The Milwaukee Brewers released their 2011 minor league coaching assignments and Appleton, Wis. native Matt Erickson has been named the manager of the Class (A) Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Erickson served as the Timber Rattlers hitting coach each of the last two seasons.
Erickson played high school baseball at Appleton West High School and becomes the 10th manager in Timber Rattlers team history. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1997 out of the University of Arkansas and played in the Midwest League in 1998 for the Kane County Cougars. Erickson played in the major leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004 and also spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system. He retired as a player following the 2008 season and became the Timber Rattlers hitting coach in 2009.
Jeff Isom, the manager of the Timber Rattlers in 2009 and 2010, has moved on to be the manager of the Brevard County Manatees, Milwaukee’s Florida State League affiliate.