By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
LAKEWOOD, N.J. — Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Todd Pratt reportedly interviewed with the organization's Single-A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws, for its managerial position on Wednesday, according to Fox Sports Radio's 920 The Jersey's Zach Gelb.
Pratt, 49, is the current athletic director and head baseball coach of the West Georgia Tech Golden Knights. He was hired as the school's first baseball coach in the fall of 2010 and has been in charge of the school's four sports — men and women's basketball, baseball and softball — since last November, according to the West Georgia Tech's website.
In an interview with Gelb, Pratt said he "most definitely" has interest in one day managing at some level within the big leagues.
"Hopefully I'll know if I'm back in the pros or not soon," Pratt said. "It's something I always wanted to do, but it was just an easy option here being an AD. I think it's given me great experience … you never know what could happen."
Shawn Williams, son of former Phillies bench coach Jimy Williams, has managed the BlueClaws to a combined 147-130 record over the last two seasons.
Pratt was drafted three times by three different clubs from 1985 to 1991 before making his major league debut with the Phillies on July 29, 1992. Over his 14 year career — with more than half of it spent wearing red pinstripes — Pratt hit .251/.344/.398 with 136 extra-base hits and 224 RBIs spanning 662 games and 1,869 plate appearances.
The Bellevue, Nebraska, native committed just 23 errors in 3,292 chances and 3,946 1/3 innings behind the plate.
On August 23 the BlueClaws and Phillies announced a four-year extension of their Player Development Contract, keeping both clubs linked through at least the 2020 season.
Listen to Pratt's full interview with Gelb.