Craig Counsell, Manager, Milwaukee Brewers

Date of Birth: 8/21/1970
Birthplace: South Bend, Indiana
College: University of Notre Dame

Craig Counsell, manager for the Milwaukee Brewers since May 4, 2015, has had an affiliation with the team since 2004. Before that time, his father worked in public relations for the team. This is Counsell's first managerial position.

Counsell started in professional baseball as a player in 1992 when he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. He was with the Rockies from 1992 through 1997 but he only played in three games with them in 1995 and one game in 1997 before they traded him to the Miami Marlins in July, 1997. Two years later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 2000, Counsell signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2001, his second season with the Diamondbacks, he was named the NLCS MVP, batting .213 with 13 hits and 8 RBIs in 16 post-season games. During the regular season, he batted .275 with 126 hits in 141 games. Counsell continued with the Diamondbacks until 2003 when he was traded to the Brewers.

After one season with the Brewers, Counsell returned to the Diamondbacks for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He then went back to the Brewers for his last five years as a player in the major leagues.

Career batting statistics for Counsell in 16 seasons (1995, 1997-2011) in the major leagues include:

• 1,624 games played
• 1,208 hits
• 218 doubles
• 390 RBIs
• 103 stolen bases
• 663 strikeouts to 589 walks
• .255 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Counsell as an infielder include:

• 4 games played at first base, 574 games played at second base, 385 games played at third base, 478 games played at shortstop
• 3,356 assists
• 672 double plays
• 1,843 putouts
• 79 errors

Counsell retired as a player in 2012 and he moved to the Brewers' front office as a special assistant to the general manager. He stayed in that position until May 4, 2015, when he was promoted to manager of the team. During his time as manager in 2015, the Brewers won 61 games and lost 76. They finished the season in fourth place in the NL Central division.

In 2016, the Brewers again finished in fourth place in the NL Central division with 73 wins to 89 losses. On November 11, 2016, the Brewers extended Counsell's contract through 2020.

Counsell and the Brewers had a much better season in 2017, finishing in second place in the NL Central division with 86 wins to 76 losses.

In 2018, Counsell led the Brewers to 96 wins and 67 losses. They defeated the Chicago Cubs in a one-game playoff to win the NL Central division title. They then played seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS before losing the Championship title in the final game.

Counsell led the Brewers to another winning season in 2019, with 89 wins and 73 losses. The won a Wild Card spot but they lost that game to the Washington Nationals with a score of 4-3.

Counsell and the Brewers finished the shortened 2020 season with 29 wins and 31 losses. The played in the National League Wild Card Series and they lost the series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Counsell led the Brewers to a first place finish in the NL central division in 2021. They had 95 wins and 67 losses. The lost the National League Division Series to the Atlanta Braves in 4 games.

Counsell's record as the manager of the Brewers from 2015 through 2021 is 529 wins to 479 losses.

Personal Life

Counsell and his wife Michelle have two sons and two daughters.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Craig Counsell
ESPN - Craig Counsell