Columbus Clippers & Cleveland Indians Announce Clippers Coaching Staff
COLUMBUS, OH - The Cleveland Indians have announced the player development assignments for their Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. With 2019 Governors' Cup-winning Manager Tony Mansolino moving into a new role in the organization, last year's Hitting Coach, Andy Tracy will take over as the Clippers skipper for 2020.
On the change in clubhouse leadership, Clippers President and General Manager, Ken Schnacke said, "I am very happy to have Andy Tracy following Tony Mansolino as our new Manager. Tony has elected to become a roving instructor so he can spend more time at home with his young children. Andy did a great job with our hitters last year, and being from central Ohio, he will be a popular figure in the community."
Andy Tracy begins his second year with the Clippers, which is also his second year in the Indians organization. The Ohio native was a 16th round pick of the Montreal Expos out of Bowling Green State University in 1996. Tracy played in the Majors with the Expos, Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies, as well as playing in the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks systems before retiring as a player and moving into coaching. Before joining the Cleveland organization, he spent seven years coaching for the Phillies, six as a minor league hitting coordinator and one managing the Williamsport Crosscutters (Short-Season).
Hitting Coach duties will be undertaken by first year Clippers coach Jason Esposito. Esposito joins Columbus after spending last season in the same role with the Lake County Captains. This will be his third year in the Indians organization, all as a Hitting Coach. He also worked with the Indians AZL team in '18. Esposito had a four-year playing career in the minors for the Orioles after Baltimore drafted him with their 2nd round pick in 2011 out of Vanderbilt.
Rigo Beltran provides continuity as Clippers Pitching Coach for the second year in a row. A '91 draftee of the St. Louis Cardinals, Beltran pitched in the Majors for the Cardinals, Mets and Rockies. The 2020 season will be his sixth year leading a pitching staff within the Indians system, following a seven-year stint coaching with the Cincinnati Reds.
Kyle Hudson will be back with the Clippers for a second stint as bench coach, the same position he filled last season.
Jeremy Heller returns for his second season as the Clippers trainer, while Travis Roberson will become the Strength & Conditioning Coach, replacing Scott Nealon.
The 2020 season begins April 9th at Huntington Park against the Louisville Bats. For more information, log on to clippersbaseball.com or call (614) 462-5250.