A's announce 2012 Minor League staff

The Oakland A's today announced several changes to their minor league staff assignments for the 2012 season. Todd Steverson replaces Greg Sparks as minor league roving hitting instructor, while Sparks takes over for Stevenson as hitting coach at Triple-A Sacramento. The A's also shuffled three minor league pitching coaches, with John Wasdin moving to Single-A Burlington, Ariel Prieto switching to Single-A Vermont and Jimmy Escalante now coaching with the A's affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League. In addition, trainers Travis Tims and Brian Thorson switch affiliations, with Tims relocating to Burlington and Thorson replacing him in Vermont.

Darren Bush returns to manage Sacramento for the second consecutive season. He guided the River Cats to an 88-56 record and a playoff appearance in 2011 after managing for two seasons at Single-A Stockton (2007-08) and two at Double-A Midland (2009-10). Bush has a 376-328 record in five seasons as a manager. His staff consists of pitching coach Scott Emerson, Sparks and trainer Brad LaRosa.

Steve Scarsone will manage at Midland for the second consecutive season after guiding the RockHounds to a 63-77 record last year. He skippered Single-A Kane County in 2009 and Stockton in 2010 after managing for two seasons in the Arizona (2001) and Philadelphia (2000) farm systems. Scarsone is 346-350 in five seasons as a minor league manager. His staff includes pitching coach Don Schulze, hitting coach Tim Garland and trainer Justin Whitehouse.

Webster Garrison is in his second season as manager at Stockton and his sixth in the A's farm system. He led the Ports to a 75-65 record and an appearance in the California League playoffs after spending the previous two seasons as hitting coach with Midland. Garrison has a 409-367 record in six seasons as manager. His staff features pitching coach Craig Lefferts, hitting coach Brian McArn and trainer Nate Brooks.

Aaron Nieckula returns to Burlington for the second consecutive season after managing the Bees to a 76-62 record and a playoff appearance in the A's first season with the affiliate. He has managed for six seasons in the A's farm system, all at the Single-A level, and has a record of 422-410. Nieckula's staff includes Wasdin, hitting coach Haas Pratt and Tims.

Rick Magnante will manage at Vermont for the second straight year after leading the Monsters to a playoff appearance with a 39-35 record last year. He managed the previous five seasons with the A's Short-Season affiliate at Vancouver and was also at the helm for three seasons in the Detroit Tigers farm system from 1987-89. Magnante has a 336-335 record in nine seasons. His staff consists of Prieto, hitting coach Casey Myers and Thorson.

Marcus Jensen is in his fourth season as manager of the A's affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League. After guiding the A's club to a 27-29 record last year, he is 79-89 in his four seasons. Jensen's coaching staff includes Escalante, hitting coach Juan Dilone and trainer Chris Lessner.