| Greg Sparks | |
|---|---|
 Sparks as a coach for the
Chicago White Sox in 2016 | |
| Coach | |
| Born: March 31, 1964 Chandler, Arizona | |
Bats: left Throws: left | |
| Teams | |
Joseph Gregory Sparks (born March 31, 1964) is an American professional baseball coach and a former minor league player and manager. In 2016, Sparks was named assistant hitting coach for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball, a position he held through 2019.
Career
Born in Chandler, Arizona, he is the son of Joe Sparks, [1] a retired professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. Greg Sparks served as a batboy for the White Sox in 1979 (when his father spent part of that year on the club's coaching staff), and was present on Disco Demolition Night. He went on to attend Mesa Community College, then forge a 13-year playing career, mostly at the Double-A level. In 1992, he hit 25 home runs as a member of the London Tigers of the Eastern League. An outfielder and first baseman, he threw and batted left-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).
He worked for the Oakland Athletics' organization for 19 years, beginning in 1997, as a minor league manager and hitting coordinator. [2] The White Sox hired him as their assistant hitting coach after the 2015 season. [3]
References
- ^ "Greg Sparks expects Chicago White Sox reunion to be a blast – Chicago White Sox Blog- ESPN". ESPN.com. November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Chicago Tribune (November 12, 2015). "A batboy on Disco Demolition Night, Greg Sparks returns to White Sox to put offense back together". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Chicago Tribune (November 10, 2015). "White Sox add Rick Renteria, Greg Sparks to coaching staff". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Albany-Colonie Yankees players
- American expatriate baseball players in Canada
- American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
- Baseball first basemen
- Baseball coaches from Arizona
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
- Canton-Akron Indians players
- Carolina Mudcats players
- Charleston Rainbows players
- Chicago White Sox coaches
- Greenville Braves players
- Huntsville Stars players
- London Tigers players
- Lubbock Crickets players
- Madison Muskies players
- Major League Baseball hitting coaches
- Mesa Thunderbirds baseball players
- Minor league baseball managers
- New Haven Ravens players
- Pawtucket Red Sox players
- Sportspeople from Chandler, Arizona
- Baseball players from Maricopa County, Arizona
- Reno Padres players
- Salinas Spurs players
- Spokane Indians players
- Tigres del México players
- Toledo Mud Hens players