DURHAM, NC - Former Durham Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo will be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2016, the league announced today. The Tampa Bay Rays' third base coach, who managed the Bulls from 2007 to 2014, was elected by a vote of living Hall of Fame members, longtime executives, broadcasters, and members of the media.
In Montoyo's eight years at the helm of the Bulls, the native of Florida, Puerto Rico led the organization to seven South Division titles, a league-record six Governors' Cup finals berths and two Governors' Cup titles in 2009 and 2013. He finished his career in Durham with a 633-515 mark (.551), departing the Bull City with the most wins in franchise history.
"I am honored and excited to be inducted into the International League Hall of Fame," Montoyo said. "The Durham Bulls hold a special place in my heart, and I am looking forward to celebrating this honor with the Bulls and their fans."
A two-time International League Manager of the Year (2010, 2013), Montoyo also led the Bulls to the 2009 Triple-A National Championship title. That year he earned Baseball America's Minor League Manager of the Year award, and was named Minor League Baseball's Mike Coolbaugh award winner. On two occasions he managed the International League All-Star team, while his Bulls squads won at least 80 games five times.
"There is no one more deserving of this honor than Charlie Montoyo," Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said. "Charlie's impact in Durham will be long-lasting, not just because of what he did on the field, but also because of how beloved he was by everyone he came in contact with. The entire Bulls organization is thrilled for Charlie."
The 50-year-old retired from a 10-year playing career after the 1996 season, and was hired by Tampa Bay as a minor league manager that fall. Montoyo went on to manage at six different levels in the Tampa Bay organization over the next 18 seasons, before he was added to Tampa Bay's major league coaching staff in December of 2014. During his playing career, Montoyo also played 327 games in the IL for Ottawa and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, compiling a career average of .274.
Montoyo becomes the third Durham Bull to be inducted into the league's Hall of Fame, joining former Bulls manager Bill Evers and former pitcher Dave Eiland, who were both inducted in 2012. Montoyo will be presented with "The Curtain Call" statue during an individual enshrinement ceremony at the DBAP on a date that has yet to be scheduled.
Hensley Meulens, who had a six-year playing career and four-year coaching career in the IL, joins Montoyo as a 2016 inductee. Each year the top three vote-getters who also receive a vote on the majority of ballots returned are elected to the Hall of Fame. In the 2016 election, Montoyo and Meulens were the only two candidates to receive a vote on the majority of ballots.
