Former Altoona Curve manager Michael Ryan has been named manager of the High-A South Bend Cubs, the team announced today.
Ryan was one of the most successful managers in Curve history, leading the team from 2017-19 and compiling a 221-197 record. He led the Curve to the Eastern League championship in 2017, just the second title in franchise history, and he guided the club back to the playoffs again in 2018.
“Excited to be a part of a great organization and franchise in South Bend,” Ryan told NSN by text. “Honored to keep the winning tradition going and get out to serve that great community. Looking forward to getting back on the field and impacting as many people as I can.”
Ryan was surprisingly let go by the Pirates after the 2019 season, in which the Curve went 69-71. He had been a loyal and successful coach in their minor league system for seven seasons and won two league titles, the first with the High-A Bradenton Marauders in 2016, while reaching the playoffs four times.
The South Bend Cubs previously were in the Midwest League and won the championship in 2019. They are now in the newly named High-A Central League. The South Bend Cubs won the John H. Johnson President’s Trophy in 2015 as the top overall franchise in Minor League Baseball.
Ryan was scheduled to manage the Double-A Tennessee Smokies last year, but there was no minor league season because of the coronavirus.
Ryan, 43, is a native of Indiana, Pa., who played parts of five seasons in the major leagues. He compiled a .258 average with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 149 major league games. He batted .270 with 156 homers and 753 RBIs during his 15-year minor league career.
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