SeaWolves Announce 2023 Field Staff
The Erie SeaWolves, in conjunction with their parent club the Detroit Tigers, today announce the team’s 2023 field staff. Gabe Alvarez, who led the SeaWolves to their first ever Eastern League Championship series appearance, returns to the club to lead the 2023 squad. Alvarez enters his third season in the
The Erie SeaWolves, in conjunction with their parent club the Detroit Tigers, today announce the team’s 2023 field staff.
Gabe Alvarez, who led the SeaWolves to their first ever Eastern League Championship series appearance, returns to the club to lead the 2023 squad. Alvarez enters his third season in the Tigers organization and second with Erie. He guided Erie to its fifth 80-win season in team history, capturing the Southwest Division second half title on the final day of the regular season.
Joining Alvarez’ staff will be Pitching Coach Juan Pimentel, Hitting Coach John Murrian, Bench Coach Matt Malott, Athletic Trainer Chris Vick and Strength & Conditioning Coach Donny Trapp.
FIELD STAFF BIOS
GABE ALVAREZ – MANAGER
Gabe Alvarez, the 19th manager in SeaWolves history, returns to Erie for his second season after leading the club to a Southwest Division title and Eastern League Championship Series appearance in 2022.
Prior to joining the Tigers, Alvarez spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Southern California. He also served as the Trojans’ recruiting coordinator and hitting coach before departing for professional baseball.
Alvarez was selected in the second round of the 1995 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres. After spending three seasons in the Padres Minor League system, he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft and then traded to the Tigers. Alvarez began the 1998 season with the Toledo Mud Hens and made his Major League debut with Detroit on June 22, 1998. He split time between Toledo and Detroit from 1998-2000 before being traded to the Padres in July of 2000. His spent the last three seasons of his playing career in the minors at the Double-A level with affiliates of Cincinnati (2001), Milwaukee (2002), and the Chicago White Sox (2003).
JUAN PIMENTEL – PITCHING COACH
Juan Pimentel returns to the Tigers organization for his second season and first as the Erie pitching coach.
Pimentel spent the 2022 season as the pitching coach for the Tigers Single-A Affiliate Lakeland. Prior to joining the Tigers, Pimentel spent one season as a co-pitching coach with the Dominican Summer League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
Pimentel is a native of the Dominican Republic and played collegiately at Indian River State College and the University of Central Florida. After graduating UCF in 2017, he returned to Indian River State as a pitching coach before taking on the same role at the University of Delaware for two years prior to his role with the Mariners.
JOHN MURRIAN – HITTING COACH
Former SeaWolves catcher, John Murrian, returns as the club’s hitting coach in 2023.
Under Murrian in 2022, the SeaWolves were tied for third in the Eastern League with a .246 team batting average. Erie ranked second in the league with 175 home runs, second with a .428 slugging percentage, third with a .753 OPS, third with 1,122 hits, third with 35 triples and fourth 233 doubles. Prior to joining Erie last season, Murrian spent the 2021 campaign as the Lakeland hitting coach, a role he held the two previous seasons with the West Michigan Whitecaps and GCL Tigers.
Prior to his transition to coaching, Murrian spent five seasons (2014-18) as a Major League bullpen catcher with the Tigers. Before assuming the role of bullpen catcher, he played five seasons in the Tigers minor league system, hitting .243 with 20 home runs and 116 RBIs. Murrian spent parts of three seasons with the SeaWolves from 2010-2012. As a catcher, he maintained a 33 percent caught stealing rate over the course of his playing career.
Murrian attended Winthrop University where he played three seasons with the Eagles. He was drafted by the Tigers in the ninth round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
MATT MALOTT – BENCH COACH
Mike Malott joins the Erie coaching staff in 2023, his second season in the Tigers organization.
Malott spent the 2022 season as the development coach for the Tigers Single-A affiliate in Lakeland. Prior to joining the Tigers, he spent a year and a half as the player development coach and owner of Objective Baseball, LLC.
Prior to that position, Malott was a development coach with the Kansas City Royals, which was then interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before and during is time in professional baseball, he worked as the varsity pitching coach at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego since August, 2015.
He played collegiately at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, where he was a starting pitcher.
CHRIS VICK – ATHLETIC TRAINER
2022 Eastern League Athetic Trainer of the Year, Chris Vick returns to the SeaWolves in 2023 for his third season as the team’s Athletic Trainer. Prior to joining the SeaWolves, he served in the same capacity with Detroit Tigers affiliates at Class-A West Michigan (2019), Class-A Advanced Lakeland (2017-2018), Class-A Connecticut (2015-2016), and the Gulf Coast League Tigers (2014).
Vick previously served as an Assistant Athletic Training Intern with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in the Boston Red Sox organization (2013). He also served as a Strength and Conditioning Intern with the Class-A Lakewood BlueClaws in the Philadelphia Phillies organization (2012).
Vick completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Athletic Training from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. He is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Reading Rallies to Walk Off Wolves
The SeaWolves (32-17) could not hold a late lead and fell to Reading (18-29) 5-4 on Friday. Erie captured an early lead against Luke Russo in the first inning when Max Anderson doubled with two out and scored on a single by Thayron Liranzo. Reading tied the game against Jaden
Erie Holds on to Sweep Doubleheader from Reading
The SeaWolves (32-16) swept a doubleheader from Reading (17-29) on Thursday. Erie won game one 7-2 and game two 5-4. In game one, Erie broke onto the scoreboard early when Carlos Mendoza slugged a solo homer in the second inning against Reading starter Chuck King. In the third inning, Trei
Erie Shut Down in Series Opener in Reading
The SeaWolves (30-16) were shut out for a second consecutive game as they dropped the series opener to Reading (17-27) 1-0. Reading scored the lone run of the game in the second inning. Keaton Anthony doubled off of Garrett Burhenn to begin the inning. Two batters later, Leandro Pineda doubled
Erie Shut Out as Hartford Avoids Sweep
The SeaWolves (30-15) were unable to close a six-game sweep as they were shut out by Hartford (22-22) 3-0 on Sunday. Hartford first got onto the scoreboard in the fourth inning against Erie starter Carlos Peña when Juan Guerrero led off with a double and scored on Nic Kent’s two-out
Meyers and Bigbie Power Erie to Seventh Straight Win
The SeaWolves (30-14) became the first team in Double-A to cross the 30-win threshold when they beat Hartford (21-22) 5-3 on Saturday. It was Erie’s seventh straight win. Hartford got off to a quick start against Erie starter Jaden Hamm. After Cole Carrigg’s leadoff single, Jose Torres slugged a two-run
Liranzo Walks Off Goats for Erie's Sixth Straight Win
The SeaWolves (29-14) won their sixth straight by walking off Hartford (21-21) 5-4 on Friday. Erie struck for an early lead against Hartford starter Connor Staine. Max Anderson ripped an RBI double to score Carlos Mendoza, who had been hit by a pitch, to make it 1-0. Anderson extended his
Erie Wins Fifth Straight
The SeaWolves (28-14) took down Hartford (21-20) 11-2 on Thursday. Erie scored three runs in the first inning against Mason Green. With two on and two out, Carlos Mendoza lined a single to right. Juan Guerrero, the Hartford right fielder, missed the ball for a fielding error. The error scored
Erie Slams Hartford with 18 Unanswered Runs
The SeaWolves (27-14) erupted for 18 unanswered runs to beat Hartford (21-19) 18-3. Hartford grabbed an early lead on Jose Torres’ solo homer in the second against Garrett Burhenn. The Goats tacked on two more in the third on sacrifice flies by Benny Montgomery and Bryant Betancourt. Erie broke through
Wolves Blank Goats for Third Straight Win
The SeaWolves (26-14) earned their eighth shutout win of the season as they beat Hartford (21-18) 5-0 to kick off the series. Erie broke onto the scoreboard against Hartford starter Sean Sullivan in the second inning. Roberto Campos walked and stole second base. He scored on Eduardo Valencia’s long RBI
Erie Wins Their Final Series at The Diamond with Tie-Breaking Rally
The SeaWolves (25-14) scored three ninth-inning runs to break a tie and beat Richmond (12-27) 7-4 and clinch a series win. In the first, Max Anderson ripped a double against Richmond starter Jack Choate to extend his hitting streak to a season-long 11 games. Two batters later, Eduardo Valencia crushed
Five SeaWolves Arms Combine to Blank Squirrels
The SeaWolves (24-14) earned their seventh shutout win of the season with an 8-0 victory over Richmond (12-26). Erie scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning against Richmond starter Manuel Mercedes. Trei Cruz was hit by a pitch to begin the game and Carlos Mendoza walked. With
Eldridge Hammers Howlers As Erie Offense Struggles
The SeaWolves (23-14) fell 5-1 to Richmond (12-25) on Friday. Erie opened the ballgame with instant offense, as Max Anderson smashed a first-inning home run against Richmond starter John Michael Bertrand. SeaWolves starter Joseph Montalvo allowed a leadoff single to Diego Velasquez in the first. He stole second and scored
Erie Sneaks Out Doubleheader Split with Game Two Win
The SeaWolves (23-13) and Richmond (11-25) split a doubleheader on Thursday. Richmond won the opener 3-1 and Erie took the second game 3-2. In game one, Richmond struck for a quick run against Carlos Peña when Diego Velasquez began the first with a double and scored on Bryce Eldridge’s single.
Liranzo's Blast Leads Erie Past Richmond
The SeaWolves (22-12) took down Richmond (10-24) 3-1 on Tuesday. Erie scored right out of the gate against Richmond starter Jack Choate. Trei Cruz opened the game with a triple. He scored when Max Anderson reached on Aeverson Arteaga’s error at shortstop, making it 1-0 Erie. Jaden Hamm made that
SeaWolves Fail to Erase Early Deficit
The SeaWolves (21-12) fell to Altoona (16-17) 3-2 in the series finale. Altoona struck for three early runs against Erie starter Troy Melton. Mitch Jebb hit a one-out single and Termarr Johnson walked. After the runners advanced on a double steal, Jack Brannigan punched a two-run double, making it 2-0.
Curve Outlast Wolves in Close Loss
The SeaWolves (21-11) fell to Altoona (15-17) 6-4 on Saturday. Altoona broke onto the scoreboard first in the second inning when Jack Brannigan hit a leadoff home run against Erie starter Joseph Montalvo. Montalvo then walked Sammy Siani and Imanol Vargas. Kervin Pichardo hit an RBI double, making it 2-0.
Erie Erupts Late in Bullpen Game Shutout
The SeaWolves (21-10) took a fourth straight game over Altoona (14-17) with a 7-0 win on Friday night. The game remained scoreless into the sixth inning. In a bullpen day for Erie, RJ Petit tuned in two scoreless innings and Austin Bergner tossed four scoreless frames with five strikeouts. Garrett
Cruz Helps Erie Walk Off Altoona for Second Straight Night
The SeaWolves (20-10) walked off Altoona (14-16) for the second straight game with a 4-3 win on Thursday. Altoona got off to an early start on Imanol Vargas’ RBI double in the second inning against Erie starter Garrett Burhenn. In the third, Vargas batted against Burhenn with two on and
Holton's 12th-Inning Blast Walks Off Curve
The SeaWolves (19-10) earned their first walk-off win of the season on Jake Holton’s game-winning homer as Erie defeated Altoona (14-15) 6-4 in 12 innings. Erie opened the scoring in the third inning against Curve starter Po-Yu Chen when Danny Seretti drove a two-run double. Serretti, celebrating his 25th birthday,
Hamm Spins First Double-A Win as Wolves Blank Curve
The SeaWolves (18-10) took the opening game of the series against Altoona (14-14) with a 3-0 win on Tuesday. Erie scored first in the second inning on Eduardo Valencia’s two-out RBI single against Altoona starter Jarod Bayless. In the fourth, Erie extended the lead against Altoona reliever J.C. Flowers. Justice
Erie Game One One-Hitter Highlights Sunday Split
The SeaWolves (17-10) and Binghamton (15-11) split a doubleheader on Sunday. Erie won the opener 1-0 and Binghamton took the second game 6-4 to split the six-game series. Erie starter Joseph Montalvo twirled a gem in the first game. Montalvo threw five hitless innings, allowing one walk and two strikeouts.
SeaWolves and Rumble Ponies Postponed on May 3
Today’s (May 3) Erie SeaWolves game against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies has been postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, May 4, beginning at 12:05 p.m. Both games will be seven-inning contests and one ticket is good for both games.
Cruz's Multi-Homer Game Highlights Doubleheader Split
The SeaWolves (16-9) and Binghamton(14-10) split a doubleheader on Friday. Binghamton won the opener 4-1 and Erie took the second game 3-0. Binghamton scored first in game one in the fourth inning against Carlos Peña on an RBI double by William Lugo. Peña allowed one run on six hits with
Erie Falls Short in Daytime Loss
The SeaWolves (15-8) fell to Binghamton(13-9) 3-2 on Wednesday. Binghamton grabbed the early lead against Erie starter Jaden Hamm in the second inning. Nick Lorusso and Travis Swaggerty opened the inning with singles. After a flyout out Lorusso on third, Yonny Hernandez’s groundout scored the first run of the game.
Holton Homers Twice and Drives in Five as Erie Bashes Binghamton
The SeaWolves (15-7) bashed six home runs in a rain-shortened, 13-3 win in eight innings over Binghamton (12-9). Before this outing, Binghamton starter Jack Wenninger had only allowed two earned runs in his first 20 innings of work. Erie put four runs up against him in the third inning when