Tacoma Rainiers manager Daren Brown to join Mariners coaching staff

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today Daren Brown, the Mariners Triple-A Manager, will join the Mariners and be in uniform (#52) tomorrow in Toronto as an extra coach. John Stearns, the Mariners minor league catching coordinator, will take over the helm of the Tacoma Rainiers.

Brown, who has managed the Mariners AAA Tacoma Rainiers affiliate in the Pacific Coast League for the past seven seasons, will serve as an extra coach and fill in as a third base coach when needed. He has extensive minor league managing experience, with a career mark of 948-856 (.525) in 15 seasons managing in the minors, including the last 13 years with Mariners organization. The Rainiers are currently atop the PCL North Division with a 17-10 mark, including winning the last eight straight games. The Holdenville, Oklahoma native became the all-time leader in managerial wins in Tacoma franchise history last season when he notched his 376th victory with the Rainiers on May 28 vs. Tucson. He led the Rainiers to back-to-back divisional titles in 2009 and 2010, including winning the PCL Championship in 2010. In 2010, Brown also served the Mariners interim manager for the final 40 games of the 2010 season (19-31).

Stearns, who is in his second season as the Mariners minor league catching coordinator, will take over as manager of the Mariners Triple-A affiliate the Tacoma Rainiers. Stearns has also spent three seasons with Seattle as a professional scout (2009-11) prior to his role as minor league catching coordinator. A four-time All-Star and 11-year Major League veteran, Stearns has spent over 39 years in professional baseball, including roles as a Major League coach (Yankees, Reds, Orioles, Mets) minor league manager (9 seasons), scout and even as an ESPN analyst.