Duane Espy

From BR Bullpen

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Duane Grant Espy

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Duane Espy was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 7th round of the 1970 amateur draft and played in the minor leagues for eight seasons (1971-1978).

After his playing career ended, he managed in the minors for the Brewers from 1979 to 1982.

Joining the San Francisco Giants, he managed the Shreveport Captains (1983-1985) and coached the Phoenix Firebirds (1986-1987). Espy managed in the Giants' farm system from 1988 to 1991, and was the team's minor league hitting coordinator in 1992. He was later a coach at Phoenix again before leaving the organization.

From 2000 to 2002, he was the San Diego Padres hitting coach, and from 2003 to 2006, Espy held the same job for the Colorado Rockies. In 2007, Espy was a coach for the Casper Rockies and in 2008-2010 he moved up to the Modesto Nuts. In 2013 the Rockies added a "development supervisor" position for each of its minor league affiliates. Espy was tabbed for the Tulsa Drillers in that role. In 2015, he was named the organization's minor league hitting instructor. In 2017, he began a second stint as hitting coach of the Rockies, but was let go after the 2018, when the Rockies posted the lowest batting average in franchise history - but still managed to make the postseason for the second straight year.

Espy's son, Dean Espy, was on the UCLA squad that went to the 2010 College World Series.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1979 Burlington Bees Midwest League 53-83 8th Milwaukee Brewers
1980 Burlington Bees Midwest League 70-72 5th Milwaukee Brewers Lost in 1st round
1981 Stockton Ports California League 68-71 4th Milwaukee Brewers Lost in 1st round
1982 Stockton Ports California League 81-57 2nd Milwaukee Brewers
1983 Shreveport Captains Texas League 72-64 2nd San Francisco Giants
1984 Shreveport Captains Texas League 59-77 7th San Francisco Giants
1985 Shreveport Captains Texas League 72-64 3rd San Francisco Giants
1988 San Jose Giants California League 91-52 2nd San Francisco Giants Lost in 1st round
1989 San Jose Giants California League 81-61 4th San Francisco Giants Lost in 1st round
1990 Phoenix Firebirds Pacific Coast League 63-76 8th San Francisco Giants
1991 Phoenix Firebirds Pacific Coast League 68-70 7th San Francisco Giants
2000 Las Vegas Stars Pacific Coast League 30-20 -- San Diego Padres replaced by Tony Franklin on May 30
2011 Tulsa Drillers Texas League 68-72 5th Colorado Rockies
2012 Tulsa Drillers Texas League 75-64 4th Colorado Rockies Lost in 1st round

Related Sites[edit]