Johnny Goryl

John Albert Goryl (born October 21, 1933, in Cumberland, Rhode Island) is a special adviser/player development for the Cleveland Indians and a former infielder, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball.

A righthanded batter and thrower, Goryl apprenticed in the farm systems of the Milwaukee Braves and Chicago Cubs. He played 117 games for the Cubs over three seasons (by|1957-by|1959), returned to the minor leagues when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, then joined the Minnesota Twins in by|1962. His finest season was by|1963, when he hit .287 with nine home runs in 64 games. Overall, Goryl batted .225 in 276 games over six MLB campaigns.

When his playing career ended, Goryl became a manager in the Twins' farm system, and was in his second stint as a Minnesota coach in August by|1980 when he was named successor to manager Gene Mauch. The Twins won 23 of their final 36 games that season, to improve from sixth to third place in the American League West, but when they faltered coming out of the gate in by|1981 - losing 25 of their first 36 games - Goryl was replaced by one of his coaches, Billy Gardner. His career managing record was 34-38 (.472).

After his firing, Goryl joined the Cleveland organization as a Major League coach (by|1982-by|1988; by|1997-by|1998) and development official in the Indians' minor league system, continuing into the present day. He was inducted in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

External links