Cardinals announce 2013 coaching staff
Mabry promoted to Hitting Coach; Ilsley named Bullpen Coach
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today the team’s coaching staff for the upcoming 2013 season.
The Cardinals announced that they have promoted John Mabry to Hitting Coach, after he spent the 2012 season as Assistant Hitting Coach, and that Blaise Ilsley has been promoted to Bullpen Coach following five seasons as the Pitching Coach for the Cardinals Triple-A Memphis affiliate. Mark McGwire, who held the Hitting Coach title the past three seasons, recently informed the team of his decision not to return in 2013.
“The contributions made by our coaches has helped to assure a winning culture throughout the Cardinals organization,” stated Cardinals Senior Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak. “We are fortunate to be in a position to have such talented coaches within our organization who are at-the-ready when opportunities at the big league level arise.”
In addition to the promotions of Mabry and Ilsley, the team has extended offers to Pitching Coach Derek Lilliquist, Bench Coach Mike Aldrete, Third Base Coach Jose Oquendo and First Base Coach Chris Maloney to return in their current positions. The Cardinals have not yet named a successor to Mabry as the team’s Assistant Hitting Coach.
“I could not have been more impressed by the way these coaches went about their business last season and I am excited by the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we continue to grow as a team,” said Manager Mike Matheny.
Mabry, 42, played 14 seasons in the majors, including three stints with the Cardinals, and he helped contribute to a Cardinals offense that led the league this year in both runs scored and on-base pct., while finishing a close second in batting average.
Ilsley, 48, has overseen a Memphis pitching staff that has led the Pacific Coast League in team ERA in three of his five seasons. He has spent 11 seasons in the Cardinals organization, working six seasons at Springfield (AA) before joining the Memphis coaching staff in 2008.
Oquendo, 49, will be entering his 14th season as the team’s third base coach and his 15th season as a member of the Cardinals Major League coaching staff. Oquendo is also a key contributor to the team’s infield play.
Lilliquist, 46, joined the Cardinals Major League coaching staff in 2011 and has been part of the organization since 2002. He took over as the team’s Pitching Coach this season and oversaw a staff that produced four pitchers with 13 or more wins and the National League co-leader in saves.
Aldrete, 51, spent his first season as the team’s Bench Coach in 2012 after performing the team’s Assistant Hitting Coach duties from 2008-11.
Maloney, 51, spent his first season as a member of the Major League coaching staff in 2012 and he has been part of the Cardinals organization for 18 seasons, managing for five seasons at Memphis.