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Bo Porter
Bo Porter 2013.jpg
Porter with the Astros in 2013
Los Angeles Angels – No. 88
Outfielder / Manager / Coach
Born: (1972-07-05) July 5, 1972 (age 53)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
May 9, 1999, for the Chicago Cubs
Last appearance
August 7, 2001, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average .214
Home runs 2
Runs batted in 8
Managerial record 110–190
Winning % .367
Teams
As player

As manager

As coach

Marquis Donnell "Bo" Porter was born on July 5, 1972. He is an American former professional baseball player, manager, and coach. Currently, he is the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Before joining the Angels, Porter was a special assistant to the Atlanta Braves general manager. He also coached for the Braves, helping players with third base, outfield, and base running. He managed the Houston Astros for two seasons, ending in September 2014. In 2018, he helped run a special camp for baseball players who were looking for a team. Since 2019, he has also worked as a television broadcaster for the Washington Nationals.

Bo Porter's Early Life and Sports

Bo Porter grew up in Newark, New Jersey. He went to Weequahic High School. While in high school, he was a top athlete. He was recognized as an all-state player in baseball, football, and basketball.

After high school, Porter attended the University of Iowa. There, he played both baseball and football for the Iowa Hawkeyes teams. He earned special honors in both sports from the Big Ten Conference.

Playing Baseball Professionally

Bo Porter began his professional baseball journey when the Chicago Cubs drafted him in 1993.

In 1999, he made his first appearance in the major leagues with the Cubs. After that season, the Oakland Athletics chose him in the Rule 5 draft. This draft allows teams to pick players from other teams' minor league rosters. After the 2000 season, the Texas Rangers claimed him. He became a free agent after the 2001 season. He then played the rest of his career in the minor league systems for the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies.

After Playing: Coaching and Managing

Starting His Coaching Career

After his playing days, Porter became a hitting coach for the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2005. The next year, in 2006, he managed the Class A-Advanced Jamestown Jammers. From 2007 to 2009, Porter worked for the Florida Marlins. He was their third base coach and also taught players about outfield and base running.

Time with the Arizona Diamondbacks

In 2010, Porter became the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had turned down an offer to stay with the Marlins. In July 2010, the Diamondbacks' manager was let go. Porter was then promoted to bench coach.

The Marlins interviewed Porter for their managing job in mid-2010. However, the Diamondbacks fired Porter after the 2010 season.

Coaching for the Washington Nationals

After the 2010 season, Porter was considered for managing jobs with the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was hired by the Washington Nationals on November 2, 2010. He became their new third base coach. This meant he was no longer in the running for the Pittsburgh managing job.

In September 2012, Porter was part of an incident during a game. He approached the Chicago Cubs' dugout after their bench coach yelled from inside. This led to both teams coming onto the field. The Cubs' coach was then ejected from the game.

Managing the Houston Astros

On September 27, 2012, Bo Porter was announced as the new manager for the Houston Astros. He took over for a team that had struggled in previous seasons. The Astros had a plan to rebuild their team with young players. Porter was the first Astros manager to lead the team in the American League.

The Astros won their first game of the 2013 season. However, they then lost six games in a row. They finished the season with a record of 51 wins and 111 losses.

In the next season, the Astros showed some improvement. By the end of August, they had won more games than in the previous three seasons. On September 1, 2014, the Astros fired Porter. The team's record was 59 wins and 79 losses at that time. Reports suggested there was tension between Porter and the team's general manager. Porter was replaced by an interim manager. He was the youngest manager in MLB before being fired.

Returning to the Atlanta Braves

Bo Porter profile picture spring training 2015
Bo Porter at spring training in 2015

On October 3, 2014, the Atlanta Braves announced that they hired Porter as their third base coach for the 2015 season. This role also included coaching outfielders and base running. After the 2016 season, another coach took over his role. Porter then became a special assistant to the Braves' general manager.

Running a Free Agent Camp

In February 2018, Bo Porter was chosen to run a special spring training camp. This camp was for MLB players who were free agents and had not yet signed with a team. Many players were still without teams at the start of the 2018 season. The camp was held in Bradenton, Florida. It helped players stay in shape and prepare for the season while they waited for a contract. Porter quickly put together a staff of former MLB players to help coach. The camp ran from February 11 to March 9, 2018.

Working in Television

On January 25, 2019, the Washington Nationals and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) announced that Porter would join their broadcast team. He became a co-anchor and analyst for the Nats Xtra shows. These shows air before and after Nationals games. His first broadcast was on Opening Day, March 28, 2019.

Coaching for the Los Angeles Angels

In November 2023, it was reported that the Los Angeles Angels would hire Bo Porter. He joined the team as their first base coach.

Managerial Record Overview

Bo Porter's record as a manager in Major League Baseball is shown below.

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
HOU 2013 162 51 111 .315 5th in AL West
HOU 2014 138 59 79 .428 Fired
Total 300 110 190 .367

Bo Porter's Personal Life

Bo Porter is from Newark, New Jersey. However, he has lived in Houston, Texas, since 1996. In 1998, he founded the Future All-Stars Sports Development Academy. He is also its CEO.

In August 2022, Porter opened the Bo Porter Academy. This is a private school that helps middle and high school students prepare for college. It focuses on baseball scholar-athletes. Porter is also the CEO of Bo Porter Enterprise and CORE Multimedia Group.

Bo Porter is married to Dr. Heather Brown, who is an orthodontist. They have three sons named Bryce, Jaxon, and Jace.

See also

  • Rule 5 draft results
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