Victor Estevez named Carolina League Manager of the Year

MILWAUKEE – Class-A Carolina Mudcats manager Victor Estevez today was named Carolina League Manager of the Year by Minor League Baseball. The award was voted on by fellow league managers.

Estevez led the Mudcats to a 72-55 record in 2023, including a 39-25 mark in the second half. Carolina earned the second-half Carolina League South Division title and the franchise’s first postseason berth since 2008.

The Mudcats took Down East to a decisive Game 3 of the Carolina League North Division Series before falling 4-3 in 11 innings last Friday to conclude their season.

Estevez is the first person to earn Manager of the Year in Carolina franchise history. The Brewers organization has had Minor League skippers take home such honors in consecutive seasons, as Triple-A Nashville’s Rick Sweet was named International League Manager of the Year in 2022.

The 35-year-old just completed his 11th season in the Brewers organization and eighth as a Minor League manager. He has led the Mudcats to a 141-117 record (.547) in his two seasons guiding Carolina.

Prior to serving as manager of the Mudcats, Estevez spent six seasons (2016-21) managing the Rookie Dominican Summer League Brewers and two seasons (2021-22) as the organization’s DSL field coordinator. He began his coaching career as an infield coach with the DSL Brewers (2013-15).

Additionally, Carolina second baseman Jadher Areinamo and third baseman Luke Adams were named Carolina League postseason All-Stars by league managers.

Areinamo batted .306 with 26 doubles, a triple, 4 HR, 52 RBI, 52 runs and 16 stolen bases in 103 games with the Mudcats in 2023. He led the Carolina League in doubles (26) and ranked among leaders in batting average (2nd, .306), hits (2nd, 121), total bases (4th, 161) and slugging percentage (7th, .407).

The 19-year-old was signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2021.

Adams, 19, hit .233 with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 74 runs and 30 stolen bases in 99 games for Carolina. He drew 76 walks in 440 plate appearances for a .400 on-base percentage.

Selected in the 12th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Adams led the Carolina League in runs (74) and ranked among leaders in walks (2nd, 76), on-base percentage (2nd, .400), OPS (5th, .801), extra-base hits (T8th, 32) and slugging percentage (10th, .401).