Pitching coordinator hired, Minors staffs set

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers on Tuesday announced that longtime Minor League coach Rick Tomlin would take over as the organization's pitching coordinator, though in practice, Tomlin has been on the job for weeks.

Tomlin, who spent 2012 in the same capacity with the Mets and has 24 years of Minor League coaching experience, takes over for Lee Tunnell, who was promoted to the Brewers' bullpen coach position in July. Tomlin was a 1971 Draft pick of the Washington Senators, but never threw a professional pitch because of injuries.

He interviewed in Arizona with Brewers farm director Reid Nichols and special assistant Dan O'Brien and was hired before the team's medical symposium in November. That weekend event included discussions of the Brewers' overall philosophy of developing pitchers and of individual prospects, a sort of crash course for Tomlin on the Brewers' system.

"He's been on the fast track," Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash said.

Tomlin has coached in the Minor Leagues with the Twins (1989-1995), Yankees (1996-2004), Nationals (2005-08) and Mets (2009-11). He previously served as a Minor League pitching coordinator with the Yankees (2002-04) and Mets (2011).

The Brewers also on Tuesday announced their Minor League coaching staffs, with only minor changes, including a promotion for former Brewers farmhand Nestor Corredor, who will manage rookie-level Arizona after three seasons with the team's Dominican League entry. Corredor played five seasons in Milwaukee's Minor League chain from 2004-08 before moving into coaching.

At Triple-A Nashville, manager Mike Guerrero and pitching coach Fred Dabney each return for their second season. Bob Skube, who played all seven of his professional seasons in the Brewers' organization, including brief Major League stints in 1982 and '83, joins the Sounds as coach after spending the past six seasons as a hitting coach in the Padres' organization, the last two at the Triple-A level. Skuke takes over for Al LeBoeuf, who remains in the organization and will begin next season in a scouting capacity.

The Double-A Huntsville Stars will see the return of manager Darnell Coles and pitching coach Chris Hook. The hitting coach is to be announced. Dwayne Hosey, who held the position last season, will serve as coach at rookie-level Helena in 2013.

The coaching staffs at advanced Class A Brevard County (manager Joe Ayrault, pitching coach Mark Dewey and coach Ned Yost IV) and Class A Wisconsin (manager Matt Erickson, pitching coach David Chavarria and coach Dusty Rhodes) will remain unchanged. Erickson, an Appleton, Wis., native, led the Timber Rattlers to the Midwest League championship last season.

The rookie Helena Brewers will be managed by Tony Diggs, who spent the previous seven seasons as manager of the rookie-level Arizona Brewers. Pitching coach Elvin Nina returns for his fifth season and Hosey will make the move from Huntsville.

Former Brewers All-Star infielder Don Money, who coached at Helena last season, will continue in his second season as special instructor, player development in the Minor League system. He spent 14 seasons managing at various levels in the organization from 1998-2011.