Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Mariners announce Minor League coaching staff for 2012 season

Jackson coach Roy Howell and Peoria Mariners pitching coach Cibney Bello added to staff

SEATTLE, Wash -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today the Mariners Minor League Coaching Staff for the 2012 season.

Most of the coaching staff remains unchanged from last season, including returning managers: Daren Brown (Tacoma), Jim Pankovits (Jackson) and Eddie Menchaca (Clinton). Pedro Grifol, who was the Mariners Director of Minor League Operations last year, will manage High Desert in 2011, Jose Moreno will manage Pulaski after spending last season with High Desert, Rob Mummau will take over as manager for Everett and Mike Kinkade will manage the Mariners in the Arizona League after coaching in Everett last season.

Daren Brown enters his 11th season in the Mariner Minor League organization and his 6th season at the helm of the Seattle's triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. He led the Rainiers to a 74-70 record in 2011, finishing second in the Pacific Coast League North Division. Dwight Bernard, who is entering his 9th seasons with the Mariners organization, will serve as pitching coach, Tom Newberg and Jeremy Clipperton will return as the clubs athletic trainers and Charlie Kenyon will be the team’s performance coach.

Jim Pankovits returns for his second season to manage the Mariners double-A affiliate in the Southern League, the Jackson Generals. He managed the 2011 Southern League North All-Stars, which included seven Generals on the squad. The rest of his staff will include pitching coach Lance Painter, coach Cory Snyder, athletic trainer Eduardo Tamaz and performance coach Rob Fumagalli.

Pedro Grifol, who was the Mariners Director of Minor League Operations in 2011, will manage the Mariners single-A affiliate in the California League, the High Desert Mavericks, in 2012. He is entering his 13th season with the Mariners, but first as a manager since 2003-05 with the Everett AquaSox. Grifol is currently managing the Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League.  His High Desert staff includes returning pitching coach Tom Dettore, who enters his fourth season with the Mariners and trainer B.J. Downie, who was the athletic trainer in Pulaski in 2011. Roy Howell enters his first season with the Mariners minor league organization as a coach with the Mavericks. Howell, who spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays, managed the Road Warriors the Atlantic League in 2011. Daniel Cobian also enters his first season as the Mavericks performance coach.

The Mariners single-A affiliate, the Clinton LumberKings, will be managed by Eddie Menchaca, who returns for his second season with the team. Menchaca led the LumberKings to a 63-76 overall record in 2011, including going 37-30 in the second half to secure a playoff spot. His staff includes pitching coach Andrew Lorraine, who was pitching coach with Everett in 2011, coach Tommy Cruz, who enters his 22nd season with the Mariners organization and returning athletic trainer Jake Naas. Will Lindholm enters his first season as the LumberKings performance coach.

Rob Mummau enters his 11th season in the Mariners minor league organization and his first season at the helm of the Seattle's Northwest League affiliate, the Everett AquaSox. Mummau spent the last two seasons as manager for the Pulaski Mariners in the Appalachian League. Rich Dorman, who was the pitching coach for the LumberKings in 2011, returns to the AquaSox for the first time since 2009-10. Andy Bottin begins his 18th season as coach in the Mariners organization and his first with Everett after spending the last 10 season with the Mariners rookie affiliate in the Arizona League. Trainer Spyder Webb enters his 34th season in the Mariners organization, all with the club’s entry in the Northwest League.

Jose Moreno, who managed the High Desert Mavericks last season, returns to the helm of the Pulaski Mariners in the Appalachian League after also managing the team in 2009. Nasusel Cabrera, who also serves as the Latin American Pitching Coordinator, returns for his third season as pitching coach with Pulaski. Rafael Santo Domingo is entering his eighth season in the Mariners organization and his fourth consecutive season as a coach with Pulaski.

Mike Kinkade, who was a coach for the AquaSox in 2011, begins his first managing assignment with the Peoria Mariners in the Arizona League. Scott Steinmann, who managed Everett last season, and Brent Johnson will serve as coaches for the Mariners. Cibney Bello rejoins the Mariners Organization after playing in the independent leagues the last four years, and will be entering his first professional coaching role. He was originally signed by the Mariners in 2000 and spent five seasons playing in the organization’s minor league system. Randy Roetter, who was recently named the 2011 Mariners Player Development Staff member of the Year, returns for his 11th season with the team. Gabe Bourland will return for his second season as the Mariners performance coach.

Manager Claudio Almonte, pitching coach Danielin Acevedo, coaches Franklin Gerez and Manelik Pimentel, trainers Jose Geraldino and Leonardo Santiago will comprise the Mariners Dominican Summer League staff. Freddy Tiburcio will serve as the Field Coordinator for the Mariners in the Dominican Summer League. While manager Russell Vasquez, pitching coach Carlos Hernandez, coaches Jose Umbria and Estuar Ruiz and trainers Johnny Molina and Luis Fermin will comprise the staff of the Mariners Venezuela Summer League team.

Read More: Seattle Mariners