Mike Aldrete #25

Aldrete, 52, will begin his second season as the Cardinals Bench Coach and his sixth overall year as a member of the Cardinals organization. Aldrete served as the team's Assistant Hitting Coach from 2008 until his appointment as bench coach...Aldrete was the Hitting Coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2005-06 and was First Base Coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2004. Prior to joining Bob Melvin's coaching staff, Aldrete spent three seasons in the Diamondbacks farm system, working as the Hitting Coach in Yakima for 2001 and then serving managerial stints in 2002 with Yakima and 2004 with Lancaster...The former first baseman/outfielder enjoyed a 10-year career in the majors with San Francisco, Montreal, San Diego, Cleveland, Oakland and the New York Yankees, making his big league debut in 1986 with the Giants...A career .263 hitter, Aldrete enjoyed his best season in 1987, batting .325 while helping the Giants to the National League Championship Series where they were defeated by the Cardinals in seven games. Mike split the 1996 season between California and New York, finishing his final season on top with the World Champion Yankees...Aldrete graduated from Monterey (Calif.) High School, lettering in baseball, basketball and football. He graduated from Stanford University in 1983 and enjoyed a pair of trips to the College World Series with the Cardinal, earning third team All-America honors during his senior season. He was a member of the U.S. Collegiate All-Star Team that toured Japan in 1982. Mike, who was born on January 29, 1961 in Carmel, Calif., makes his off-season home in Salinas, Calif., with his wife, Gina, and their three children; Michael, Blake and Nicolette. Michael (RHP) was selected by the Cardinals in the June 2012 draft out of San Jose State (39th round).