The Portland Pickles are close to naming their first manager and are down to five finalists.
Former Oregon Ducks players Mitch Karraker and J.J. Altobelli and new Arizona Wildcats director of baseball operations Ray McIntire are among the remaining candidates to lead the Pickles, the Tribune has learned.
The Pickles are a college summer wood-bat baseball team that will debut in June 2016 as a member of the new Great West League. The Pickles’ 60-game inaugural season will include 30 home games at Walker Stadium, which is undergoing significant improvements. Work began in June on a new grass field at the city-owned facility at Lents Park.
Karraker and Altobelli are administrative assistants for UO coach George Horton. Karraker, from Clovis, Calif., played at Oregon from 2009-11. Altobelli is an assistant coach with the Medford Rogues of the West Coast League, another college summer wood-bat league. He came to Oregon in 2009 out of Irvine, Calif., and spent 2013 in the minor leagues for the St Louis Cardinals, who drafted the infielder in the 18th round.
McIntire, of Winters, Calif., played three years of infield for the Nevada Wolf Pack, finishing in 2013.
Pickles vice-president Grant Wilson says the club conducted a nationwide search for a manager, with three main criteria. “One, his connections with schools and coaches he knows and can get players from — he’s got to have quite a Rolodex,” Wilson says. “Two, the ability to recruit from essentially mid-August into November, as that’s when we’re putting the team together. And three, he’s got to be able to coach the team well during the season and be a valuable part of the community.
“We’re looking for the best freshmen and sophomores who are going to be drafted after their junior year. Most of the players who will be in this league have the goal of playing pro ball. You’ll see some juniors mixed in, guys who have been drafted but haven’t signed, or players who haven’t been drafted but are good guys to have on the team to balance out things and help teach the younger players how it’s done.”
The Pickles also are planning an Oct. 10 Fan Fest at the ballpark. The event is expected to include the unveiling of the team mascot and logos. Season tickets and Pickles gear will be available for purchase.
The Great West League has plans for six teams. Lodi and Chico in California already are on board with Portland, and the other three clubs are likely to be announced this month.
