The Fort Worth Cats today have added James Frisbie and Heath Autrey to their 2008 coaching staff, it was announced today.
Frisbie, who will serve as pitching coach, was the manager of the Bradenton Juice in the South Coast League in 2007. In 2006, he was the pitching coach for the Coastal Bend Aviators in the American Association; in 2005 with Chillicothe in the Fontier League, and in 2004 with Jackson in the Central League.
He managed the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings in 2003, their last season in the Central League. He last pitched for the Alexandria Aces from 1998-2001. He played college baseball at Abilene Christian Universitiy.
Autrey was the Head Coach of the league champion Coppell Copperheads of the Texas Collegiate League in 2007. Autrey, who is the head baseball coach at Red Oak High School, started his coaching career at UT-Pan American.
He also worked as an associate scout for the New York Yankees from 1999-2001.
Pelicans Training Academy Instructor Signs with Padres
The Pensacola Pelicans and Pelicans Training Academy are pleased to announce that Andrew Salvo has accepted the position of Area Scout for the Major League Baseball San Diego Padres.
Salvo will call Seattle, WA home and is responsible for scouting Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana high school and college players. He will be involved in negotiating with draft picks selected from his area.
After playing for the Pelicans in 2006, Salvo retired from playing baseball and was hired on as the Pelicans Training Academy Lead Instructor. He was responsible for the up-start of the Training Academy, from construction of the facility to lessons and clinics to coaching an 18U travel team.
"Andrew was the main person in getting the Training Academy off the ground, he laid a solid foundation for us to move forward," said Pelicans General Manager Talmadge Nunnari. "Just like on the field, our goal is to advance players and staff members into affiliated baseball. The entire Pelicans organization wishes him great success."
Salvo began his professional baseball career in 2001 with the Chicago White Sox after playing collegiate baseball at the University of Delaware. His career included playing for the New York Mets organization, Long Island Ducks, Brockton Rox, and the Pelicans.
The Helena Brewers announced today, Rene Gonzales as the new 2008 Skipper. Gonzales fills the vacancy left by Jeff Isom who was promoted as the Field Manager for West Virginia Power (Milwaukee's Single A Affiliate in the South Atlantic League).
Gonzales a spent last year with Milwaukee's Rookie ball team in the Arizona League which was also his first year coaching in the Brewers organization. In the second half of the season, Gonzales was able to improve the team's record from .250 to .429.
"Gonzo brings a wealth of Major League experience to the Brewer organization," said Reid Nichols, Milwaukee's Director of Player Development. "He has played multiple positions and played for many well respected managers. The Helena team will benefit greatly from his professionalism and enthusiasm."
Gonzales played at Cal State- Los Angeles before being selected in the fifth round of the 1982 June Draft by Montreal. Two years later he broke into the Major Leagues with the Expos and enjoyed a career that spanned 13 years with Montreal (2), Baltimore (4), Toronto (1), California (3), Cleveland (1), Texas(1), and Colorado (1). His career batting average was .239 with 19 HR and 136 RBI. His best years, statistically, were when he played for the Angeles organization.
"Rene seams to possess extensive knowledge of the game of baseball that will benefit our young players," said Paul Fetz, General Manager of the Helena Brewers.
Gonzales is a native of Austin, Texas and currently resides in Covina, California.
Joining Gonzales, will be 2007 returnees Paco Martin (hitting coach), Aris Terado (pitching coach), Aaron Hoback (trainer), and newcomer Jake Marx (strength coach)
Norberto "Paco" Martin comes back to Helena for his third season (2004, 2007, and 2008). Martin spent four years playing with the White Sox (1993-1997), one year with the Angels (1998) and one with the Blue Jays (1999). Primarily a second baseman, Martin earned a career fielding percentage of .970, and a career batting average of .278.
Aris Tirado joined Helena in the middle of the 2007 season. This will be Tirado's second season with Milwaukee's farm system but will be his 12th as a pitching coach having spent the previous ten with the Texas Rangers minor-league system. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Mets, Tirado also played for the Yankees and the Expos from 1981-1991. He also pitched at Caserta in the Italian Summer League from 1992-94 and was named Puerto Rican Winter League Pitcher of the Year in 1988 and 1989.
Aaron Hoback will spend his second year with Helena and fourth year in Professional Baseball, having completed internships with the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals and the 2005 Springfield Cardinals.
Jake Marx joined Milwaukee's farm system in 2007 with the Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee's A+ Affiliate in the Florida State League). Along with his duties in Helena, he will also handle the daily strength and conditioning duties for all programs conducted in Arizona.
I hope you have all had the chance to work off all those Thanksgiving pounds as we head into the Christmas holiday.
I spent the last week in Nashville at the Baseball Winter Meetings and came back with lots of useful information to apply for the coming season. I will keep you posted.
I have signed the new lease agreement for Lindquist Field and am happy to report that we have committed to stay here for another 20 years.
This season will also be our 15th anniversary and I need your help. Please email me any suggestions you may have on how we can celebrate this anniversary. It could be a Theme or even a giveaway item of sorts. There are no dumb ideas so please let me know your thoughts by emailing me.
For the first time that I can recall, the schedule has been completed before the end of the year. Reserved Box Seat Vouchers are printed and in my office, so please let me know if you want to buy some for you or others as a Christmas gift. The price will be the same $116.00 for 20 vouchers. Again, these are the Reserved Seat Open Dated Vouchers with each voucher containing the home schedule on the back. I will sell less tan 20 should you wish but please email me with that request. Otherwise, email that you want them with a mailing address and I will mail them when you check arrives at the office. By the way, the address is Ogden Raptors, 2330 Lincoln Ave., Ogden, UT. 84401. You can also order by phone at (801) 393-2400. To really make it simple, email me or call me with your credit card number and I will send the vouchers right out.
Don't forget that we also have lots of souvenir items and apparel that you can also get for the holidays. Just email me with what you would like to get and I will confirm it and giv you the costs.
I have received many calls on the expansion project and when you can expect to see things happening down here. The project is currently under way and you should see heavy equipment roll in here January 2nd, or 3rd. It will go fast an we will try to have progress photos loaded on the website so you can se it happening. We will also contacting potential Suite Buyers shortly and begin that process as well. If you haven't let me know already, please tell me if you want Suite Information.
If I don't get another Newsletter out in time, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year.
Owlz, Angels Extend Player Development Contract Through 2012
The Orem Owlz Thursday announced an extension of the team's Player Development Contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim through 2012. The announcement was made jointly by the Angels' Director of Player Development Abe Flores and Aaron Wells, General Manager of the Orem Owlz. The previous agreement was set to expire after the 2010 season.
"We are pleased to reach this long-term extension and that the Orem Owlz Baseball Club will be an Angels' affiliate through the 2012 season," said Flores. "The Angels believe the Orem franchise is the 'crown jewel' of the Pioneer League and we value our strong relationship with the Owlz' ownership, front office and their special group of supportive fans. The Angels look forward to more success in Orem, both on and off the field, in the years to come."
As the Angels' Pioneer League affiliate since 2001, the Owlz, under the direction of manager Tom Kotchman, have won three league titles and six divisional titles, while qualifying for the playoffs every year.
"We are excited about furthering our relationship with the Angels," said Wells. "They continually prove to be an organization committed to quality players on and off the field. That commitment has resulted in success at the Major League level and we are pleased that success starts here in Orem."
Several franchise players have gone on to play for the Angels in the majors, most recently Casey Kotchman, Howie Kendrick, Dallas McPherson, Jeff Mathis and Reggie Willits. Many current players on the Angels 40-man roster have also come through Utah County, including Brandon Wood, Jose Arredondo, Nick Green and Sean Rodriguez.
Joe Szekely, who is entering his 24th year in professional baseball, was named the manager of the 2008 Princeton Rays on December 11. His coaching staff this coming season will feature two returnees in pitching coach Marty DeMerritt and hitting coach Rafael Deleon. They will be joined by an additional coach, Hector Torres, to give Princeton it's largest coaching staff in the franchise's 21-year history.
Szekely, 46, is entering his fourth season in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization, all as a manager and most recently managed the Vero Beach Devil Rays to a 59-79 mark in 2007. He has a career minor league record of 351-402 in his seven years as a manager. He also led the Visalia Oaks to within one win of the California League title in 2006, which happened on the heels of him leading the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays to the Midwest League playoffs in 2005.
Prior to joining the Tampa Bay organization, the Marion, TX resident spent six seasons with the Kansas City Royals serving as hitting coach with single A Spokane (1999), manager of the single-A Charleston (WV) Alley Cats (2000), and manager of single-A Burlington, Iowa (2001-2003) and as the Royals minor league catching instructor in 2004. As a player, he was the second round draft pick of the Royals in the 1982 draft and had a minor league playing career that spanned 11 seasons for four organizations: Royals (1982-1983), Dodgers (1983-1989), Blue Jays (1990), and Braves (1991-1992). A catcher, he was a career .263 hitter in 815 professional games. He also spent four seasons with the Atlanta Braves as a minor league coach and instructor.
DeMerritt, 54, returns to lead the P-Rays' mound staff after seeing his pitchers in 2007 set Princeton single-season franchise records for most shutout games (6) and least runs allowed in a season (303). He has been in the Tampa Bay organization since 2001 and prior to his arrival in Princeton, he was at Bakersfield (2001-2003), Charleston SC (2004), and Visalia (2005-2006). His long and distinguished coaching career began in 1983 in the Giants organization. He has spent four years as a major
league pitching coach both with the Giants (1987, 1989, 1991) and the Cubs (1999). He was the pitching coach for the 1989 San Francisco Giants World Series team and also their 1987 National League Western Division champions. He also has been either a coach or instructor in the Pirates and Marlins organizations. His professional pitching career started with him being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1971 amateur draft and he pitched for eight seasons in the minors with the Cardinals, Brewers, and Astros.
Deleon, 43, will be returning to Princeton in 2008 in the role of hitting coach for the third straight season. He served as a manager, coach, and scout with Tampa Bay's Dominican operations between 1996 and 2001. He previously worked as a coach for the Dominican Summer League entry for the Yankees (1993-95), and Mets (1992), and also served as a scout in the Dominican Republic for the Montreal Expos in 1990-91. He played minor league baseball for three seasons (1986-1988) with the Tigers, Athletics, and Cubs in the Dominican Summer League.
Torres, 62, has been in the Rays organization since 2005 and has served in coaching positions with double-A Montgomery (2005, 2007) and short-A Hudson Valley (2006). He began his coaching career in the Blue Jays organization and stayed there for 24 seasons (1979-2002) as either a coach, manager, or instructor. Just prior to joining the Rays, he spent one year (2004) in the Giants organization as the hitting coach at single-A Hagerstown. He appeared in 622 major league games, primarily as an infielder, over nine seasons with the Astros (1968-1970, 1973), Cubs (1971), Expos (1972), Padres (1976), and Blue Jays (1977). He hit the first grand slam in Toronto Blue Jays history off pitcher Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees on June 27, 1977.
In other Tampa Bay Rays' news today, Jamie Nelson, who managed the P-Rays for five seasons from 2003-2007, was named as Tampa Bay's 2008 roving minor league catching instructor. It is expected that local fans will still see him periodically throughout the Appalachian League season as he visits Princeton to check on the progress of the team's catchers.
Hawks Extend Player Development Contract with Cubs
BOISE, ID - The Boise Hawks agree to a two-year extension of their player development contract with the Chicago Cubs through the 2010 season.
"We're thrilled to have a contract in place with the Cubs for three more seasons," said Hawks President/General Manager Todd Rahr. "It's great for our organization and fans. Several former Hawks have already made an impact on the Major League level and that's certainly the goal of player development."
The Cubs and Hawks will reach ten years of partnership by the 2010 season. The teams first affiliated for the 2001 campaign, as next season marks their eighth year together. The partnership with the Cubs has been mutually beneficial to say the least. In a seven year span, the Hawks have won five division titles and two Northwest League Championships (2002, and 2004).
To learn more about the Cubs' relationship with other Minor League affiliates click here.
The Hawks continue to prepare for their 22nd season of Northwest League play in 2008. The club has won 6 NWL Championships, the most recent banner coming in 2004. Season, mini-plan, and single game tickets for Hawks' games are available at 322-5000. Don't stand in line. Purchase and print your tickets from home @ BoiseHawks.com. The Boise Hawks...rated F for fun!
The San Francisco Giants and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are very excited and proud to announce that longtime former Major League Manager, Tom Trebelhorn, a native Oregonian, has been named as the new Field Manager of the Volcanoes for the 2008 season.
Trebelhorn, born in Portland and a graduate of Cleveland High School ('66) and Portland State University ('70), began his professional playing career by signing a free-agent contract with Hawaill of the Pacific Coast League. During Trebelhorn's career he played in the Northwest League for Bend, Walla Walla, and Lewiston. He also played in Birmingham, Alabama and Burlington, Iowa.
"Treb" began his managing in 1975 and 1976 in Boise, 1977 in Modesto, 1979 in Batavia, NY, 1982 with AAA Portland Beavers, 1983 in Hawaii and 1985 in Vancouver, B.C.. Trebelhorn made his major league managerial debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1986, and was their skipper thru 1991. During this time, he was second on the Brewers all-time managerial list for games (819), and wins (422). He was named the 1987 Manager of the Year by Baseball America and Sports Illustrated.
In 1992, Tom joined the Chicago Cubs as their Bench Coach and Offensive Coordinator, and then was named Manager of the Cubs in 1994. Tom joined the Baltimore Orioles in 1996, and spent the last 12 years in various coaching positions within the Orioles system, including the past 7 seasons with the Orioles' Major League Club.
"Tom brings a vast wealth of playing, coaching and managing experience to the Volcanoes," said Volcanoes co-owner Jerry Walker. "We're excited to have someone with such an extensive coaching background, including many years at the big league level, to guide the Volcanoes -- imagine a former Major League Manager of the Year managing here in Salem-Keizer," concluded Walker. Bobby Evans, Director of Player Personnel for the San Francisco Giants said, "We feel Tom is a perfect fit for the Giants philosophy of player development. Assigning Trebelhorn to Salem-Keizer is a sign of our continued commitment to develop players in Salem-Keizer and to the Volcanoes organization.
"Tom will be a tremendous asset to the Giants minor league system. Our players will benefit from his years of experience both in player development and at the Major League level. I know the fans in Salem-Keizer will enjoy having him with the Volcanoes,"
concluded Evans.
Tom is married to Elizabeth and has four grown children. For many years, he has taught school in the Portland area during the off-season.
Steve Decker, who guided the Volcanoes to Back to Back Northwest League Championships in 2006 and 2007, has been promoted within the Giants minor league system. Decker's new assignment will be announced soon by the team. "We're very excited to have Tom Trebelhorn as our new skipper," said Volcanoes co-owner Bill Tucker. "The Giants have replaced quality with quality -- Treb will be perfect for the Volcanoes!"
news 12/15
American Association
