Tom Prince is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 13, 1964, in Kankakee, Illinois, and attended college at Kankakee Community College and Wichita State University.
Prince was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round of the 1984 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1987. He played for the Pirates for several seasons, serving as a backup catcher and occasional starter. He was known for his strong arm and defensive skills behind the plate.
In 1993, Prince was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played for two seasons. He then spent a year with the Minnesota Twins before returning to the Pirates in 1997. He played for the Pirates for several more seasons, serving as a backup catcher and occasional pinch hitter.
In 2003, Prince signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he played for two seasons before retiring from baseball. He finished his career with a .219 batting average, 47 home runs, and 175 RBIs.
After retiring from playing, Prince became a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He served as a coach for the Pirates' minor league teams from 2004 to 2012, and then became the manager of the West Virginia Power, a Class A affiliate of the Pirates, in 2013. He managed the Power for two seasons before being promoted to manage the Bradenton Marauders, the Pirates' Class A-Advanced affiliate, in 2015.
In 2017, Prince was named the bench coach for the Detroit Tigers, where he served under manager Brad Ausmus. He remained with the Tigers for two seasons before being let go after the 2018 season.
In 2019, Prince returned to the Pirates organization as the manager of the Bristol Pirates, a rookie-level affiliate. He led the team to a 33-35 record in his first season as manager.
Throughout his career, Prince was known for his strong defensive skills and leadership abilities. He was a respected teammate and mentor to many young players, and his contributions to the game of baseball have been recognized by many in the industry.
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