Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have named Edgar Varela Hitting Coach and Michael Salazar as the club’s new Head Athletic Trainer.

Varela, 39, served the previous two seasons as the Twins minor league field coordinator, after a 10-year stretch in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He was the Pirates Latin American Hitting Coordinator (2017), and was a manager or coach at multiple levels in their system dating back to 2008. A native of San Gabriel, California Varela is a graduate of Long Beach State. He was drafted in the 31st round by the Chicago White Sox in 2002 and signed as an infielder, playing in the Arizona and Florida organizations. Varela replaces former Hitting Coach James Rowson, who was hired as the Miami Marlins bench coach in October.

Salazar spent last season as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the San Diego Padres. Prior to 2019, he worked on the medical staffs at multiple levels of the Cleveland Indians organization from 2000-18. Other previous athletic training experiences include the Aguilas Cibaeñas (2002-03 & 2010-11), Team Dominican Republic in the MLB World Baseball Classic (2006 & ’09), the University of Alabama (1998-2000) and the Atlanta Braves (1999). Salazar attended A.T. Still University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Manchester University, and has a doctorate in athletic training.