OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s announced today that Ed Sprague has been promoted to Director of Player Development, and Keith Lieppman, who is entering his 50th season with the organization, will transition to Special Advisor to Player Development.

“The A’s are forever indebted to Keith for his leadership and his efforts on behalf of our Player Development department,” said A’s General Manager David Forst. “Keith has had an immeasurable role in every success our organization has had in the last five decades. He will remain very much involved in Player Development through this advisory role.”

 “Ed Sprague brings to his new role as Director of Player Development a wealth of knowledge developed over his career as a player, coach, instructor, and administrator,” said Forst. “Ed takes the helm of a farm system that has produced Rookies of the Year, Cy Young Award winners, and MVPs in Oakland. We have confidence that, under his leadership, Player Development will continue that run of success.”

 Entering his fifth season with the A’s, Sprague will transition from Assistant Director of Player Development & Coordinator of On-Field Analytics to Director of Player Development. He previously served the A’s as Instruction Coordinator from 2016-18. He will now oversee the development and evaluation of players throughout the A’s farm system, which consistently ranks among the best in the game. He will also coordinate field instruction for the entire minor league system.

 Sprague previously served as head coach at the University of Pacific from 2004-15, during which time his teams posted an overall record of 250-406. During his tenure, 21 of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, with multiple players currently active in the professional ranks. He guided Pacific to one of the best seasons in program history in 2010, finishing with a 31-23 overall record that included a new program record of 31 victories over Division I opponents. In addition to his on-field success, he spearheaded the campaign to build an on-campus home field for the Tigers, with Klein Family Field opening on April 18, 2006.

 After being drafted by Toronto in the first round of the 1988 draft out of Stanford, Sprague played 11 years in the Major Leagues with the Blue Jays, A’s, Pirates, Padres, Red Sox, and Mariners. He was an integral part of the Blue Jays teams that won back-to-back World Series in 1992-93 and was named a National League All-Star in 1999 with the Pirates.

 Sprague and his wife Kristen reside in Lodi, Calif. They have four children: daughters Payton and Paris, and sons Jed and John.

 Keith Lieppman will enter his 50th year with the A’s, including the last 28 years as Director of Player Development. Lieppman’s gilded reputation as one of baseball’s finest personnel executives was further amplified in 2010 when he received the Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award from Minor League Baseball for “distinguished service and being instrumental in player development” during his career.

 Lieppman has managed at all levels of the A’s minor league system, beginning in Modesto in 1980 and most recently with the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers from 1985-87. He also managed the Licey Tigres of the Dominican Winter League in 1986. He began his baseball career in 1971 as a minor league player for the A’s.

 Keith is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism. He resides in Prescott, Ariz., with his wife Corinne.