photo: Dann Bilardello and Dylan Carlson (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Palm Beach manager Dann Bilardello has been named the 2018 Florida State League Manager of the Year.
The 59-year old is in his third season leading Palm Beach, ninth year managing in the Cardinals system and 13th as a minor league manager.
“To my staff and players: thanks for being a big part of me receiving this award,” Bilardello said. “To be recognized by all the other coaching staffs in the league is humbling and an honor.”
His staff includes hitting coach Brandon Allen, pitching coach Will Ohman, fourth coach Craig Richmond, trainer Chris Whitman and strength and conditioning coach Ross Hasagawa.
In 2018, Palm Beach won the first-half race in the South Division with a 39-25 (.609) mark, edging neighbor Jupiter by a half-game. That punched their second consecutive post-season ticket.
With six games remaining in the second-half schedule, the Cards are 33-31 (.516), 4.5 games out of first. For the full season, the Beach Birds’ 72 wins are second-most in the FSL.
The former MLB catcher also led his 2017 team to the South Division title, a group that was named league co-champions when Hurricane Irma made playing the finals impossible. His clubs also won division titles at Double-A Springfield in 2016 (first half) and short-season Class-A Batavia in 2010.
Bilardello is the second of four full-season managers in the Cardinals system to be honored for 2018, as he joins Memphis’ Stubby Clapp, who was announced as the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year on Tuesday.
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