Beyeler to manage Tigers' Double-A affiliate
DETROIT -- Two weeks after the Tigers lost their Double-A manager, they’ve found a replacement. Veteran Minor League skipper Arnie Beyeler was hired by Erie on Tuesday, taking over a critical post in Detroit’s quest to build up young talent in the farm system.
The 55-year-old Beyeler replaces former Tigers catcher Mike Rabelo, who became the Pittsburgh Pirates’ assistant hitting coach earlier this month. Beyeler, too, is a former Tiger, having played six Minor League seasons in Detroit’s farm system from 1986-91 and scouted for another five years.
“We’re excited to name Arnie as our manager in Double A, and know his innovative and progressive approach to developing players will benefit our organization,” Tigers vice president of player development Dave Littlefield said in a release. “His 20-plus years of experience working as a manager, bench coach and instructor at both the Major and Minor League levels, combined with his use of technology and OnBaseU certification, will have a positive impact on our players at Erie.”
Beyeler spent last season with the Orioles as their first-base coach, a post he also held for three seasons with the Red Sox (2013-15). The strengths of Beyeler’s résumé for his new job, however, are his 15 Minor League seasons of managerial experience across three organizations. He worked with eventual All-Stars Kevin Youkilis, Jose Iglesias, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew Miller, Jed Lowrie, Jacoby Ellsbury, Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz while managing nine seasons with the Red Sox with Class A Lowell (2000-01) and Augusta (2002), Double-A Portland (2007-10) and Triple-A Pawtucket (2011-12).
Beyeler also managed three seasons each in the Rangers' and Marlins' farm systems, most recently at Triple-A New Orleans from 2016-18. There, he worked with current Major League starters Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen.
With Beyeler on board, the Tigers will have new hires at the top two levels of their farm system, handling the bulk of their top pitching prospects. Detroit hired former Pirates bench coach Tom Prince as Triple-A Toledo manager earlier this offseason.