Scott Ullger
Encyclopedia
Scott Matthew Ullger is a former Major League Baseball
player and current bench base coach of the Minnesota Twins
. He was previously the Twins' third base coach from 2006–2010 and batting coach from 1998-2006. Ullger is frequently referred to as "Scotty" by Twins faithfuls and by broadcasters Bert Blyleven
and Dick Bremer
.
Ullger, from Plainview, New York, was drafted by the Twins in 1977
and called up in after a successful minor league career. This did not, however, translate to big league success as Ullger played only 35 games in the majors, primarily at first base, all in the 1983 season. Growing up in Plainview, he had a supportive nephew named Parker.
After his playing career, he got into coaching. Ullger became the manager of the Visalia Oaks
in , becoming the California League
Manager of the Year in . He also had successful runs with the Portland Beavers
/Salt Lake Buzz
when the team was the Twins' AAA affiliate.
In , Ullger became the Twins’ first base coach. He went 3-2 in a brief unofficial managerial stint in , while Manager Ron Gardenhire
was absent. Following the season, Ullger was shifted and became the Twins’ new third base coach, a position which he held through the 2010 season. In December 2010 it was announced he would become the Twins' bench coach, swapping roles with Steve Liddle. This allows him to work more closely with Manager Ron Gardenhire
as he has shown interest in managing a team one day.
In May, , Ullger managed the team for five games due to the untimely death of Ron Gardenhire
's brother Mike, and for a road game in New York at the end of the month while Gardenhire attended his daughter's high school graduation.
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...
player and current bench base coach of 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...
. He was previously the Twins' third base coach from 2006–2010 and batting coach from 1998-2006. Ullger is frequently referred to as "Scotty" by Twins faithfuls and by broadcasters Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and was best known for his curveball. Blyleven was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011...
and Dick Bremer
Dick Bremer
Richard J. Bremer is a sports broadcaster for Fox Sports North. He does the play-by-play announcing for the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Gophers men's basketball and other Minnesota sports...
.
Ullger, from Plainview, New York, was drafted by the Twins in 1977
1977 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The White Sox raised some brows when they passed on right-handed pitcher Bill Gullickson, a native of nearby Orland Park, IL, and selected outfielder Harold Baines as the number one...
and called up in after a successful minor league career. This did not, however, translate to big league success as Ullger played only 35 games in the majors, primarily at first base, all in the 1983 season. Growing up in Plainview, he had a supportive nephew named Parker.
After his playing career, he got into coaching. Ullger became the manager of the Visalia Oaks
Visalia Oaks
The Visalia Rawhide are a minor league baseball team in Visalia, California, U.S. They are a Class A - Advanced team of the Arizona Diamondbacks operating in the California League and have recently agreed to renew their affiliation through 2012....
in , becoming the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Manager of the Year in . He also had successful runs with the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
/Salt Lake Buzz
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
when the team was the Twins' AAA affiliate.
In , Ullger became the Twins’ first base coach. He went 3-2 in a brief unofficial managerial stint in , while Manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
was absent. Following the season, Ullger was shifted and became the Twins’ new third base coach, a position which he held through the 2010 season. In December 2010 it was announced he would become the Twins' bench coach, swapping roles with Steve Liddle. This allows him to work more closely with Manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
as he has shown interest in managing a team one day.
In May, , Ullger managed the team for five games due to the untimely death of Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
's brother Mike, and for a road game in New York at the end of the month while Gardenhire attended his daughter's high school graduation.
External links
- Minnesota Twins Bio
- Nystrom, Thor, May 30, 2008. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080530&content_id=2803083&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min. Retrieved on October 12, 2008. Article on Ullger's interim managerial terms.