Former Indians Outfielder Coco Crisp Receives New Managerial Job

 

The Cleveland Indians lost a minor league affiliate in 2021.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers were a Single-A affiliate of the Indians from 1999-2020.

Then came the canceled 2020 season and MLB used that as an opportunity to eliminate organizations across the country.

Luckily, the Scrappers were able to stay in business as part of MLB’s new Draft League.

This new league will feature top MLB Draft prospects.

We are talking about the Scrappers today because former Indians outfielder Coco Crisp was recently announced as the team’s new manager.

🗣️MANAGER ALERT📢
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We are excited to announce Coco Crisp as our manager for the 2021 season!
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READ HERE➡️https://t.co/SdfzY2zCHw
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BUY🎟️: https://t.co/aa27a7FoUZ pic.twitter.com/oDBRre0HrK

— Mahoning Valley Scrappers (@mvscrappers) April 12, 2021

This is great news for the 41-year-old as he returns to Northeast Ohio.

 

Coco Crisp’s Cleveland Career

Crisp became a fan favorite right away after making his Indians debut in 2002.

He spent four seasons with the team before being sent to Boston in a trade headlined by Andy Marte.

There is a blast from the past for you.

The trade worked out great for Crisp as he became a World Series champion in 2007.

It took all the way until 2016 for fans in Cleveland to see Crisp in an Indians uniform once again.

He came back at the perfect time.

Crisp had two key home runs in the 2016 postseason and also had four hits in the World Series.

Unfortunately, the Indians fell short and that was Crisp’s last season in the majors.

 

Coco Crisp’s Life After Retirement

The personable outfielder has spent time coaching and also served as an analyst with the Oakland A’s radio team.

Now he gets a great opportunity to work with top MLB prospects and be around scouts on a regular basis.

While the players will be in focus, plenty of people will have their eye on Crisp’s managerial skills as well.

He is still young enough to where he can easily end up having a long career managing at the MLB level if he does well in this new role and wants to keep moving up the ladder.

Or, he may just want to take it day-by-day and see how it goes.

 

New Identity for the Scrappers

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Managers Announced

A diverse and experienced group of former players, coaches and instructors will manage the six founding teams in the inaugural #MLBDraftLeague

🔗 https://t.co/lgIAOqNPLz | @GoldenSombrero pic.twitter.com/VPu8NlubSn

— MLB Draft League (@mlbdraftleague) April 12, 2021

MLB eliminating minor league affiliations around the country was tough to see.

Certain organizations returning in new roles is a nice consolation and it is great to see Scrappers baseball returning in Northeast Ohio.

They may no longer be true Indians affiliates, but being managed by Crisp keeps that connection alive.

The new season begins in late May and will run through the middle of August.