ICYMI, the Asheville Tourists have a new manager. On Monday, it was announced that Nate Shaver will lead the Tourists in the 2021 season and beyond as part of the Houston Astros’ Advanced Class A affiliate program. This will be Nate’s first season as the Tourists’ manager and his third as the High-A manager for the Astros farm system— plus the third time he’s flexed his managerial muscles in the Tar Heel State.
The Oregon native’s coaching experience, prior to joining the Astros, includes stints as the assistant coach at New Mexico State University from 2012-2014 and in 2016, as well as for Raleigh, NC’s Wake Technical Community College in 2017. In 2018, he coached the Buies Creek Astros to a Carolina League championship. He then managed the Fayetteville Woodpeckers in 2019 and was scheduled to return in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The Woodpeckers’ loss is the Tourists’ gain, and officials are excited to see what Nate will bring to the table. DYK he has a PhD in Sports Psychology + Kinesiology with an emphasis on education and research related to skill acquisition and retention in athletics?
Joining Asheville’s first-year manager on staff this season are pitching coach Eric Nielsen, development coach Kyle Brennan, trainer Brandon Zumbach, and strength coach Zach Reding. The hitting coach has not yet been announced.
The Tourists open up the 2021 season on Tues., May 4 with a home game against the Brooklyn Cyclones, which is especially exciting considering their 2020 season was canceled before they even played an inning. In 2019, the Tourists finished the season 68-72 and missed out on the postseason by only two games.
Want a baseball history fix before the 2021 season opens? Read all about the Tourists’ storied past here.
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