Matt Walbeck named Rome Braves manager for 2011

The Atlanta Braves announced that Matt Walbeck will manage the organization’s Single-A (Rome Braves) affiliate for the 2011 season.
Walbeck, the 2010 Eastern League Manager of the Year, joins the Rome Braves coaching staff from the Pittsburgh Pirates where he served as the organization’s Double-A manager for the previous two seasons (2009-10). In 2008 he was the third base coach for the Texas Rangers, his only season as a coach at the major league level. From 2004 to 2007, Walbeck spent four seasons as a manager in the Detroit Tigers farm system. In 2007, he was honored by Baseball America as the Minor League Manager of the Year after leading the Erie SeaWolves (AA) to the best overall record in the Eastern League’s Southern Division. In addition, he has twice earned Eastern League Manager of the Year honors (2010 and 2007) and was also named the Midwest League Manager of the Year in 2006.

A former catcher, the 41-year-old played 11 major league seasons (1993-2003) with the Anaheim Angels, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies after being drafted by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 1987 free agent draft.