Ex-hurler Nagy returns to Indians as an instructor

CLEVELAND -- Former Indians pitcher Charles Nagy will be back in a Cleveland uniform this spring.

The Indians have hired Nagy as an instructor, though the specifics of his new role with the organization will be hammered out with general manager Chris Antonetti before the season. The 46-year-old Nagy was dismissed from his role as the D-backs' pitching coach at the end of last season.

"I just recently signed on with the Tribe," Nagy said at Tribe Fest on Saturday. "The role will be defined at some point as to what I'm going to do during the season. ... I told Chris I will do anything. I'll rub up balls for you. I'll catch bullpens."

Nagy previously served as a pitching coach for Triple-A Columbus in 2010 and for Triple-A Salt Lake (Angels) in '05-06. It is believed he will work with Minor League pitchers this season for Cleveland, which also employed him as a special assistant to baseball operations after he retired from playing.

Nagy suited up for the Indians in 13 of his 14 seasons in the Majors, going 129-105 with a 4.51 ERA in 318 career games with Cleveland and San Diego. Nagy, who ranks 10th on the Tribe's all-time wins list, was a first-round selection for the team in the 1988 First-Year Player Draft.

"It's just a comforting feeling being back here," Nagy said. "I was coming down the steps from the players' parking lot and I was thinking I spent a lot of years coming down these steps."

Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said he is looking forward to having Nagy in camp with the club this spring.

"It's unbelievable," Callaway said. "I know Charlie well and he's a great guy. He's going to be a great brain for these guys to pick. [Zach] McAllister and [Corey] Kluber, he'll be so valuable to those type of guys who are really trying to get a full season under their belt. Nagy did it for a long time and stayed healthy, so he'll be able to guide those guys."