Two familiar faces will sit in opposite dugouts, returning to Miami to manage the World Team and U.S. Team, respectively, during the Sirius XM Futures All-Star Game on July 9 at Marlins Park. Edgar Renteria and Charles Johnson, members of the 1997 World Series champion Miami Marlins have been honored as managers for the game.
According to Oliver Macklin of MLB.com, a Florida native, Johnson batted .245 with 167 home runs and 570 RBIs over his 12-year Major League career. He was a two-time National League All-Star with the Marlins (1997, 2001) and hit .357 with one home run, three RBIs and four runs scored in seven games during the ’97 World Series. Johnson’s 582 games caught in a Marlins uniform are the most in franchise history.
Per the report on MLB.com, Johnson, drafted as a catcher by the Marlins in 1992, will manage the U.S. Team with the help of former Marlins stars Cliff Floyd (hitting coach) and Al Leiter (pitching coach) as well as former Marlins manager Jerry Manuel (bench coach).
Renteria, who signed with the Marlins as a free agent in 1992, will be joined by former Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo (bench coach) to lead the World Team. The remainder of the coaching staffs, in addition to rosters and umpires for the 19th annual Futures Game, are scheduled to be announced in the next few weeks.
Renteria was a five-time All-Star also played a major role in helping the 2010 Giants win their first Fall Classic since the franchise moved to San Francisco in 1958, winning the World Series MVP Award for the Giants’ five-game victory over the Rangers.
It is only fitting that since the Mid-Summer Classic is being played in South Florida that two members of the organization’s first World Series Title create a little history once again. The 1997 Miami Marlins team was honored at the beginning of this season for the 20th year since the ball club brought a world championship to the city of Miami.