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Albert, Alvarez to Join G-Braves Field Staff

Manager Rick Albert, pitching coach Mike Alvarez promoted from Gulf Coast League
May 17, 2016

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - The Gwinnett Braves, in conjunction with the Atlanta Braves, have announced the addition of Rick Albert as the club's new manager and Mike Alvarez as the club's new pitching coach. Albert and Alvarez, promoted from the Gulf Coast League Braves field staff, replace manager Brian Snitker and pitching coach Marty Reed. Snitker was named the Atlanta Braves' interim manager today, while Reed was named Atlanta's bullpen coach.

Albert and Alvarez will officially join the club on Thursday, May 19. Until then, hitting coach John Moses will handle Gwinnett's managerial duties for the next two games.

Albert, 65, becomes the fourth manager in Gwinnett Braves' history in the midst of his 45th season as a member of the Atlanta Braves' organization. A player, coach and manager in the Braves' system since 1972, Albert has spent 10 seasons as a minor league manager, most recently with Class-A Rome in 2011. He has also managed at Rookie-level Pulaski (1982), Class-A Anderson (1983-84), Class-A Burlington (1988), Rookie-level Danville (1997) and the Gulf Coast League Braves (1998-2001), compiling a record of 391-468 (.455) in 858 games. He was named the Atlanta Braves' Minor League Manager of the Year in 2000.

Albert has also worked extensively as a minor league hitting coach, holding that post for the last three seasons in the GCL. His last Triple-A assignment was with Richmond as the hitting coach from 2003-06.

Alvarez, 58, joins Gwinnett for the first time in his 19th season as a member of the Atlanta Braves' organization. He has served as a pitching coach, roving pitching instructor and pitching supervisor in the system since 1998, including the previous three seasons (2012-15) as the pitching supervisor for the Dominican Summer League Braves. Alvarez has also held the pitching coach post with Double-A Mississippi from 2011-12 and with Triple-A Richmond in 2005.

Following his playing career as a minor league pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles (1980-81) and Kansas City Royals (1981-86), Alvarez spent 13 years as a minor league pitching coach with the Royals from 1985-1997, including five years with the club's Triple-A team, the Omaha Royals.

Snitker compiled a 161-164 (.495) record in 325 games as the Gwinnett manager since the start of the 2014 season. He led the club to consecutive second-place finishes in the International League South Division and was named the Atlanta Braves' Minor League Manager of the Year in 2015. Reed was in his sixth season as Gwinnett's pitching coach, having joined the club in 2011.

The Gwinnett Braves play game two of a three-game series against the Durham Bulls tonight at Coolray Field, first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (1-2, 2.70) starts for the G-Braves, while right-hander Austin Pruitt (2-2, 2.70) counters for the Bulls. Tony Schiavone will have the play-by-play on 97.7 FM at 6:35 p.m.

It's a Two-for-Tuesday night, as all Dugout seats are two for the price of one. Tickets for the game are on sale now at the Coolray Field Ticket Office, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets to purchase.