Joe Ayrault Named Southern League Manager of the Year

MILWAUKEE – Double-A Biloxi Shuckers manager Joe Ayrault today was named Southern League Manager of the Year by Minor League Baseball. The award was voted on by fellow league managers.

Ayrault led the Shuckers to a 74-64 (.536) record in 2025, his second as skipper for Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate. Biloxi went 42-27 (.609) in the first half to earn the first-half Southern League South title, the team’s first half-season division title since 2019.

Ayrault returned to the Biloxi bench in 2025 after stepping away in June 2024 due to personal health reasons.

Each of Biloxi’s three managers in franchise history have now received Manager of the Year honors, as Ayrault joins Carlos Subero (2015) and Mike Guerrero (2018). The Brewers have had a Minor League Manager of the Year in four straight seasons as Rick Sweet won International League Manager of the Year in 2022, Victor Estevez won Carolina League Manager of the Year in 2023 and Midwest League Manager of the Year in 2024 and Nick Stanley earned Carolina League Manager of the Year in 2024.

Ayrault, 53, recently completed his 16th season managing in the Brewers organization and second at Biloxi. He previously managed Rookie Helena (2010-11), Class-A Brevard County (2012-16), Class-A Carolina (2017-21) and Class-A Wisconsin (2022-23).

Ayrault, who also managed in the Cincinnati system from 2007-09, holds 1,105 wins as a Minor League manager. He was named Pioneer League Manager of the Year in 2010 after leading the Rookie Helena Brewers to a Pioneer League title.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.