Orioles name Minor League managers, coaches, staff
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles announced the coaching staffs for all eight Minor League affiliates on Thursday afternoon, headed by the return of Triple-A Norfolk's staff in manager Ron Johnson, pitching coach Mike Griffin, hitting coach Denny Walling and field coach Jose Hernandez.
Brian Graham will continue as the club's director of player development -- his second season in that role -- with Rick Peterson returning for his third season as director of pitching development and Jeff Manto joining the organization as Minor League hitting coordinator.
Mark Shires will return for his 15th year as an athletic trainer in the O's' system and his eighth year at Norfolk, with Tides strength and conditioning coach Ryo Naito back for a fourth year to round out the Triple-A staff.
Gary Kendall will manage Double-A Bowie for the fourth season, 15th in the organization, with pitching coach Blaine Beatty and field coach Butch Davis also returning to the Baysox. Athletic trainer Aaron Scott returns along with strength and conditioning coach Pat Armstrong.
Luis Pujols, a longtime Major League coach, will move up to manage Class A Advanced Frederick after managing the Delmarva Shorebirds last season. Pitching coach Kennie Steenstra returns for his third season with the Keys and his 10th in the organization, while hitting coach Torre Tyson will return for his second year as hitting coach. Athletic trainer Pat Wesley and strength and conditioning coach Chris Cecere will also reprise their roles.
Ryan Minor, who managed Frederick last year, will return to Delmarva for the 2014 season. The former Orioles third baseman managed the Shorebirds from 2010-12. Former Oriole Alan Mills moves from Aberdeen to Delmarva in his third season as a pitching coach in the organization, while former farmhand Paco Figuero will serve as the Shorebirds' field coach in his first year as a professional coach. Trek Schuler will return as the Shorebirds' athletic trainer -- where he spent the 2001-03 seasons -- while Trevor Howell returns as strength and conditioning coach.
Matt Merullo, who led Aberdeen to the playoffs in his first year in the organization, will return to his managerial post along with pitching coach Justin Lord, who spent the 2013 season with Delmarva. Chris Poole will move from the Gulf Coast League to serve as athletic trainer for the IronBirds, and Kevin Clark will serve as strength and conditioning coach.
Orlando Gomez returns to manage the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles for a second straight year, with Ramon Sambo (field coach) and Milt May (hitting coach) also returning. Former Major Leaguer Wilson Alvarez will again be the pitching coach, with Greg Svarczkopf athletic trainer.
Elvis Morel and Nelson Norman, who remains the director of Dominican baseball operations, will manage the two Dominican Summer League clubs, along with pitching coaches Robert Perez and Dionis Pascaul and coaches Benny Adames (hitting), Ramon Caraballo (field supervisor), Ramon Lubo (catching) and Ruben Francisco (field coach). Ludovino Marte will serve as athletic trainer.
O's Hall of Famer and MASN broadcaster Mike Bordick will be back as a special assignment instructor, along with roving instructors Don Werner, Dave Anderson and Scott Beerer.
Scott McGregor returns for a third season as the Sarasota-based rehab coordinator, with Dave Schmidt serving as the Florida and Latin America pitching administrator. Felipe Alou Jr. returns for his seventh year as coordinator of Dominican operations, and Len Johnston will serve as administrator for Sarasota operations.
Dave Walker returns for a 12th year as Minor League medical coordinator, while Ryan Crotin joins the organization full-time as Minor League strength and conditioning coordinator. Ryan Driscoll returns for his fifth year as strength and conditioning coordinator in Sarasota, Fla., while Jake Parker returns for his fifth season as Minor League equipment manager.