Orioles name Minor League managers, staffs
The club announced the promotion of Brian Graham to director of player development in a separate release.
Ron Johnson returns for his second season as the manager at Triple-A Norfolk after guiding the Tides to a 74-70 mark, while Mike Griffin will serve as pitching coach for the sixth consecutive season in the organization and fourth straight season in Norfolk. Denny Walling will serve as hitting coach for the Tides for the second consecutive season. Former Major Leaguer Jose Hernadez will serve as field coach after serving in that position for Frederick last year, while athletic trainer Mark Shires and strength and conditioning coach Ryo Naito both return for 2013.
Gary Kendall will remain manager at Double-A Bowie for the third season, his 14th total in the organization, while Blaine Beatty will serve as pitching coach. Beatty is entering his eighth year in the Orioles' organization, six with Frederick and one with Delmarva, with hitting coach Einar Diaz appointed hitting coach after spending last season as Delmarva's field coach. Athletic trainer Aaron Scott, in his 11th season in the organization, will serve as Bowie's athletic trainer for the third consecutive year, while strength and conditioning coach Pat Armstrong returning for his second year at Bowie.
Former Orioles third baseman Ryan Minor will take over as manager at Class A Frederick after three years as manager at Delmarva. Pitching coach Kennie Steenstra will return to the Keys after three years in Bowie for his ninth season in the organization. Torre Tyson will begin his first year in the organization as the hitting coach for the Keys. Tyson spent the 2011 and '12 seasons as the New York Yankees' Minor League defensive coordinator after four years as a Minor League manager. Athletic trainer Pat Wesley begins his 10th full season in the organization, and strength and conditioning coach Chris Cecere will also return for his third year with the Keys.
Long-time Major League coach Luis Pujols joins the Orioles' organization and will manage Class A Delmarva. Pujols managed for three years in the Tigers' and Astros' organizations and managed the Detroit Tigers for 155 games on an interim basis in 2002. Also in his first year in the organization is pitching coach Justin Lord, who will be joined by hitting coach Butch Davis, who spent the past seven years as Baltimore's roving outfield and bunting instructor. Greg Svarczkopf will serve as the Shorebirds' athletic trainer after three seasons as the strength and conditioning coach for Bowie and last year as an athletic trainer at the Orioles' Florida complex.
Matt Merullo, a former Major League catcher, joins the Orioles as the manager for Short-season Class A Aberdeen. Former O's pitcher Alan Mills returns for his second season as pitching coach with Jon Matthews –- also new to the organization –- appointed hitting coach. Trek Schuler begins his 14th season as an athletic trainer with the franchise and his fifth in Aberdeen.
Orlando Gomez will manage the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles in 2013 after three straight years with Frederick, with former Major Leaguer Wilson Alvarez appointed pitching coach his first year in the organization. Alvarez will serve as pitching coach for the Venezuelan club in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. After managing the GCL Orioles for the past four seasons, Ramon Sambo will serve as the team's field coach, while Milt May returns for his fourth season as hitting coach.
Elvis Morel will manage the Orioles' entry in the Dominican Summer League and will be assisted by pitching coaches Robert Perez and Dionis Pascual and hitting coach Ramon Caraballo. Benny Adames will be bench/outfield coach, while Ruben Francisco will serve as first base/baserunning coach and Ramon Lubo will oversee catchers and coach third base. Ludovino Alonzo Marte will serve as athletic trainer for the DSL club, while Juan Suarez has been appointed strength and conditioning coach.
Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Bordick will serve as a special assignment instructor, while Don Werner and Matt Martin will serve as roving instructors. Scott McGregor will spend his 12th year as a coach in the organization and second season as the Sarasota-based rehabilitation coordinator. Dave Schmidt, in his 16th season in the organization, will serve as the Florida and Latin America pitching administrator for the Orioles, while Felipe Alou Jr. returns for his sixth year as director of the Orioles' Dominican Academy.
Len Johnston, entering his 37th season with the Orioles, will remain as the administrator for Sarasota operations, while Dave Walker will begin his 11th year as Minor League medical coordinator. Ryan Driscoll returns for his fourth year as Minor League strength and conditioning coordinator and Jake parker will enter his fourth season as Minor League equipment manager.