending eight seasons pitching in the majors with the Rockies, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros, Chacon ended his career making an All-Star Game in 2003 with the Rockies. While playing, Chacon even made a stop with the Thunder in 2006 while part of the Yankees organization. More »
West Virginia Black Bears
Joining the Black Bears for his first season in the MLB Draft League, Jon Nunnally is set to manage the 2025 season after previous manager David Carpenter was named the manager of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Before joining West Virginia, Nunnally played in the majors with the Kansas City Royals from 1995 to 2000. Afterwards, he became Cleveland's Major League hitting coach and also worked with Toronto’s Minor League affiliates and Boston’s MiLB teams. He also served as the outfield and base running coordinator for the Angels' farm system and most recently a hitting coach across several Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League teams. More »
Williamsport Crosscutters
Returning to the defending MLB Draft League Champions for his second season is Kenny Thomas as manager after serving as the Crosscutters’ bench and hitting coach last year. Entering this year with more than four decades of coaching and scouting experience, Thomas has made stops in the Tennessee JUCO scene and South Carolina Division II after a decade of scouting for Major League organizations. More »
The MLB Draft League’s fifth season kicks off on Wednesday, June 4, when Trenton takes on Williamsport (7 p.m.), Frederick hosts West Virginia (7 p.m.) and State College travels to Mahoning Valley (7:05 p.m.).
For more information about the MLB Draft League, visit mlbdraftleague.com or follow @mlbdraftleague and @draftleaguedata on X, and @mlbdraftleague on Instagram.
