BELOIT—Billy Gardner Jr. is probably happy to see that, amid a rainy and snowy week, Friday’s weather forecast in Beloit calls for chilly temperatures but sunny skies.
The veteran coach will be in the dugout for the season opener against Cedar Rapids as he returns for his second season as the Sky Carp’s manager.
Gardner Jr. is the son of Billy Gardner Sr., who managed the Minnesota Twins from 1981-85 and was an interim manager for the Kansas City Royals in 1987.
Of course, the younger Gardner has plenty of experience of his own. Gardner Jr. spent the 2021 season as the skipper for Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League. Prior to his time with the Chukars, he spent four years as a AAA manager in the Washington Nationals organization.
Touting 24 years of minor league managing, Gardner Jr. has managed two teams to titles. He won the 1999 South Atlantic League championship with the Augusta Green Jackets and took home the crown with the 2007 Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League.
Gardner led Beloit to a fifth-place finish in the Midwest League West Division with a 56-75 record last season.
Jason Erickson will spend his third year in Beloit and his sixth overall with the Miami Marlins as he returns as the Sky Carp’s pitching coach. Erickson, 37, previously spent five years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and played in their minor league system as a pitcher for three seasons.
Mike Marjama will replace Dan Radison, who had a one-year stint with the Sky Carp, as Beloit’s hitting coach. Marjama, 35, spent the last two seasons as a coach for the Lincoln Potters of the Pacific Empire League. The Roseville, California native graduated from Long Beach State and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 23rd round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in September of 2017 with the Seattle Mariners and spent part of the 2018 season with them as well.
Angel Espada returns for his third season as Beloit’s defense coach. Espada, 48, is going into his sixth coaching season with the Marlins organization and he spent 17 years in professional baseball as a player, scout and coach.
Hiroki Yoshimoto debuts as the team’s athletic trainer after spending four seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
First pitch on Friday is 6:35 p.m while gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Beloit continues its home-opening series with matchups against Cedar Rapids on Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
The team’s roster is expected to be released Tuesday.
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