The Chattanooga Lookouts and the Cincinnati Reds have turned back the clock with another baseball partnership, and the Class AA Lookouts will be managed this summer by someone who has led them before.
Pat Kelly, who guided the Lookouts during the 1993 and '94 seasons - when Engel Stadium was their home and when Michael Jordan visited as an outfielder with the Birmingham Barons - has been tabbed Chattanooga's manager for 2019. Kelly worked last summer as Cincinnati's manager at Triple-A Louisville after spending the 2015-17 seasons managing the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to three consecutive Southern League playoff appearances.
Chattanooga and Pensacola shared the 2017 Southern League championship after the title series was scrapped due to concerns about Hurricane Irma.
Pat Kelly"I didn't think I was that old, but I obviously am," a laughing Kelly said Wednesday afternoon. "I am really excited. First of all, I think Double-A is the best level to manage, and I think the Southern League is a tremendous test for young players.
"I also have fond memories of Chattanooga, so everything was perfect."
Kelly will be joined by pitching coach Danny Darwin, hitting coach Daryle Ward and bench coach Darren Bragg. Darwin spent the past three years as Pensacola's pitching coach, and he also returns to Chattanooga after serving as pitching coach in 2010, when the Lookouts were affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Darwin pitched in the majors from 1978 to '98, compiling a 171-182 record and a 3.84 ERA. During the 1990 season with the Houston Astros, he led the National League in ERA at 2.21.
"When your pitching coach has a nickname of 'Dr. Death,' you know you're in a pretty good position," Kelly said. "Danny brings a lot of experience."
Ward played 11 seasons in the majors (1998-2008), including a 20-game stint with the Atlanta Braves in 2006, and was a .263 career hitter with 90 home runs and 379 RBIs. He worked last season as the hitting coach of the Single-A Dayton (Ohio) Dragons.
Bragg was the bench coach last season at Louisville and is entering his 13th year in the Reds organization. He was a career .255 hitter in 11 big league seasons (1994-2004), tallying 46 homers and 260 RBIs.
"I like the fact that Darren was a grinder when he played," Kelly said. "He was never a guy who was handed a job. He always had to make a club, and those guys make great coaches.
"Daryle Ward is the youngster of the bunch, because he just stopped playing a few years ago, but the players love him."
The Reds also announced Wednesday that Tyler Moos would be Chattanooga's athletic trainer and that Joseph Miranda would be the strength and conditioning coach.
Chattanooga opens its 2019 season April 4 against the Montgomery Biscuits at AT&T Field.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.