Monday, November 21, 2011
[size=150]PHILLIES ANNOUNCE 2012 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAFF[/size]
Former Phillies Andy Tracy and Aaron Fultz and newcomers Andy Abad and Lino Connell have been added to the Phillies’ player development staff, Joe Jordan, Director, Player Development, announced today. The staff also includes 21 returning members.
At triple-A Lehigh Valley, the entire staff of manager Ryne Sandberg, coach Sal Rende and pitching coach Rod Nichols will return. Sandberg, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, is back for his second season after leading the IronPigs to their first playoff appearance in club history in 2011. Rende will enter his ninth season with the Phillies and second straight at Lehigh Valley, while Nichols returns for his 13th year in the organization and eighth at triple-A.
Dusty Wathan has been promoted to manager for double-A Reading after spending the last two years in the same capacity for single-A Clearwater. Wathan will be joined by coach Frank Cacciatore – back for his fifth season with Reading – and pitching coach Bob Milacki, who will enter his third season with the team.
At Clearwater, Chris Truby takes over as manager, moving up a level from Lakewood (A), where he managed last year. Former major league manager John Mizerock returns for his second season as a coach for Clearwater and pitching coach Dave Lundquist for his fourth.
Mickey Morandini, who returned to the organization full-time last season as the manager for single-A Williamsport (A), will take the helm at Lakewood for 2012. Greg Legg – back for his 31st season with the Phillies and fifth straight at Lakewood – returns as a coach, while pitching coach Les Lancaster moves up from the Gulf Coast League Phillies.
The Williamsport staff will feature three new hires to the Phillies organization. Tracy, who played in parts of two pennant-winning seasons for the Phillies (2008-09), will make his managerial debut with the club. Tracy played 16 years of professional baseball and finished his minor league career with a .268 batting average, 296 home runs and 1,064 RBI in 1,590 games. Fultz, who will be his pitching coach, enters his first season as a coach in the professional ranks. He spent two years (2005-06) on the Phillies’ pitching staff under manager Charlie Manuel and played on the National League champion San Francisco Giants in 2002. The coach at Williamsport has yet to be determined.
At the rookie level, longtime staff member Roly deArmas will manage the Gulf Coast Phillies for the sixth consecutive year and ninth, overall. His coaching staff will be comprised of Kevin Jordan and Steve Schrenk.
Carlos Arroyo is back for his 37th season on the Phils’ player development staff, continuing his role of rehab pitching coach. Connell has joined the staff in an as yet unspecified role.
Five of the six minor league coordinators from last year are returning in their same roles: Mike Compton (field), Gorman Heimueller (pitching), Steve Henderson (hitting), Doug Mansolino (infield) and Ernie Whitt (catching). They will be joined by former major leaguer Andy Abad, who will serve as the new outfield/baserunning coordinator, and Jorge Velandia, who will take on the new role of assistant field coordinator. Velandia spent the previous two years as a coach for Williamsport.
Lehigh Valley (AAA)
Ryne Sandberg (manager)
Sal Rende (coach)
Rod Nichols (pitching coach)
Reading (AA)
Dusty Wathan (manager)
Frank Cacciatore (coach)
Bob Milacki (pitching coach)
Clearwater (A)
Chris Truby (manager)
John Mizerock (coach)
Dave Lundquist (pitching coach)
Lakewood (A)
Mickey Morandini (manager)
Greg Legg (coach)
Les Lancaster (pitching coach)
Williamsport (A)
Andy Tracy (manager)
TBA (coach)
Aaron Fultz (pitching coach)
Gulf Coast Phillies (R)
Roly deArmas (manager)
Kevin Jordan (coach)
Steve Schrenk (pitching coach)
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Press Releases provided courtesy of the Phillies, Media Relations. Thanks, guys!
