Twins name Steil farm director, set training staff

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins named Brad Steil the director of Minor League operations to replace longtime farm director Jim Rantz, who will retire at the end of the year, the club announced on Thursday.

Additionally, the Twins finalized their training staff, as Dave Pruemer was named the head athletic trainer, Tony Leo the assistant athletic trainer and Lanning Tucker the assistant athletic trainer and rehabilitation coordinator.

Steil has spent 12 years in the Twins organization, the past five as director of baseball operations after getting his start in 2001 as an administrative assistant for scouting. He was responsible for establishing and overseeing the budget for the Minor League and Major League scouting departments. He also worked as a liaison between the baseball and technology departments with regards to video- and scouting-evaluation programs.

Steil, a Litchfield, Minn., native, replaces Rantz, who served as Minor League director from 1986-2012. Rantz has been with the organization since the club moved to Minnesota in 1961.

Pruemer, meanwhile, has spent 18 seasons in the Twins organization, including the past eight as assistant athletic trainer. He replaces Rick McWane, whose contract was not renewed.

Leo, who has spent 15 seasons with the organization, will serve as Minnesota's assistant athletic trainer in 2013 after spending the past three seasons as the assistant athletic trainer and rehabilitation coordinator. In his new role, Leo will travel with the team and assist Pruemer in all areas of athletic treatment.

Tucker, who has 21 years of experience within the Twins organization, will fill Leo's former role. Tucker had been the head Minor League trainer and rehab coordinator since '99, and in his new role will assist the Major League club at all home games and supervise the rehab programs of its players.