UNCW head baseball coach Mark Scalf has announced that Kansas City Royals Assistant General Manager J.J. Picollo will serve as keynote speaker for the 13th Annual UNCW Spring Training Banquet, to be held on Jan.17, 2015, on campus at the Burney Center.
“Our annual spring banquet is an exciting unofficial start of our season with an opportunity to meet others with a passion for baseball,” Scalf said. “It’s a chance to get to know the players and staff, while learning more about the past, present and future of Seahawk baseball. We’re fortunate to have J.J. Picollo coming to Wilmington to give us a behind the scenes look at Kansas City’s tremendous playoff run.”
Picollo was promoted to Assistant GM – Player Personnel in 2014 after serving as the Royals Assistant General Manager for Scouting and Player Development since 2008. The Royals reached the World Series in 2014 with a historic run through the playoffs before falling to the San Francisco Giants. Kansas City’s last World Series and playoff appearance was in 1985.
Before moving to the Kansas City organization, Picollo was Director of Minor League Operations for the Atlanta Braves from 1999 through 2005.
Picollo played two seasons at N.C. State before transferring and concluding his collegiate career at former Colonial Athletic Association rival George Mason in 1994. After being drafted in 1989 and 1993 by the Cincinnati Reds, Picollo signed with the New York Yankees following his senior season with the Patriots in 1994. He later coached at his alma mater for three seasons and George Washington for two.
Individual tickets can be purchased for $60 each or $600 for a corporate table (seven seats). Your checks should be made payable to the UNCW Seahawk Club. Click here for more information.
