Miners Name O’Sullivan New Hitting Coach

The Southern Illinois Miners announce that they have named Patrick O’Sullivan as their new hitting coach. He replaces Stephen Holdren, who left following the 2014 season for a career in the financial services industry.

O’Sullivan brings an extensive hitting background to the Miners organization. When he retired as a player at the end of the 2010 season, he was 13th on the active minor league home run list with 200. Originally drafted in the 34th round of the 1999 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the former New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles farmhand finished his career with an exceptional .317 average over 12 professional seasons. Over six Triple-A seasons he hit .322 with 90 home runs. O’Sullivan also hit 20 home runs in five straight seasons from 2004-2008.

O’Sullivan has been the hitting coach for the Rockford Aviators for the last four years. As a coach, he helped lead the Aviators to league-leading marks of 911 total hits, 175 doubles and a .277 team batting average in 2012. During the offseason, Pat is a hitting instructor at Fusion Sports Center in Rockford, Illinois. In February, O’Sullivan will also be a coach at the California Winter League in Palm Springs.

“I am very excited to add Sully to our staff,” Miners manager Mike Pinto said. “I have admired him from the other side of the field and how he worked with his hitters. The Rockford offense has been a force every season that he has been with them. We talked to a number of candidates and Sully distinguished himself as the absolutely right guy for our organization. He is very dedicated to his hitters, has a reputation as a very hard worker and is an innovative thinker – all great components for our guys and our staff.”

“I want to thank James Frisbie, the manager from the Rockford Aviators, for giving us permission to speak with Pat and for clearing the way for us to bring him over to the Miners,” Pinto added. “I also want to again thank Stephen Holdren for his dedication last season and we all wish him the best of success as he starts his career in the financial industry. He will always be part of our Miners Family”.

Be sure to follow the Miners this offseason at southernillinoisminers.com and also on social media on Facebook and Twitter (@SIMiners) as they prepare for 2015!

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2014 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at 618-998-8499618-998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.