Given Name: Matt Walbeck
West Michigan Whitecaps Manager

Matt Walbeck will guide Single A West M ichigan during the 2006 season, his third season as a manager. The Whitecaps captured the Midwest League championship under his guidance during the 2004 season, while advancing to the league's playoffs as the wild card winner of the second half during the 2005 season.

Walbeck was named the best managerial prospect in the Midwest League by Baseball America in 2005.

He concluded a 17-year playing career in 2003, announcing his retirement to remian in the Tigers organization as the Whtiecaps manager. Walbeck saw action in 11 seasons (1993-2003) at the major league level as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs (1993), Minnesota Twins (1994-96), Tigers (1997, 2002-03), Anaheim Angels (1998-2000) and Philadelphia Phillies (2001).

Walbeck finished his major league career with a .233 batting average and a .991 fielding percentage behind the plate