Long press release after the jump:
BLUE JAYS ANNOUNCE MINOR LEAGUE APPOINTMENTS
The TORONTO BLUE JAYS announce the following appointments to their Minor League Field staffs for the 2011 season. New to the organization are managers MARTY BROWN, MIKE REDMOND & pitching coach JIM CZAJKOWSKI, a former Blue Jay farmhand from 1996-1997. SAL FASANO will manage New Hampshire (AA) of the Eastern League, OMAR MALAVE has been appointed as manager of the Gulf Coast Blue Jays, while RICK LANGFORD will serve as the Pitching Rehab Coordinator.
MARTY BROWN, has been appointed manager at Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League (AAA). The 47 year old has spent the previous five seasons in Japan, most recently managed the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Japanese Pacific League. Previously the Lawton, Oklahoma native managed the Nashville Sounds (AAA) from 2001-2002 & the Buffalo Bisons (AAA) from 2003-2005, being named Minor League Manager of the Year in 2004 with Buffalo. The former 12th round selection of the Reds played 14 seasons of professional baseball, spending three seasons in Japan (1992-1994), eight years in the minors from 1985-1991, 1995 & appeared in 35 games at the Major League level from 1988-1990 with Cincinnati and Baltimore.
SAL FASANO, has been promoted to manager of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA). The Chicago, Illinois native is entering his 2nd season as a manager after making his coaching debut last season with Lansing (A) of the Midwest League after 17 professional seasons as a player. The right-handed hitting catcher played in 427 Major League games, with nine different clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007.
CLAYTON McCULLOUGH, will manage Dunedin of the Florida State League (Advanced-A) for the 2nd straight season. The 30-year-old East Carolina University product will be entering his 5th season as a manager, all with the Blue Jays and has led the Lansing Lugnuts to the playoffs in 2009 and the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2010.
MIKE REDMOND, will make his managing debut at Lansing of the Midwest League (A) after 19 professional seasons as a player. The 39-year-old played last season with the Cleveland Indians, appearing in 22 games. The former catcher spent 13 seasons at the Major League level, with three different Clubs (1998-2004 with FLA, 2005-2009 with MIN & 2010 with CLE), batting .287 with 13 home runs & 243 RBI in 764 career games.
JOHN SCHNEIDER, will manage the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League (Short-A) this season, the Blue Jays first season affiliated with the Canadians. The Princeton, New Jersey native is entering his 4th season and 3rd as manager. The 29 year old led the Gulf Coast Blue Jays to a 2nd place finish with a 31-28 record in the 2010 season.
DENNIS HOLMBERG, will manage Toronto's new affiliate, Bluefield of the Appalachian League. The Palm Harbor, Florida resident had spent the last nine seasons managing at Auburn (A) in the New York-Penn League from 2002-2009. The 59 year old has been a manager or coach in the Blue Jays system since the 1978 season and in 21 seasons as a manager, has posted a 1239-1154 record, making nine playoff appearances, including a NY-Penn League Championship with Auburn in 2007.
OMAR MALAVE, has been appointed manager of the Gulf Coast Blue Jays after spending last season as the first base coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Clearwater, Florida resident has spent 18 seasons as a manager in the minors (1134-1000 record), all with the Blue Jays from 1991-2009. In fact, the Cumana, Venezuela native has spent his entire professional career dating back to 1981 as a player, coach and manager within the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
A complete list of the Blue Jays 2011 player development staff follows.
COORDINATORS
Field Coordinator Doug Davis
Pitching Dane Johnson
Hitting Anthony Iapoce
Infield Mike Mordecai
Outfield/Baserunning Richard Miller
Pitching/Rehab Rick Langford
Senior Advisor Mel Queen
Senior Advisor Mel Didier
Motivational Coach Steve Springer
Rehab Coordinator TBA
Athletic Training Coordinator TBA
Strength & Conditioning Donovan Santas
Equipment Billy Wardlow
LAS VEGAS NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manager: Marty Brown Manager: Sal Fasano
Pitching: Tom Signore Pitching: Pete Walker
Hitting: Chad Mottola Hitting: Justin Mashore
Trainer: Voon Chong Trainer: Bob Tarpey
DUNEDIN LANSING
Manager: Clayton McCullough Manager: Mike Redmond
Pitching: Darold Knowles Pitching: Vince Horsman
Hitting: Ralph Dickenson Hitting: John Tamargo Jr.
Trainer: Dan McIntosh Trainer: James Gardiner
VANCOUVER BLUEFIELD
Manager: John Schneider Manager: Dennis Holmberg
Pitching: Jim Czajkowski Pitching: Antonio Caceres
Hitting: Dave Pano Hitting: Kenny Graham
Trainer: TBA Trainer: Shawn McDermott
GULF COAST
Manager: Omar Malave
Pitching: John Wesley
Hitting: Paul Elliott & Danny Solano
Trainer: Jon Woodworth
Tom Back: Glad to see Sal Fasano move up. They moved Omar Malave as far from the majors as they could , while keeping him in the organization, maybe he wanted to be closer to home? I'm glad they are keeping Rick Langford in the organization, though I'm really not sure what he'll really be doing. In adding Mike Redmond we have another former catcher managing in the system.