After retiring at the end of the 2006 season, Gabe Kapler took on a new endeavor in his baseball career, minor league manager. He was hired by the Boston Red Sox to be the manager of the Greenville Drive, their Single-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.
He led the Drive to just a 58-81 record last season but while managing the club and the organization’s younger players, he found that he still had the passion to play the game. At the end of the season, he informed the Boston Red Sox that he would like to resume his playing career and announced he was making a comeback.
Today, the comeback started for Kapler as Milwaukee Brewers general manager Bob Melvin announced that he had signed Kapler to a one-year deal.
“Gabe brings versatility and athleticism to the outfield position. He has always been a great teammate and possesses the determination to bounce back and become a valuable player to our club.”
It’s very surprising that the Brewers gave him a major league deal after taking a year off and they now have to place him on their 40-man roster, meaning a younger player could be lost via waivers.
