The Madison Mallards have announced that Field Manager Donnie Scott will return in 2018 for his sixth season. Scott has led the Mallards to the playoffs three out of his last five seasons and a Northwoods League Championship in 2013. He has a career record of 198-154 in Madison and will surpass his 200th win with the Mallards early next summer.
“I’m very excited about returning to Madison for the 2018 season,” said Scott. “It is a blast for me to manage the premiere team in all of summer collegiate baseball at the most exciting atmosphere that has been created by Steve Schmitt, Vern Stenman, Conor Coloia and the fans at the Duck Pond! Our expectation and goal is nothing short of a Northwoods League Championship! Mallards fans deserve that.”
In 2017, the Mallards fell just short of the playoffs and were in contention until the final day, tying for the final playoff spot. Despite a season that was full of injuries, the Mallards finished the 2017 season with 38-34 record. In an ever-growing and competitive Northwoods League, Scott will look to lead the Mallards back into the playoffs in 2018.
When asked what he loved most about the Duck Pond, Scott said, “I think the most intriguing thing about the Duck Pond is the atmosphere that has been created. Every night feels like a playoff game which helps our players to excel to levels never attained before. I guess you could say the team and our fans feed off of each other.”
The Madison Mallards will be hosting a Facebook Live with Scott on Friday, November 10 at noon. Donnie will join us live from his home in Florida. Fans are encouraged to watch and submit questions for Scott to answer.
Scott was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 1979 amateur draft. He made his MLB debut with the Rangers in September of 1983. He spent time in the major leagues as a catcher for the Rangers, Mariners and Reds for eight seasons before he retired in 1991.
After concluding his MLB playing career, Scott went on to manage the Rookie level Billings Mustangs (Montana) of the Pioneer League. Scott led the Mustangs to four league championships.
He returned to managing the Gulf Coast Reds after spending three seasons as Field Coordinator. He went on to have two tenures with Class A Dayton Dragons, where he led the Dragons to the playoffs four out of five seasons.
Scott was named Manager of the Year in the Pioneer League in 1992 and Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball Weekly in 1994. Scott has also managed two Midwest League All-Star games and has a career record of 689-569 in the minor leagues.
Before managing the Mallards, Scott spent a summer with the Battle Creek Bombers where he led them to a Northwoods League Championship in 2011 while winning NWL Manager of the Year.
When not in Madison for the summer, Scott resides with his wife Debbie in Pinellas Park, Florida. He has two children, Dana & David, and one grandson, Sawyer. In the off-season he works at NextUp Baseball Academy.
