Ozney Guillen has not been coached by his dad, Ozzie, since high school. But he'll get another chance Wednesday.
The younger Guillen plays for the Normal CornBelters of the independent Frontier League. The CornBelters announced Monday that Ozzie Guillen would serve as guest manager for Normal's game on Wednesday against the Evansville Otters.
“It is a great honor to have a true champion and a good friend of mine to manage our ball club,” CornBelters manager Brooks Carey said in a team release. “He is a true baseball guy and with the CornBelters in a pennant race, there is no doubt the Ozzie will do a fantastic job.”
Guillen managed the White Sox from 2004-11 and the Marlins in 2012. He led the White Sox to a World Series championship in 2005 — the franchise's first title since 1917. But he won't be able to wear his familiar No. 13 — that number is worn by Ozney, a 2010 White Sox draft pick who did not sign with the team and played collegiately at St. Thomas University in Miami.
“I’m glad that I can help Brooks and this great group of guys that I get along with so well,” Guillen said. “The only bad part is that I can’t use the number 13 because I can’t persuade the guy.”
Guest managers are nothing new in the Frontier League. MLB hits leader Pete Rose has been a guest manager for nearly all of the league's 14 teams over the last two seasons.