Mariners announce Minor League coaching staff for 2015

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik and Director of Player Development Chris Gwynn announced today the Mariners Minor League Coaching Staff for the organization's affiliates for the 2015 season.

The coaching staff includes six returning managers: James Horner (Double-A Jackson), Eddie Menchaca (Single-A Bakersfield), Scott Steinmann (Single-A Clinton), Rob Mummau (Short-A Everett), Darrin Garner (Rookie AZL Mariners), and Russell Vasquez (Rookie VSL Mariners). Jose Umbria, who served as a coach for the AZL Mariners in 2014, will manage the Dominican Summer League Mariners and Pat Listach will manage Triple-A Tacoma in his first season in the organization.

Pat Listach enters his first season in the Mariners Minor League organization at the helm of the Seattle's affiliate in the Pacific Coast League, the Tacoma Rainiers. Listach spent the 2014 season as the third base coach for the Houston Astros. He has over 20 years of experience in professional baseball as a player, Major League and minor league coach, and minor league manager and coordinator. Prior to last season, Listach was the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league infield coordinator in 2013 and coached on the Major League staffs for the Chicago Cubs (2011-12) and Washington Nationals (2009-10) for two years apiece. He also has nine years of minor league coaching experience in the Cubs system from 2000-08. Pitching coach Jaime Navarro, who is entering his seventh season with the Mariners organization and hitting Cory Snyder, who is entering his fifth season with the organization, are each returning for their second season with the Rainiers. Tom Newberg and Tyler Moos will serve as part of the training staff, while Will Lindholm will be the team's performance coach.

James Horner will return for his second season as manager of the Mariners affiliate in the Southern League, the Jackson Generals. Horner enters his 9th season with the Mariners (2005-10, 2013-current), but third as manager since returning to the organization in 2013. Pitching coach Lance Painter and hitting coach Roy Howell will round out the staff in Jackson. Painter enters his 10th season with the Mariners, including his fifth with Jackson (2010-12, 2013-current). Howell returns to the Generals after managing the Tacoma Rainiers in 2014. He guided the Rainiers to 74 wins in his first season leading the field staff, which was tied for the 9th-most victories collected by a manager in his first full season at Tacoma. The rest of his staff will include athletic trainer BJ Downie and performance coach Derek Mendoza.

The Mariners, who have had an affiliate in the High-A California League since 1978, will move affiliations to Bakersfield in 2015. Manager Eddie Menchaca, who managed the High Desert Mavericks last season will return for his second season leading the Mariners California League affiliate. He enters his seventh season in the Mariners organization, including five as manager. Menchaca has led his squad to the postseason in four of the last five seasons. Pitching coach Andrew Lorraine and hitting coach Max Venable each return to Menchaca's staff for the second consecutive season. Lorraine is entering his sixth season as a pitching coach in the Mariners minor league system, while Venable returns for his second season as hitting coach. Geoff Swanson, who served as the Clinton LumberKings trainer in 2014 will begin his first season with Bakersfield and first-year performance coach Aaron Reis round out the Blaze staff.

The Mariners Midwest League affiliate, the Clinton LumberKings, will be managed by Scott Steinmann, who returns for his second consecutive season with the team. His staff includes returning pitching coach Cibney Bello, who is entering his third season with the Mariners organization and hitting coach Mike Kinkade, who is beginning his fifth season with Seattle. Athletic trainer Matt Corvo is entering his first season with Clinton.

Rob Mummau, who managed the Everett in 2012 and 2013, returns the helm of the Seattle's affiliate in the Northwest League, after managing the Pulaski Mariners in 2014. Mummau enters his 14th season with the Mariners, his fifth as manager. He has led his squad to the postseason three times, accumulating a 198-155 (.561) record. Jason Blanton, who also served as the Pulaski Mariners pitching coach in 2014, enters his first season with Everett and hitting coach Mike Davis returns for his second consecutive season with the AquaSox. Trainer Shane Zdebiak enters for his second season in the Mariners organization as AquaSox team trainer.

Darrin Garner, who enters his 19th season in the Mariners organization, returns for the third season as manager of the Peoria Mariners in the Arizona League. Andy Bottin and James Lofton will serve as coaches for the Mariners and Rich Dorman will be the team's pitching coach. Randy Roetter returns for his 14th season with the team as trainer and Scott Burgett will be the Mariners performance coach.

Manager Jose Umbria will take over at the helm of the Mariners Dominican Summer League team after serving as coach for the Arizona League Mariners in 2014. Pitching coach Danielin Acevedo, coaches Francisco Gerez and Jose Guillen and trainer Leonardo Jimenez will comprise the rest of the Mariners Dominican Summer League staff. Manager Russell Vasquez, pitching coach Carlos Hernandez, coaches Alex Delgado, Richard Paz and Selwyn Langaigne and trainers Johnny Molina and Luis Fermin will comprise the staff of the Mariners Venezuela Summer League team.

The coaching assignments are listed below. * notes new hire for 2015 season:

Roving Instructors:

Field Coordinator:........................................ Jack Howell

Pitching Coordinator:................................... Terry Clark

Rehab Pitching Coordinator:........................ Gary Wheelock

Special Assistant Coordinator....................... Alvin Davis

Catching Coordinator:.................................. Dan Wilson

Hitting Coordinator:..................................... Lee May Jr.

Infield Coordinator:..................................... Jim Pankovits

Outfield Coordinator:.................................. Brant Brown

Bunting and Baserunning Coordinator.......... Daren Brown

Latin America Field Coordinator:.................. Jose Moreno

Latin America Pitching Coordinator:.............. Nasusel Cabrera

Performance Coordinator:........................... Rob Fumagalli

Athletic Trainer Coordinator:........................ James Southard

Asst. Athletic Trainer Coordinator:............... Ben Fraser

Latin Athletic Training Coordinator............... Javier Alvidrez

Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers:

Manager:................................... Pat Listach*

Pitching Coach:........................... Jaime Navarro

Coach:........................................ Cory Snyder

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Tom Newberg

Athletic Trainer:.......................... Tyler Moos

Performance Specialist:.............. Will Lindholm

Double-A Jackson Generals:

Manager:................................... James Horner

Pitching Coach:........................... Lance Painter

Coach:........................................ Roy Howell

Athletic Trainer:.......................... BJ Downie

Performance Specialist:.............. Derek Mendoza

Single-A High Bakersfield Blaze:

Manager:................................... Eddie Menchaca

Pitching Coach:........................... Andrew Lorraine

Coach:........................................ Max Venable

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Geoff Swanson

Performance Specialist:.............. Aaron Reis*

Single-A Clinton LumberKings:

Manager:................................... Scott Steinmann

Pitching Coach:........................... Cibney Bello

Coach:........................................ Mike Kinkade

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Matt Corvo*

Performance Specialist:.............. TBD

Short-A Everett AquaSox:

Manager:................................... Rob Mummau

Pitching Coach:........................... Jason Blanton

Coach:........................................ Mike Davis

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Shane Zdebiak

Performance Specialist:.............. TBD

Rookie Peoria Mariners:

Manager:................................... Darrin Garner

Pitching Coach:........................... Rich Dorman

Coach:........................................ Andy Bottin

Coach:........................................ James Lofton

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Randy Roetter

Performance Specialist:.............. Scott Burgett*

Clubhouse Manger:.................... Isaac Ruiz

Clubhouse Assistant:.................. Tony Gutierrez

Rookie Dominican Republic Mariners:

Director of Admin.:..................... Martin Valerio

Manager:................................... Jose Umbria

Pitching Coach:........................... Danielin Acevedo

Coach:........................................ Francisco Gerez

Coach:........................................ Jose Guillen*

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Leonardo Jimenez

Performance Specialist:.............. TBD

Rookie Venezuela Mariners:

VSL Coordinator:........................ Emilio Carrasquel

Manager:................................... Russell Vasquez

Pitching Coach:........................... Carlos Hernandez

Coach:........................................ Alex Delgado

Coach:........................................ Richard Paz

Coach:........................................ Selwyn Langaigne

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Jhonny Molina

Athletic Trainer: ......................... Luis Fermin

Clubhouse Manager:.................. Melvi Piedra