Mariners announce Minor League coaching staff for 2013 season

SEATTLE, Wash -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik and Director of Player Development Chris Gwynn announced today the Mariners Minor League Coaching Staff for the 2013 season.

Most of the coaching staff remains unchanged from last season, including returning managers: Daren Brown (Tacoma), Jim Pankovits (Jackson), Eddie Menchaca (Clinton), Rob Mummau (Everett), Claudio Almonte (DSL) and Russell Vasquez (VSL). Darrin Garner, who was the Mariners Minor League Infield and Baserunning Coordinator last year, will manage the AZL Mariners in 2013, James Horner returns to the organization for the first time since 2010 to manage High Desert and Chris Prieto will manage Pulaski in his first season with Seattle.

Daren Brown enters his 13th season in the Mariner Minor League organization and his 7th season at the helm of the Seattle's triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. Following the Rainiers victory over Tucson on May 28, Brown passed Dan Rohn for the most wins as a manager in Tacoma franchise history. Howard Johnson enters his first season with the Mariners as the Rainiers hitting coach. Prior to joining the Mariners, Johnson spent 11 seasons in a variety of capacities with the New York Mets organization, including three full seasons (2008-10) as  the New York Mets Major League hitting coach.  Over a 14-year Major League career, he posted a .249 batting average with 247 doubles, 228 home runs, 760 RBI and 231 stolen bases in 1,531 career games with the Tigers, Mets, Rockies and Cubs. Dwight Bernard, who is entering his 10th seasons with the Mariners organization, will return as pitching coach, Brent Johnson enters his second season with Tacoma as coach, Tom Newberg and BJ Downie will serve as the clubs athletic trainers and Rob Fumagalli will be the team’s performance coach.

Jim Pankovits returns for his third season to manage the Mariners double-A affiliate in the Southern League, the Jackson Generals. He managed the Generals to a 79-61 record, which was the best record in the Southern League in 2012. Jackson defeated Chattanooga to win the North Division title, but lost to Jacksonville in the Southern League finals. Terry Clark will begin his first season in the Mariners organization as the Generals pitching coach. He spent the last seven seasons as a pitching coach in the Texas Rangers organization, including the past two years with triple-A Round Rock. Clark played professional baseball for 20 years and spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues. The rest of Generals staff will include coach Cory Snyder, athletic trainer Eduardo Tamaz and performance coach Will Lindholm.

James Horner enters his 7th season with the Mariners (2005-10), but first since managing the Mavericks in 2010. After spending the last two and a half seasons (2010-12) as Associate Head Coach at Texas Tech University, Horner returns to the Seattle organization to manage Mariners single-A affiliate in the California League, the High Desert Mavericks. Horner was named the 2009 Mariners Player Development Staff Member of the Year and the California League Manager of the Year after leading High Desert to first place finishes in both the first and second half during the 2009 season. His High Desert staff includes pitching coach Lance Painter, who spent 2012 with Jackson, coach Roy Howell and Daniel Cobian as the Mavericks performance coach. Tyler Moos enters his first season as the Mavericks athletic trainer.

The Mariners single-A affiliate, the Clinton LumberKings, will be managed by Eddie Menchaca, who returns for his third season with the team. Menchaca led the LumberKings to a 71-67 overall record in 2012, including going 48-22 in the second half to secure a playoff spot. The LumberKings 48 wins in the second half were the most wins in a half in Clinton baseball team history. Clinton defeated Beloit in the first-round of the playoffs, but lost to Wisconsin in the Midwest League West Division finals. His staff includes returning pitching coach Andrew Lorraine, coach Mike Kinkade, who managed the AZL Mariners in 2012 and athletic trainer Jeff Kahn. Ryan White enters his first season as the LumberKings performance coach.

Rob Mummau enters his 12th season in the Mariners minor league organization and his second season at the helm of the Seattle's Northwest League affiliate, the Everett AquaSox. Mummau led the AquaSox to a 46-30 record, including finishing the first half with the best record in the league (28-10). Rich Dorman returns for his second consecutive season with Everett, while coach Rafael Santo Domingo joins the AquaSox after spending the 2012 season as a coach for the Pulaski Mariners. Trainer Spyder Webb enters his 35th season in the Mariners organization, all with the club’s entry in the Northwest League.

Chris Prieto, who managed the Padres Northwest League affiliate the Eugene Emeralds the last two seasons, joins the Mariners organization to take over the helm of the Pulaski Mariners in the Appalachian League in 2013. Prieto began his coaching career in the Padres organization in 2011 after wrapping up a professional career in 2007. Prieto hit .282 (1340x5625) with 944 runs scored, 219 doubles, 82 triples, 67 home runs, 545 RBI and 340 stolen bases in 1,339 minor league games in the San Diego Padres (1993-99), Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-01), Houston Astros (2002), Oakland Athletics (2003), St. Louis Cardinals (2004) and Los Angeles Angels (2005) organizations. Nasusel Cabrera, who also serves as the Latin American Pitching Coordinator, returns for his fourth season as pitching coach with Pulaski. Scott Steinmann is entering his 18th season in the Mariners organization and his first season as a coach with Pulaski. Trainer Geoff Swanson enters for his first season with Pulaski after spending the 2012 season with the AZL Mariners.

Darrin Garner, who enters his 17th season in the Mariners organization, returns as manager of the Peoria Mariners in the Arizona League after spending the last seven seasons as the Minor League Infield and Baserunning Coordinator. Andy Bottin, who coached in Everett last season, will serve as coaches for the Mariners. Cibney Bello enters his second season as pitching coach, Randy Roetter returns for his 12th season with the team as trainer and Gabe Bourland begins his third season as the Mariners performance coach.

Manager Claudio Almonte, pitching coach Danielin Acevedo, coaches Franklin Gerez and Manelik Pimentel and trainer Leonardo Jimenez will comprise the Mariners Dominican Summer League staff. Freddy Tiburcio will serve as the Field Coordinator for the Mariners in the Dominican Summer League. While manager Russell Vasquez, pitching coach Carlos Hernandez, coaches Jose Umbria, Alex Delgado and Richard Paz and trainers Johnny Molina and Luis Fermin will comprise the staff of the Mariners Venezuela Summer League team.

The coaching assignments are listed below. * notes new hire for 2013 season:

Roving Instructors:

Field Coordinator:........................................ Jack Howell

Pitching Coordinator:................................... Rick Waits

Rehab Pitching Coordinator:........................ Gary Wheelock

Catching Coordinator:.................................. John Stearns

Hitting Coordinator:..................................... Lee May Jr.

Infield Coordinator:..................................... Chris Woodward*

Outfield Coordinator:.................................. Brant Brown*

Latin America Field Coordinator:.................. Jose Moreno

Latin America Pitching Coordinator:.............. Nasusel Cabrera

Performance Specialists, Coordinator:.......... Chad Uihlein*

Rehab Coordinator:..................................... Ben Fraser*

Athletic Trainer Coordinator:........................ James Southard

Latin Athletic Training Coordinator............... Javier Alvidrez*

Mental Training Coach:................................ Rafael Colon

Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers:

Manager:................................... Daren Brown

Pitching Coach:........................... Dwight Bernard

Coach:........................................ Howard Johnson*

Coach:........................................ Brent Johnson

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Tom Newberg

Athletic Trainer:.......................... BJ Downie

Performance Specialist:.............. Rob Fumagalli

Clubhouse Manager:.................. Tony Gutierrez

Double-A Jackson Generals:

Manager:................................... Jim Pankovits

Pitching Coach:........................... Terry Clark*

Coach:........................................ Cory Snyder

Athletic Trainer:.......................... Eduardo Tamez

Performance Specialist:.............. Will Lindholm

Single-A High Desert Mavericks:

Manager:................................... James Horner*

Pitching Coach:........................... Lance Painter

Coach:........................................ Roy Howell

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Tyler Moos*

Performance Specialist:.............. Daniel Cobian

Single-A Clinton LumberKings:

Manager:................................... Eddie Menchaca

Pitching Coach:........................... Andrew Lorraine

Coach:........................................ Mike Kinkade

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Jeff Kahn

Performance Specialist:.............. Ryan White*

Short Season-A Everett AquaSox:

Manager:................................... Rob Mummau

Pitching Coach:........................... Rich Dorman

Coach:........................................ Rafael Santo Domingo

Athletic Trainer:.......................... Spyder Webb

Performance Specialist:.............. TBA

Rookie Pulaski Mariners:

Manager:.............................. Chris Prieto*

Pitching Coach:..................... Nasusel Cabrera

Coach:.................................. Scott Steinmann

Athletic Trainer:.................... Geoff Swanson

Performance Specialist:......... TBD

Clubhouse Manager:.............. Micah Barbour

Rookie Peoria Mariners:

Manager:.............................. Darrin Garner

Pitching Coach:..................... Cibney Bello

Coach:.................................. Andy Bottin

Athletic Trainer: ................... Randy Roetter

Performance Specialist: ........ Gabe Bourland           

Clubhouse Manager:............. Ryan Stiles

Clubhouse Assistant:............. Isaac Ruiz

Interpreter:.......................... Sung Kun Yun

Dominican Summer League:

Director of Admin:................ Martin Valerio

Field Coordinator:................. Freddy Tiburcio

Manager:.............................. Claudio Almonte

Pitching Coach:..................... Danielin Acevedo

Coach:.................................. Francisco Gerez 

Coach:.................................. Manelik Pimentel

Athletic Trainer:.................... Leonardo Jimenez

Venezuelan Summer League:

Coordinator:......................... Emilio Carrasquel

Manager:.............................. Russell Vasquez

Pitching Coach:..................... Carlos Hernandez

Coach:.................................. Jose Umbria

Coach:.................................. Alex Delgado

Coach:.................................. Richard Paz

Athletic Trainer:.................... Jhonny Molina

Athletic Trainer:.................... Luis Fermin

Clubhouse Manager:.............. Melvi Piedra