Brian Rupp
Encyclopedia
Brian Rupp is a minor league baseball
manager
of the Wilmington Blue Rocks
in the Kansas City Royals
organization, he resides in Florissant, MO with his wife Stacie and son Andrew. The 2009 campaign will be Rupp's sixth season in the Royals organization and ninth as a minor league manager. His career managerial record sits at 445-418 (.515). His resume also boasts five playoff appearances, two trips to a league final and one championship. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round of the 1992 draft, Rupp played for seven seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals
minor league system, mostly as a first baseman and outfielder. He reached as high as the Triple-A level. The former University of Missouri-St. Louis Triton won both the Arizona League batting title and MVP award in his first professional season. He also collected the South Atlantic League
batting crown in 1993 beating out Derek Jeter
. He went on to hit .295 over 742 career games.
After his playing career, Rupp joined the Cardinals minor league coaching staff and served as manager for Low-A Peoria (1999), Short-Season New Jersey (2001) and Rookie Johnson City (2002). He also spent the 2000 season as hitting coach for Double-A Arkansas. After joining the Royals organization, he managed Idaho Falls Chukars
from 2004-07 before mentoring the Burlington Bees
in 2008 during which Rupp led the Royals’ Low A affiliate to a 73-65 regular-season record and their first Midwest League
Championship since 1999. Under his tutelage, the Bees went from being the worst team in their division over the first half (30-39) to a league-best record and division title in the second half (43-26), winning the half crown by 3.5 games. The team played its best baseball in the final month of the season. Including a 6-0 playoff record, the Bees went 27-9 from August 1 on. The Midwest League named the Bees champions in a rain-shortened finale. In 2009 Rupp managed the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a 84-55 record and Northern Division Championship before losing to the eventual Carolina League
Champion Lynchburg Hillcats
in game 5 of the semi-finals playoff series. His team set franchise records for consecutive road wins by winning 12 straight games during the 2009 season.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
in the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
organization, he resides in Florissant, MO with his wife Stacie and son Andrew. The 2009 campaign will be Rupp's sixth season in the Royals organization and ninth as a minor league manager. His career managerial record sits at 445-418 (.515). His resume also boasts five playoff appearances, two trips to a league final and one championship. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round of the 1992 draft, Rupp played for seven seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
minor league system, mostly as a first baseman and outfielder. He reached as high as the Triple-A level. The former University of Missouri-St. Louis Triton won both the Arizona League batting title and MVP award in his first professional season. He also collected the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
batting crown in 1993 beating out Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
. He went on to hit .295 over 742 career games.
After his playing career, Rupp joined the Cardinals minor league coaching staff and served as manager for Low-A Peoria (1999), Short-Season New Jersey (2001) and Rookie Johnson City (2002). He also spent the 2000 season as hitting coach for Double-A Arkansas. After joining the Royals organization, he managed Idaho Falls Chukars
Idaho Falls Chukars
The Idaho Falls Chukars are a minor league baseball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at Melaleuca Field which holds 3,400 fans. The dimensions of the ball park are 340'left, 400'center, 350'right. The playing surface is Natural Grass...
from 2004-07 before mentoring the Burlington Bees
Burlington Bees
The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home is in Burlington, Iowa.-History:...
in 2008 during which Rupp led the Royals’ Low A affiliate to a 73-65 regular-season record and their first Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
Championship since 1999. Under his tutelage, the Bees went from being the worst team in their division over the first half (30-39) to a league-best record and division title in the second half (43-26), winning the half crown by 3.5 games. The team played its best baseball in the final month of the season. Including a 6-0 playoff record, the Bees went 27-9 from August 1 on. The Midwest League named the Bees champions in a rain-shortened finale. In 2009 Rupp managed the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a 84-55 record and Northern Division Championship before losing to the eventual Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Champion Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
in game 5 of the semi-finals playoff series. His team set franchise records for consecutive road wins by winning 12 straight games during the 2009 season.