money Blue Wahoos baseball: Kevin Randel happily returns as Pensacola Blue Wahoos manager
The time spent in the visitors’ dugout gave Kevin Randel some past perspective on the experience at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
His 2021 season as Blue Wahoos manager, however, part of the team’s new affiliation with the Miami Marlins, provided a more definite picture.
“Being a manager on the opposing team, you come in for a weekend series and you just see it’s a good crowd,” he said.“ But this was Monday through Sunday (during homestands). And it was special to have so many great fans who supported us all season long. I’m really looking forward to seeing that again.”
That opportunity became official Thursday when the Marlins announced the 40-year-old Randel will return as Blue Wahoos manager in the Double-A South division. The Marlins announced all of their minor league affiliate managers Thursday.
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Randel will be part of the Blue Wahoos’ first “Fish Fest” on Saturday for fans from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. where he join with Pensacola Catholic grad Jordan McCants, the Marlins third-round pick in 2021, along with Blue Wahoos returning pitcher Jeff Lindgren, to visit with fans and sign autographs in the free event.
In Randel’s case, he has distinction of spending his entire professional career with the same organization.
The California native, who now lives in Carolina Beach, N.C., was drafted by the Marlins in 2002 from Long Beach State. He spent eight seasons climbing the various levels as an infielder, reaching Triple-A in 2008, before beginning his coaching career with the Marlins organization.
He managed the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2019, facing the Blue Wahoos numerous times and also had prior stop with Jacksonville as assistant coach. This will be his third consecutive season as Double-A level manager.
“I’m honored to be back with the Marlins and be back in Pensacola,” said Randel, who led the Blue Wahoos to a winning record (57-54) in a shortened 2021 season that didn’t begin until early May due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“I think it’s going to be an exciting year with the players we’ve got,” he said. “It will be good to talk to people again and be back in a baseball mode. Pensacola is great. Right now, we’re just searching for a place to stay.”
Housing is something everyone new to the area can relate. But once that is settled, Randel will focus on trying to continue developing some of the Marlins’ top talent.
A year ago, 11 of Miami’s top 30 prospects as rated by MLB Pipeline.com played for the Blue Wahoos. Three of those players, pitchers Edward Cabrera and Sean Gunther, along with catcher Nick Fortes, wound up earning major league debuts with the Marlins later in the season.
Many of the other players, like outfielders J.J. Bleday and Peyton Burdick, along with pitcher Max Meyer, are expected to begin the season in Triple-A with Jacksonville and carry hopes to reach the Marlins in 2022.
“For a lot of those guys, their path to the big leagues is going to be pretty quick,” Randel said. “One of the surpluses we have in the whole system is the young talent, the impact talent. There is a lot of talent in other organizations, but we have some series impact talent and it showed last year.”
The Fish Fest will occur rain or shine on Saturday. It is free admission. The Blue Wahoos have made contingency plans to hold some of the activities in covered locations if weather is unfavorable.
The Blue Wahoos season-ticket holders will have a special opportunity to sample new food items in the Hancock-Whitney Club level.
Included for the planned activities are a yard-sale of past souvenir items, access and tours of the Blue Wahoos clubhouse, the team store open for shopping and autograph session with the two players and Randel.
“I think it is super special for a guy like McCants… with him being from Pensacola… to come home and see the fans,” Randel said. “And you have a guy like Jeff Lindgren (an Illinois native), who had a spectacular year for us and he’s a guy out there in the cold weather of the Midwest coming here.
“Just to come out to talk baseball and be in the stadium again will be special. The big leagues do it with fan fest events and it’s something that’s just fun to do.”
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Fish Fest
WHO: Pensacola’s Jordan McCants, a third-round Miami Marlins draft selection in 2021, will be joined by pitcher Jeff Lindgren and returning manager Kevin Randel to visit with fans.
WHEN: Saturday (Jan. 15), 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium
ADMISSION: Free.
INFO: www.bluewahoos.com/fishfest.
FOOD-BEVERAGE: Available for purchase.
FACE COVERINGS: Masks must be worn when fans are getting autographs from players/manager. Masks are not required for all other activities during Fish Fest.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Wahoos: Randel returns as Blue Wahoos manager for 2022 season
