Head coach Kevin Tidey is excited to announce the hiring of Brent Gates as assistant coach for the Davenport University baseball program. Gates, a native of Grandville, brings a wealth of knowledge and major league playing experience to his new position.
Gates attended Grandville High School graduating in 1988. He was a two-time All-State selection on the diamond and was selected to the Michigan High School Dream Team at the conclusion of his senior year. He then attended the University of Minnesota where he was a two-time All-American and 1991 Big Ten Player of the Year.
Gates was selected with the 26th overall pick of the 1991 MLB Amateur Draft by the Oakland Athletics. He made his MLB debut on May 5, 2003 versus the Boston Red Sox and eventually played seven seasons in MLB with Oakland, Seattle and Minnesota. Gates played in 685 career games and batted .264 in his career with 279 RBI. Among his accomplishments, he was sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 1993.
After his major league career, Gates opened up the Frozen Ropes Training Facility and was owner from 2000-03. He spent one season as manager of the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2001, a single A affiliate in Grand Rapids of the Detroit Tigers. He was the second manager in franchise history.
Gates was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and began a high school coaching career in 2008 with Grand Rapids Christian. He guided the team to unprecedented success capped off by three straight MHSAA Division II State Championship game appearances and state titles in 2012 and 2013.
In 2015, he was inducted into the University of Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame. He also served as a professional scout with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2014-16.
