| Dennis Holmberg | |
|---|---|
| Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Manager/Third baseman/Outfielder | |
| Born: (1951-08-02)August 2, 1951 (age 74) Fremont, Nebraska | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
Dennis Nels Holmberg (born August 2, 1951) is an Americanminor league baseball manager for theBluefield Blue Jays, and was aprofessional baseball player for eight seasons in the minor leagues.
Holmberg attendedBrewton-Parker College and was chosen by theMontreal Expos in the 58th round of the 1969 amateur draft, but he declined to sign with them. The next year he was drafted in the 5th round by theMilwaukee Brewers, and he played eight seasons in theirfarm system. He began his professional career with the 1970Newark Co-Pilots, splitting his time betweenthird base and theoutfield. In 1971, he was a part-time third baseman with theDanville Warriors. Holmberg spent the 1972 campaign with theSan Antonio Brewers. In 1973, Dennis split his time between Danville andShreveport.
In 1974 Holmberg was back in Danville. Playing forBurlington in 1975, Holmberg did well at the plate but poorly in the field having thirty-eight errors at third base. In 1976, Holmberg played for Burlington again, and he rounded out his playing career with sixteen games inHolyoke in 1977.
After his playing career ended, he became a longtime member of theToronto Blue Jays organization. Holmberg began his managerial career in the Brewers chain with theNewark Co-Pilots in 1977. He moved to the Blue Jays chain with theMedicine Hat Blue Jays in 1979. He jumped to theKinston Eagles in 1980, then managed theFlorence Blue Jays from 1981 to 1984. In 1986 he returned to Medicine Hat for one year. Holmberg managed theDunedin Blue Jays from 1990 to 1993. In 1994 and 1995, Holmberg was thebullpen coach for theToronto Blue Jays. He returned to Dunedin in 1996 and 1997.
From 2002 to 2010, he managed theAuburn Doubledays of theNew York–Penn League, leading the team to the best record in the league in 2003 and 2004. In 2011, he began managing theBluefield Blue Jays of theAppalachian League. He was named Appalachian League Manager of the Year for 2011.[1] Holmberg was announced as the manager for the fourth consecutive season on June 13, 2014, giving him a total of 36 years with the Blue Jays organization.[2]
Dennis Holmberg has won Minor League Baseball‘s 10th annual Mike Coolbaugh Award.
Holmberg will receive the award at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Sunday, December 10, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The Mike Coolbaugh Award is presented annually to an individual who has shown outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field.
On June 14, 2018, it was announced that Holmberg would be inducted into theFlorida State League Hall of Fame on November 13.[3]