Brian Harper

Brian David Harper

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
• High School San Pedro High School
• Debut September 29, 1979
• Final Game April 29, 1995
• Born October 16, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Brian Harper was a catcher in the 1980s and early 1990s and a member of the Minnesota Twins World Series-winning team in 1991. He started out with the California Angels in 1979 then bounced around between the majors and AAA and from organization to organization for almost a decade before finding a home as the Twins' starting catcher. He was a line drive hitter with limited power and questionable defense, but his ability to hit for average kept him in the line-up for a number of years in spite of his late start.

Harper was the head coach of Scottsdale Christian High School from 1996-1998 and the Arizona Diamondbacks' chapel leader in 1998-1999. In 2000, he was an assistant at Desert Mountain High School. Also that year, he played one final professional game, with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers. As the starting catcher that day, he went 0-4 while striking out and grounding into a double play.

After managing the AZL Angels from 2001 to 2005, Harper moved up to manager of the Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League. Harper was the roving Minor League catching instructor for the San Francisco Giants in 2008 and 2009. Returning to the dugout, he became the manager of the San Jose Giants in 2010, leading them to the California League championship in his first season. After two seasons managing in the Chicago Cubs chain he moved to coach of the Iowa Cubs in 2013-2016. He then moved to the Detroit Tigers' chain as hitting coach of the Toledo Mud Hens in 2017-2018 and Erie SeaWolves in 2019.

Harper's brother Glenn Harper was an OF/P in the New York Mets chain, and his son Brett Harper is a 1B/3B in the Blue Jays system.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1991

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
2001	AZL Angels	Arizona League	22-34	7th	Anaheim Angels
2002	AZL Angels	Arizona League	28-28	4th	Anaheim Angels
2003	AZL Angels	Arizona League	20-29	7th	Anaheim Angels
2004	AZL Angels	Arizona League	12-43	9th	Anaheim Angels
2005	AZL Angels	Arizona League	25-31	7th	Los Angeles Angels
2006	Salt Lake Bees	Pacific Coast League	81-63	3rd	Los Angeles Angels	Lost in 1st round
2007	Salt Lake Bees	Pacific Coast League	74-69	7th	Los Angeles Angels	Lost in 1st round
2010	San Jose Giants	California League	76-64	3rd	San Francisco Giants	League Champs
2011	Tennessee Smokies	Southern League	83-57	2nd	Chicago Cubs	Lost League Finals
2012	Daytona Cubs	Florida State League	59-74	10th	Chicago Cubs