It’s official: 51s hire Shoemaker

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 10:13 a.m.

Las Vegas 51s general manager Don Logan confirmed Wednesday that John Shoemaker had agreed to manage the 51s, the Dodgers' Class AAA affiliate.

Bill Bavasi, the director of player development for the Dodgers, had been interviewing at least one other undisclosed candidate through Wednesday. Shoemaker accepted the offer at the end of the business day.

Shoemaker, an infielder out of Miami (Ohio) University, was picked by the Dodgers in the 35th round of the 1977 draft. As manager of the team's Class AA squad in Jacksonville, Fla., he was named the Southern League's manager of the year in 2001.

He replaces Brad Mills, who left the 51s to become the bench coach for the Montreal Expos.

The 51s must now hire a hitting instructor, with the popular Ron Jackson having recently taken the same job for the Boston Red Sox.

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