Winston-Salem Warthogs Announce 2008 Field Staff
WINSTON-SALEM - The Winston-Salem Warthogs, the Advanced Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, announced their coaching staff for the 2008 season. Manager Tim Blackwell will return for his second consecutive season as the skipper of the Warthogs after guiding Winston-Salem to a 64-74 record in 2007. Blackwell will have a pair of new faces on staff this season, as Brian Drahman will make his organizational debut as the Warthogs pitching coach. After serving as the hitting coach for Rookie League Great Falls last year, Robert Sasser will assume the same position for the Warthogs in 2008. Josh Fallin returns for his eighth season as the Warthogs' trainer and Adam Tischler will assume the position of conditioning coach after spending the 2007 season in the same capacity with Double-A Birmingham.
"I am thrilled to hear that both Tim and Josh will be returning to the Warthogs coaching staff this season. I have formed a great working relationship with both of these guys and look forward to a successful 2008 season," said Ryan Manuel, General Manager of the Winston-Salem Warthogs. "I have not had the opportunity to work with Brian, Robert or Adam. I know that each are bringing some great experience to the organization and have heard they are great to work with."
The Warthogs open the 2008 season on April 4 when they travel to Kinston for a three-game series against the Indians. The final Opening Day at Ernie Shore Field is set for Tuesday, April 8 when the Warthogs welcome the Lynchburg Hillcats to Winston-Salem for a three-game series. The first pitch on Opening Day is scheduled for 7 pm.
Warthogs coaching staff background:
Blackwell - Drafted as a catcher by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 1970 amateur draft ... played in Winston-Salem during the 1972 season ... made his big league debut behind the plate with the Red Sox in 1974, while playing in 44 games and hitting .246 for the season ...spent 10 seasons in the major leagues with Boston (1974-75), Philadelphia (1976-77), Chicago Cubs (1978-81) and Montreal (1977, 1982-1983) ... hit .228 with 6 home runs and 80 RBI while playing in 426 games in his major league career ... posted a 757-845 record in 13 seasons as a minor-league manager.
Drahman - Selected in the 2nd round of the amateur draft in 1986 by the Milwaukee Brewers ... went 3-2 with a 3.52 ERA as a reliever during a four-year career with the Chicago White Sox (1991-1993) and Florida Marlins (1994) ... traded from the Brewers to the White Sox for Jerry Reuss ... managed the Sussex Skyhawks, an independent team in the Can-Am League in 2007.
Sasser - Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of the 1993 amateur draft ... entered only one major league game and recorded one at-bat with the Texas Rangers in 1998 ... entering his third year as a coach with the White Sox ... hitting coach for the White Sox' Rookie League team, Great Falls in 2007.
Fallin - Enters his eighth season as the head trainer in Winston-Salem and 10th season overall with the White Sox ... athletic trainer for the Arizona Fall League in 2003 ... two-time Carolina League Trainer of the Year (2007, 2005) ... trainer for the 2007 NCAA champion Wake Forest men's soccer team.
Tischler - Begins his fourth season as a conditioning coach in the White Sox organization and first in Winston-Salem ... spent the 2007 season in the same capacity for Double-A Birmingham and 2006 with Class A Kannapolis ... began his White Sox career with Advanced Rookie Great Falls in 2005 ... 2003 graduate of Ithaca College.