In a season of turmoil, the Seattle Mariners replaced the controversial Jose Moreno and looked internally to the 25 year old Luis Boyd to restore order. Boyd came to Everett in July and got them righting a ship that was close to sinking. He led the Aqua Sox to a 19-19 record over the final 38 games of the 2019 season.
“I was ecstatic,” Boyd recalled about learning he was returning to manage the Aqua Sox. “That was a place where I really wanted to be. I really enjoyed my time. From the players there, the facilities, the front office and especially the fans and getting to know everyone there, it’s just an environment I got really comfortable in and it’s such a great league to be a part of and I can’t wait to be a part of it again.”
The former Arizona Wildcat found his way through the Mariners minor league system, topping out at single A Modesto. While he saw little playing time, Boyd had an innate ability for teaching and coached up his teammates. This talent saw him get a coaching job in 2019 at Modesto and the eventual call up by Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto to coach at Everett.
The Vancouver, CA native will be bringing back pitching coach Ari Ronick and the 1st female athletic trainer in the Mariners system, Amanda Lee. Performance specialist Brennan Mickelson will also return to help keep continuity in the Aqua Sox system.
Boyd will report to Mariners’ spring training in early February, where he’ll assist with coaching the various minor-league camps throughout Seattle’s system before spearheading extended spring training with the Mariners’ Arizona Rookie League manager, Zac Livingston. Newcomer Michael Fransosos comes over from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system to join as hitting coach.
photo credit: Kevin Clark, Everett Herald
