Matt Nokes

Pitching Coach

Bio: Matt Nokes returns to the professional coaching ranks this season, lured back into the dugout by his former manager, Marty Scott. Nokes learned to handle pitchers during his 11-year major league career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies. His best year in the big leagues came in 1987 with the Tigers, when he hit 32 home runs, won the American League Silver Slugger award for catchers and finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. After his big-league career ended, Matt signed with the St. Paul Saints in 1998 and played under Scott for two seasons. In 2001, he was named as a player/coach for the Schaumburg Flyers, and went on to hit .354 and make the Northern League postseason All-Star team. He became the manager of the expansion Joliet JackHammers in 2002, guiding them to a 93-86 record over two seasons, including a 53-38 mark and a second-half division title in ’02. Nokes, an avid aviator in his spare time, makes his home in San Diego, California in the offseason.