Blue Jays Announce Minor League Appointments
The TORONTO BLUE JAYS announce the following appointments to their Minor League Field staffs for the 2012 season. Managers MARTY BROWN, SAL FASANO, DENNIS HOLMBERG and OMAR MALAVE will return to their respective clubs in Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Bluefield and the Gulf Coast entry. MIKE REDMOND who managed Lansing in 2011, will take over as manager at Dunedin, while CLAYTON McCULLOUGH assumes the post in Vancouver. JOHN TAMARGO JR. makes his managerial debut with the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League after serving as the club’s Hitting Instructor the past two seasons
MARTY BROWN, returns for a second season with Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League (AAA). The 48 year old spent five seasons in Japan prior to joining the 51s for the 2011 season. The Lawton, Oklahoma native previously managed the Nashville Sounds (AAA) from 2001-2002 & the Buffalo Bisons (AAA) from 2003-2005, being named Minor League Manager of the Year in 2004 with Buffalo. The former 12th round selection of the Reds played 14 seasons of professional baseball, spending three seasons in Japan (1992-1994), eight years in the minors from 1985-1991, 1995 & appeared in 35 games at the Major League level from 1988-1990 with Cincinnati and Baltimore.
SAL FASANO will manage the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League (AA) for a second consecutive season after leading the team to an Eastern League Championship. The Chicago, Illinois native was at the helm for a team that saw seven members named to the Mid-Season All-Star Team and three earn Post-Season selections. Fasano is entering his 3rd season as a manager after making his managerial debut with Lansing in 2010 after 17 professional seasons as a player. The right-handed hitting catcher played in 427 Major League games, with nine different clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007.
MIKE REDMOND moves to Dunedin of the Florida State League (Advanced-A) after making his debut as a manager with Lansing of the Midwest League (Low-A) in 2011. The Seattle, Washington native led the Lugnuts to a playoff berth in his rookie season, winning two playoff rounds before succumbing to Quad Cities in the Midwest League finals. The former catcher spent 13 seasons at the Major League level, with three different Clubs (1998-2004 with FLA, 2005-2009 with MIN & 2010 with CLE), batting .287 with 13 home runs & 243 RBI in 764 career games.
JOHN TAMARGO JR., debuts as a manager with Lansing in 2012, after serving as the Lugnuts’ Hitting Instructor the past two seasons. Born in Tampa, Florida, Tamargo has been coaching since 2004 as a hitting coach, beginning in the Astros system, prior to joining the Blue Jays organization in 2010. The former 21st round selection of the New York Mets spent eight seasons in the minors as an infielder with the Mets and Astros, spending parts of four seasons at the AAA level.
CLAYTON McCULLOUGH, takes over the defending Northwest League champion Vancouver Canadians after leading the Dunedin Blue Jays to playoff berth this past season. The 31-year-oldEast Carolina University product will be entering his 5th season as a manager, all with the Blue Jays and has reached the playoffs in three consecutive years with Lansing in 2009 and Dunedin in 2010-11.
DENNIS HOLMBERG, will manage the Bluefield Blue Jays in the Appalachian League for a second season. The Palm Harbor, Florida resident also reached the post-season in the inaugural season with Bluefield as a Blue Jays affiliate, losing in the Appalachian League finals. The 59-year-old has been a manager or coach in the Blue Jays system since the 1978 season and in 22 seasons as a manager, has posted a 1279-1182 record, making 10 playoff appearances, including a NY-Penn League Championship with Auburn in 2007.
OMAR MALAVE, returns to manage the Gulf Coast Blue Jays, his 19th season as a manager in the minor leagues. The Clearwater, Florida resident owns a career managerial record 1161-1032, all with the Blue Jays from 1991-2011. The Cumana, Venezuela native has spent his entire professional career dating back to 1981 as a player, coach and manager within the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
A complete list of the Blue Jays 2012 player development staff follows.
COORDINATORS
Field Coordinator Doug Davis
Senior Advisor John Mallee
Pitching Dane Johnson
Hitting Anthony Iapoce
Infield Mike Mordecai
Outfield/Baserunning Richard Miller
Pitching/Rehab Rick Langford
Motivational Coach Steve Springer
Rehab Coordinator Jeffrey Stevenson
Athletic Training Coordinator Mike Frostad
Strength & Conditioning Donovan Santas
Asst. Strength & Conditioning Chris Joyner
Equipment Billy Wardlow
LAS VEGAS NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manager: Marty Brown Manager: Sal Fasano
Pitching: Bob Stanley Pitching: Tom Signore
Hitting: Chad Mottola/Danny Solano Hitting: Jon Nunnally
Trainer: Voon Chong Trainer: Robert Tarpey
DUNEDIN LANSING
Manager: Mike Redmond Manager: John Tamargo Jr.
Pitching: Darold Knowles Pitching: Vince Horsman
Hitting: Ralph Dickenson Hitting: Kenny Graham
Trainer: Dan McIntosh Trainer: James Gardiner
VANCOUVER BLUEFIELD
Manager: Clayton McCullough Manager: Dennis Holmberg
Pitching: Jim Czajkowski Pitching: Antonio Caceres
Hitting: Dave Pano Hitting: Paul Elliott
Trainer: Shawn McDermott Trainer: Drew MacDonald
GULF COAST
Manager: Omar Malave
Pitching: TBD
Coach: John Schneider/Juan Lopez
Trainer: Jon Woodworth