Gary Kendall, the manager for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, was once a Padre.
But he is back with the Orioles, a team that he has followed his entire life.
“I grew up an Oriole fan. Then I started rooting for teams that paid me,” said Kendall, with a grin, as he sat in the manager?s office at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.
Kendall was a part-time scout for the Orioles from 1991 to 1995. He threw batting practice for the Orioles during that time.
He was then a mid-Atlantic scout for San Diego from 1996 to 1999, and spent his last two years with the Padres as a coach with Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League.
Kendall then came back to the Orioles, and he is now in his seventh straight year with the club. He managed Delmarva last season and led the Shorebirds to the playoffs.
Delmarva is a farm team of the Orioles and won 24 of its first 41 games. The Shorebirds were second in the league with a team ERA of 2.83.
Kendall, a three-sport athlete at Sparrows Point, was a baseball coach at the Community College of Baltimore from 1987 to 1989, before two seasons as an assistant coach at Towson University under Mike Gottlieb.
The Baltimore resident graduated from Atlantic Christian College in 1987.
David Stockstill, the director of minor league operations for the Orioles, is glad to have Kendall back in the fold.
“Gary has been an outstanding addition to our player development staff. He has a tremendous work ethic,” Stockstill said.
“He is a great manager. He is definitely a player?s manager,” said Delmarva catcher Brandon Snyder, the Orioles top pick last season. “At the same time, he lays down the law. We have a great group of guys that respect him.”
Delmarva pitcher Brandon Erbe, from Reisterstown, also enjoys playing for Kendall.
“What he is trying to do is get us to the major leagues. He is very professional. Everyone feeds off that,” Erbe said.
Kendall, 42, has also been a scout, which gives him a unique background now that he is in player development.
“You can see the progress they are making. It helps you become a better scout,” Kendall said of working daily with prospects. “You learn from experience. You learn from your failures.”
The Orioles farm system has been maligned in recent years. And the major- league team has not had a winning season since 1997.
“We just want consistentcy. You try to be as positive as you can,” Kendall said. “I am delighted with what is going on with these guys. Winning is important. But it is not all about winning.”
The South Atlantic League has some of the longest bus rides in the minors, with teams from Kentucky, Georgia and New Jersey. What advice doesKendall give his players?
“Get their rest. They have to pace themselves. They have to take care of their bodies. You could wear yourself down,” Kendall said.
