A YouTube search and 18 minutes of ejections were all it took for the Ursinus College baseball team to learn their new bench coach was no ordinary hire, writes Alex Coffey for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fredi González, the former MLB manager of the Braves and Marlins, had joined their Division III program in Collegeville—and the players were stunned.
“He’s the baseball dictionary,” said senior infielder Jakob Cantor.
González, who spent over 40 years in the Bigs, joined Ursinus in 2025 with no paycheck. He coaches with a love for the game and a desire to stay involved. Since stepping into the dugout, he’s helped turn around a struggling program. They are off to a 14-9 start after four straight losing seasons.
His focus has been on the team’s six catchers, guiding them back to basics: upright stances, improved blocking, and simplified strategies. The results? Fewer passed balls, tighter defense, and more confident throws to second.
“I can’t tell you how fulfilling this has been,” González said. “It’s really been great.”
At Ursinus, he’s rediscovered what he calls the “bare roots” of baseball—and it’s been just what he needed.
Read more about Fredi González and Ursinus College in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
