The Cleveland Indians today announced the organizational staff alignment within the Player Development System for the upcoming season.
Last season, the Indians Player Development system's four full season clubs and Short-Season Mahoning Valley compiled a combined record of 325-308 (.513), led by Class-A Lynchburg's 87-52 regular season mark and a Carolina League Co-Championship. RHP TRISTON McKENZIE was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year and was a Baseball America Class-A All-Star while C FRANCISCO MEJIA (Class-AA) and 3B NOLAN JONES (Short-Season A) were named BA All-Stars at their respective levels.
CHRIS TREMIE (AAA Columbus) returns for his sixth season with the Clippers while TONY MANSOLINO assumes the reigns with the Class-AA Akron RubberDucks. Mansolino guided the Co-Champion Lynchburg Hillcats last season and was named Carolina League Manager of the Year. ROUGLAS ODOR, in his 31st season in the organization as a player or coach, moves from the Columbus staff to guide Lynchburg, his first managerial role since 2008. LUKE CARLIN (A Lake County) will guide the Captains in his second managerial campaign following his 2017 debut with Mahoning Valley, who advanced to the New York-Penn League playoffs following a 44-29 season.
JIM PANKOVITS will manage Mahoning Valley (Short-Season A) in his first season in the Indians organization after spending the past seven seasons in the Seattle Mariners Player Development system. Pankovits served most recently as a coach for High-A Modesto (2017) and also held the roles of Infield Coordinator (2014-16) and Double-A Manager (2011-13). He previously spent 16 seasons as a member of Houston's Player Development Department. Initially drafted by the Astros in 1976, Pankovits hit .250 in six seasons and 318 games at the Major League level with Houston (1984-1988) and Boston (1990).
Indians ownership recently approved the creation of a second Arizona League team in Cleveland's Player Development system to begin play this summer. The additional squad will be managed by LARRY DAY, who served as the manager of Lake County (A-level) in 2017 and will also head up operations of the Arizona complex. The high-school age team will be managed by JERRY OWENS, who will earn his first Minor League managerial experience after making his pro coaching debut as the bench coach for AAA Columbus in 2017.
TOM WIEDENBAUER has been promoted to Special Assistant to the General Manager with ANTHONY MEDRANO becoming the new Assistant Field Coordinator. In his new role, Wiedenbauer will be in charge of Player Development programming, including Minor League Spring Training, and will lead Player Development Coordinators and Field Staff, increasing the impact he has made on the department since joining the organization in 2011. Moving forward, Medrano will lead the staffs in Goodyear and the Dominican Republic while guiding the Player Development activities at both locations. He will also contribute to the planning of Spring Training and other programs and serve as a liaison to the Front Office. Medrano previously served as Manager of the AZL Indians from 2011-16 and joined the organization in 2008 as a coach with the GCL Indians.
ANNA BOLTON has been promoted to the newly created position of Education and Language Coordinator for the 2018 season and will operate between the complexes in Goodyear and Dominican Republic and the Ohio-based affiliates. Bolton spent the last two seasons as the Major League Spanish Translator and Player Engagement Coordinator and will also assist with the Major League club at various points throughout the upcoming season.
Two other additions with the Rookie League Arizona (College) club come from the collegiate ranks with JOEL MANGRUM (Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Univ. of Louisiana Monroe) and KAI CORREA (Infield Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Univ. of Northern Colorado) joining the organization.