Joe Vavra
Encyclopedia
Joseph Alan Vavra is a Major League Baseball
hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins
.
where he was a captain and MVP baseball player his senior season. He played collegiate baseball for the University of Wisconsin–Stout from 1978 to 1982. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Technology.
Vavra was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 1982 amateur player draft out of college. He played five years in the Dodger farm system making it to the AAA level in 1986. He never played in the major leagues
this was due to two injuries, the first happened in his last triple A game when a runner was stealing and Vavra picked the throw from the catcher only to have the runners cleat shatter his thumb leaving him to have pins put in. The second and final setback was in the following years spring training when Vavra found out he had desert fever (Coccidioidomycosis
), a disease that eats at your lungs, he finished the year and had to stop playing. Vavra has now been in Major League Baseball for over 20 years and now the hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins.
in Class A, he was named Manager of the Year for 1994 and 1996 for the Northwest League
after winning the Division title in 1994 and the League championship in 1996. Vavra coached for ten years in the minors before moving to the Dodgers major league staff. He served in special assignments and as a roving coach before becoming the permanent bunting and baserunning coach in 2000.
After a brief stint as the head coach of UW–Stout baseball, Vavra joined the Twins staff in 2002. On October 27, 2005, Vavra was named the Twins' hitting coach.
Vavra attended the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium to pitch for Justin Morneau
. Morneau beat Josh Hamilton to win the Home Run Derby.
During Vavra's tenure in Minnesota, the Twins have consistently ranked among the best in the league for both individual and team hitting stats.
His sons Tanner and Treysen play for Madison College Baseball team.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Playing career
Vavra graduated in 1978 from Chippewa Falls High SchoolChippewa Falls High School
Chippewa Falls High School is a public high school located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. It is also referred to as "Chi-Hi". Chi-Hi has been among the top in the state when it comes to academics. The school is also known for its athletics and marching band. The school belongs to the Big Rivers...
where he was a captain and MVP baseball player his senior season. He played collegiate baseball for the University of Wisconsin–Stout from 1978 to 1982. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Technology.
Vavra was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 1982 amateur player draft out of college. He played five years in the Dodger farm system making it to the AAA level in 1986. He never played in the major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
this was due to two injuries, the first happened in his last triple A game when a runner was stealing and Vavra picked the throw from the catcher only to have the runners cleat shatter his thumb leaving him to have pins put in. The second and final setback was in the following years spring training when Vavra found out he had desert fever (Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease caused by Coccidioides immitis or C. posadasii. It is endemic in certain parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and northwestern Mexico.C...
), a disease that eats at your lungs, he finished the year and had to stop playing. Vavra has now been in Major League Baseball for over 20 years and now the hitting coach for the Minnesota Twins.
Coaching career
Beginning in 1987, Vavra coached in the Dodger's minor league system. While at Yakima, WashingtonYakima Bears
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball team in Yakima, Washington. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem...
in Class A, he was named Manager of the Year for 1994 and 1996 for the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
after winning the Division title in 1994 and the League championship in 1996. Vavra coached for ten years in the minors before moving to the Dodgers major league staff. He served in special assignments and as a roving coach before becoming the permanent bunting and baserunning coach in 2000.
After a brief stint as the head coach of UW–Stout baseball, Vavra joined the Twins staff in 2002. On October 27, 2005, Vavra was named the Twins' hitting coach.
Vavra attended the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium to pitch for Justin Morneau
Justin Morneau
Justin Ernest George Morneau is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Minnesota Twins. At 6 feet 4 inches and 225 lbs, Morneau was originally drafted as a catcher by the Twins in 1999. He converted to first base in the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2003...
. Morneau beat Josh Hamilton to win the Home Run Derby.
During Vavra's tenure in Minnesota, the Twins have consistently ranked among the best in the league for both individual and team hitting stats.
Personal
Vavra and his wife Lesa have three sons: Tanner, Treysen and Terrin.His sons Tanner and Treysen play for Madison College Baseball team.