Jewett Set For Fourth Season In Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS -- Manager Trent Jewett will lead the Indianapolis Indians for a fourth consecutive season, while Hitting Coach Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens, Trainer Jose Ministral and Strength & Conditioning Coach Mubarak Malik also return to the Tribe's 2008 field staff.
"Trent has done a great job of leading us over the past three years, and we are very fortunate to have him back," Indians Vice President & General Manager Cal Burleson says. "With Trent, we have registered more wins for our fans than we would have under different leadership. He has the complete respect of the players, and they respond very well to his very aggressive style of managing.
"Hensley is an outstanding hitting coach and a great asset to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. We are also pleased to have Jose back as our trainer and Mubarak back as our strength & conditioning coach."
The lone newcomer to the 2008 field staff is Pitching Coach Ray Searage, who spent the past two seasons in the same capacity for Double-A Altoona (Pa.). Searage replaces Jeff Andrews, who became the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching coach in late November.
"It's great to see Jeff receive an opportunity at the Major League level," Burleson adds. "Many of the bright young stars on Pittsburgh's staff developed under his tutelage, and this will be a great opportunity for Jeff to work with those pitchers once again.
"We are also pleased to have Ray join our field staff in Indianapolis. He has over 30 years of professional baseball experience, and comes highly recommended by Pirates Director of Player Development Kyle Stark."
Over 30 of Jewett's players have received big league promotions during the past three years. Former Indianapolis pitchers Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny, Paul Maholm and Ian Snell are expected to be in the Pirates' 2008 starting rotation. Former Tribe position players Jose Bautista, Ryan Doumit, Nate McLouth and Ronny Paulino are also expected to make Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster.
Jewett owns a 224-205 regular-season mark in three seasons with the Indians. In 2007, the 43-year-old picked up his 200th victory in Indianapolis on July 1 and his 900th win as a Minor League manager on July 15.
Jewett, who was honored by Baseball America as the International League's "Best Manager Prospect" in 2007, also became the first Tribe skipper to have his own blog on
IndyStar.com | Wednesday,*January*16,*2008 | Indianapolis, IN.
Indianapolis earned a share of the IL's West Division crown under Jewett in 2006, while his leadership helped the Indians to the IL's Governors' Cup Finals in 2005. Jewett posted a 154-132 record during those first two years, which marked the Tribe's first back-to-back winning seasons since 1999-2000.
Jewett became the 57th manager in franchise history prior to the 2005 campaign. The 2008 season will represent his 11th as a Triple-A manager and his 17th as an instructor in Pittsburgh's organization.
Ministral enters his 11th campaign in the Pirates farm system and his third year in Indianapolis. The 33-year-old previously worked with Rookie-League Bradenton (Fla.), Short-Season Williamsport (Pa.), High-A Lynchburg (Va.) and Triple-A Nashville (Tenn.).
Malik enters his fourth season in the Bucs chain and his third year in Indianapolis. The 25-year-old worked with Low-A Hickory (N.C.) in 2005 after joining the organization from the college ranks.
The 40-year-old Meulens begins his fourth season working with Pittsburgh farmhands. He has tutored eight of 16 position players on the Pirates' 40-man roster -- Bautista, Doumit, McLouth, Morgan, Paulino, Brian Bixler, Chris Duffy and Steven Pearce.
The 52-year-old Searage enters his sixth year as an instructor in the Pirates organization. He has guided nine of 24 pitchers on the Bucs' 40-man roster -- Gorzelanny, Maholm, Olivo Astacio, Ronald Belisario, Matt Capps, Dave Davidson, Yoslan Herrera, Luis Munoz and Romulo Sanchez.
Indianapolis will entertain Norfolk in its 2008 home opener on Friday, April 11. Season ticket packages can be purchased on-line @
Indianapolis Indians: Home or by calling the Victory Field Box Office at 317-269-3545 ext. 258.