Joe Vavra

Vavra with the Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins – No. 46

Coach

Born: November 16, 1959
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Joseph Alan Vavra (born November 16, 1959 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin) is an American professional baseball coach. A member of the coaching staff of the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball since 2006, Vavra will serve as the Twins' bench coach in 2015. He was the club's third base coach from 2013 to 2014 and hitting instructor from 2006 to 2012.

Playing career

Vavra graduated in 1978 from Chippewa Falls High School where he was a captain and MVP baseball player his senior season. He played collegiate baseball for the University of Wisconsin–Stout from 1978 to 1982. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Technology.

Vavra was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1982 amateur player draft out of college. He played five years in the Dodger farm system making it to the AAA level in 1986. He never played in the major leagues due to two injuries. The first happened in his last triple A game when a runner's cleat shattered his thumb when Vavra attempted to tag the runner. The second and final setback was when Vavra fell ill with Desert Fever (Coccidioidomycosis), a disease that eats at the lungs. Vavra finished the year and had to stop playing. Vavra has now been in Major League Baseball for over 20 years and is an assistant coach for the Minnesota Twins.

Coaching career

Beginning in 1987, Vavra coached in the Dodger's minor league system. While at Yakima, Washington in Class A, he was named Manager of the Year for 1994 and 1996 for the Northwest League after winning the Division title in 1994 and the League championship in 1996. Vavra coached for ten years in the minors before moving to the Dodgers major league staff. He served in special assignments and as a roving coach before becoming the permanent bunting and baserunning coach in 2000.

After a brief stint as the head coach of UW–Stout baseball, Vavra joined the Twins staff in 2002. On October 27, 2005, Vavra was named the Twins' hitting coach.

Vavra attended the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium to pitch for Justin Morneau. Morneau beat Josh Hamilton to win the Home Run Derby.

During Vavra's tenure in Minnesota, the Twins have consistently ranked among the best in the league for both individual and team hitting stats. In 2012, it was announced that Vavra would be reassigned from the Twins hitting coach to the Twins 3rd base coach and infield instruction coach in 2013.

Personal

Vavra and his wife Lesa have three sons: Tanner, Treysen and Terrin. His son Tanner has played at Valparaiso University and Treysen plays for the Eastern Illinois University baseball team. Tanner was drafted in 30th round of 2013 Major League Baseball Draft by the Twins.

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Bio at mlb.com

Minnesota Twins current roster

Active roster	2 Brian Dozier 5 Eduardo Escobar 7 Joe Mauer 8 Kurt Suzuki 9 Eduardo Núñez 11 Jorge Polanco 12 John Ryan Murphy 15 Glen Perkins 19 Kennys Vargas 20 Eddie Rosario 22 Miguel Sanó 24 Trevor Plouffe 25 Byron Buxton 31 Oswaldo Arcia 33 Tommy Milone 39 Danny Santana 44 Kyle Gibson 45 Phil Hughes 47 Ricky Nolasco 49 Kevin Jepsen 50 Casey Fien 51 Alex Meyer 52 Byung-ho Park 54 Ervin Santana 56 Tyler Duffey 57 Ryan Pressly 59 Michael Tonkin 61 Ryan O'Rourke 62 J. R. Graham 65 Trevor May 66 John Hicks 67 Max Kepler -- J. T. Chargois -- Pat Dean -- Yorman Landa -- Mason Melotakis -- Taylor Rogers -- Randy Rosario -- Michael Strong -- Adam Brett Walker II

Coaching staff	Manager 4 Paul Molitor Bench 46 Joe Vavra First base 40 Butch Davis Third base 13 Gene Glynn Hitting 23 Tom Brunansky Pitching 41 Neil Allen Assistant hitting 63 Rudy Hernández Bullpen 18 Eddie Guardado Bullpen catcher 75 Nate Dammann

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