SALEM, VA-The Salem Avalanche, Advanced Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, announced that the Astros have assigned Pitching Coach Gary Ruby and Hitting Coach Keith Bodie to Salem for the 2008 season.
Gary Ruby will once again join his long-time friend - Astros General Manager Ed Wade - when he joins the Astros minor league coaching staff in Salem. Ruby and Wade first worked together in 1988 when Wade was the GM of the Phillies. Ruby, a former pitching coach for the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Class-AAA, Philadelphia), most recently served as the minor league pitching coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2002 through 2007.
Keith Bodie was selected by the New York Mets in the 1974 amateur draft as a third round pick, but he never reached the majors. Bodie managed in the minor leagues for 13 seasons, most recently with the Harrisburg Senators (Class-AA, Washington) in 2005. Bodie began his coaching career with Houston in 1984 with the Auburn Astros, and then moved to the Columbus Astros in 1985. From 1994 to 1999, he was the minor league coordinator for the San Francisco Giants. He earned a brief September call-up as a coach in 2001 after having managed the Wichita Wranglers (Class-AA, Kansas City). It was the first time in 28 years of pro baseball that he was in a major league clubhouse during the season.
In 1981, Bodie played alongside Avalanche Manager Jim Pankovits and Astros' minor league field coordinator Tom Wiedenbauer with the Tucson Toros (Class-AAA, Houston).
Bodie replaces Alex Eckelman, previously announced as Hitting Coach in November, 2007, on Pankovits' staff.
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The Salem Avalanche opens the 2008 season at home on Friday, April 4, 2008 versus the Potomac Nationals. Season Tickets and Ticket Books are now on sale by visiting the Avalanche on the web at
The Official Website of the Salem Avalanche - Single A Affiliate of the Houston Astros, or by calling the administrative offices at 540-389-3333.