Crawdads Chronicle: Alumni on Minor League Staffs

The Hickory Crawdads had 46 former players, managers and coaches serve on minor league staffs during the 2014 season. Fifteen of those were a part of the playoffs with four winning league championships. Below is a review of the season just completed.

 

Minor League Managers (9):

Chris Tremie ('93, C) - Manager, Columbus (AAA Cleveland Indians). In his second season (150-138) with the Clippers, Tremie led his club to a 79-65 record and the West Division title in the International League. The playoff spot was the Clippers first since 2011 when they won the Governor's Cup. It was Tremie's ninth season (543-548) as a manager in the Indians system and his second division title, after winning the Eastern (AA) League title with Akron in 2012. Columbus lost in the first round to Durham three games to one.

Dave Keller ('95, hitting coach) - Manager, Daytona (High-A Chicago Cubs). In his second season (142-120), Keller led Daytona to a 67-69 overall mark and a playoff spot by virtue of winning the second-half North Division title. The Cubs swept their first round series against Dunedin and advanced to their second straight Florida State League finals. However, the defending FSL champs fell to Ft. Myers three games to one in the best-of-five series.

Bill Richardson ('10-'12, manager) - Manager, Burlington (High-A Los Angeles Angels). In his first season with the Bees, Richardson (394-347 in seven minor league seasons) led the club to a 68-71 overall record and a wild card spot in the Midwest League playoffs. Burlington lost in the first round to Cedar Rapids two games to one.

Mark Johnson ('95, C) - Manager, Kane County (Low-A Chicago Cubs). In his second season (141-129 overall) with the Cougars, Johnson led his team to a 91-49 record and the Midwest League championship. Kane County had the best record in the minor leagues and won seven straight playoff games to sweep three straight series en route to the title. For his efforts, Johnson (218-208 in four minor league seasons) was named the MWL's manager of the year.

Pete Rose, Jr. ('94, 3B) - Manager, Kannapolis (Low-A Chicago White Sox). In his first season with the Intimidators, Rose led his team to a 62-75 record, good for fifth place overall in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division. Overall in four seasons as a manager in the White Sox chain, Rose is 153-193.

Mark Haley ('94, hitting coach, '98, manager) - Manager, South Bend (Low-A Arizona Diamondbacks). In his 10^th season (718-666) with the Silver Hawks, Haley led his team their seventh playoff appearance and the third in a row. South Bend finished with the best overall record in the Eastern Division at 83-56 overall. However, the Silver Hawks were swept by Lake County in the first round of the playoffs.

J.R. House ('99-'00, C) - Manager, Hillsboro (SS-A Arizona Diamondbacks). In his first season as a minor league manager, House led the Hops to a 48-28 record and the Northwest League's best record. The Hops then swept both Boise in the South Division playoffs and Vancouver in the finals to win the championship.

Josh Bonifay ('00-'01, 2B, '08 assistant coach) - Manager, Greeneville (Rookie Houston Astros). In his second season (70-64) as the Astros skipper, Bonifay led his team to a 32-34 record, good for fourth place in the Appalachian League's West Division.

Milver Reyes ('02-'05, C) - Manager, GCL Pirates (Rookie Pittsburgh Pirates). In his second season (53-66), Reyes managed the rookie Pirates to a 20-40 record, good for third in the Gulf Coast League's Northwest Division.

 

Minor League Hitting Coaches (9):

Justin Mashore ('13, hitting coach) - Hitting Coach, Round Rock (AAA Texas Rangers). In his first season on the staff of Steve Buechele, the Express went 70-74 and finished tied for third in the Pacific Coast League's Southern Division.

Jason Hart ('10-'11, hitting coach) - Hitting Coach, Frisco (AA Texas Rangers). In his third season with the RoughRiders, the first with manager Jason Wood, Frisco led the Texas League in batting average, on base pct., and hits. The RoughRiders won both South Division half-season titles and finished 80-59 overall before dropping their first-round playoff series to Midland.

Brandon Moore ('94, IF) - Hitting Coach, Birmingham (AA Chicago White Sox). He rejoined the Barons after a year at AAA Charlotte. A member of Julio Vinas staff, Moore's team led the Southern League in doubles and was second in hits. The Barons went 60-80 overall and finished last in the North Division.

Tony Mansolino ('05-'06, IF) - Hitting Coach, Carolina (High-A Cleveland Indians). In his first season with the Mudcats under manager Scooter Tucker, Carolina lead the Carolina League in batting average, walks, and on base pct. Carolina finished 62-74, which was third overall in the Southern Division.

Josue Perez ('12, hitting coach) - Hitting Coach, Myrtle Beach (High-A Texas Rangers). In his second season with the Pelicans, the first under manager Joe Mikulik, Myrtle Beach led the Carolina League in home runs, runs, triples, RBI, total bases, and slugging pct. Posting the best overall record in the Carolina League at 82-56, Myrtle Beach won the Southern Division series before dropping the league final to Potomac.

Scott Dwyer ('09, assistant coach) - Hitting Coach, Connecticut (SS-A Detroit Tigers). After two seasons with the Tigers low-A affiliate at West Michigan, Dwyer returned to Connecticut - where he spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons - under manager Mike Rabelo. The Tigers went 42-34 in the Stedler Division and grabbed the league's wild card spot. Connecticut lost in the first round of the playoffs to Tri-City.

Jonathan Prieto ('99, 2B) - Hitting Coach, Jamestown (SS-A Pittsburgh Pirates). In his first season with the Jammers under manager Brian Esposito, Jamestown finished 35-40, which was second in the Pinckney Division. 

Greg Briley ('00, '02, '05-'06, hitting coach) - Hitting Coach, Great Falls (Rookie Chicago White Sox). In his first season with the Voyagers under manager Charles Poe, Great Falls won the first-half North Division title and finished 39-37. The Voyagers lost in the first round of the playoffs to Billings.

Wuarnner Rincones ('94, IF) - Hitting Coach, GCL Rays (Rookie Tampa Bay Rays). In his third season with the Rays, the second under manager Jim Morrison, the team finished 32-28, which was second in the South Division.

 

Minor League Pitching Coaches (13):

Brad Holman ('09-'10, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Round Rock (AAA Texas Rangers). In his second season with the Express, the first with manager Steve Buechele, Round Rock finished 70-74, tied for third in the Pacific Coast League American South Division.

Blaine Beatty ('00, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Bowie (AA Baltimore Orioles). In his second season with the Baysox under manager Gary Kendall, Bowie went 72-70, which was good for third overall in the Eastern League's Western Division.

Dave Lundquist ('94, '04, P, '06-'07, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Reading (AA Philadelphia Phillies). In his second season at Reading under manager Dusty Wathan, the Figthin' Phils went 66-76 overall, which out them in last place in the Eastern League's Eastern Division.

Storm Davis ('11-'12, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Tennessee (AA Chicago Cubs). In his first season at Tennessee under manager Buddy Bailey, the Smokies went 70-72 overall, which was second overall in the Southern League's North Division.

Franklin Bravo ('99, P) - Pitching Coach, Potomac (High-A Washington Nationals). In his first season at Potomac under manager Tripp Keister, the Nationals went 78-58 overall and swept both half-season Northern Division titles. The Nats then defeated Lynchburg in the first round and claimed the Carolina League title with a 3-1 series win over Myrtle Beach.

Steve Watson ('99, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Charlotte (High-A Tampa Bay Rays). In his third season at Charlotte, the first with manager Jared Sandberg, the Stone Crabs finished fifth in the Florida State League's South Division at 63-70.

Bob Milacki ('01, '03-'04, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, Clearwater (High-A Philadelphia Phillies). In his second season with the Threshers, the first with manager Nelson Prada, Clearwater went 49-89, which was last in the Florida State League's North Division.

Jason Simontacchi ('99, P) - Pitching Coach, Peoria (Low-A St. Louis Cardinals). In his second season with the Chiefs, the first with manager Joe Kruzel, Peoria went 72-67, which was third overall in the Midwest League's Western Division.

Carlos Chantres ('96, P) - Pitching Coach, Charleston (Low-A New York Yankees). Chantres returned to the RiverDogs after two seasons at short-season Staten Island. Under manager Luis Dorante, Charleston went 71-69, which was third overall in the South Atlantic League's Southern Division.

Jeff Johnson ('08, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, West Virginia (Low-A Pittsburgh Pirates). In his fifth season at West Virginia, the second with Michael Ryan, the Power went 54-81, which was sixth overall in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division.

Justin Lord ('04, P) - Pitching Coach, Aberdeen (SS-A Baltimore Orioles). In his first season at Aberdeen under manager Matt Merullo, the Ironbirds went 27-48, which was last in the New York-Penn League's McNamara Division.

Nelson Cruz ('95, P) - Pitching Coach, Eugene (SS-A San Diego Padres). In his second season at Eugene, the first under manager Robbie Wine, the Emeralds went 30-46 overall, which was last in the Northwest League's South Division.

Ryan O'Malley ('13, pitching coach) - Pitching Coach, AZL Angels (Rookie Los Angeles Angels). In his first season with the rookie-league Angels under manager Elio Sarmiento, they went 30-25 overall and won the first-half title in the Arizona Summer League's East Division. The Angels then lost in the first round of the playoffs to the AZL Rangers.

 

Minor League Assistant Coaches (8):

Ryan Newman ('03, IF, '07, hitting coach) - Assistant Coach, Charlotte (AAA Chicago White Sox). In his first year as an assistant under Joel Skinner, the Knights went 63-81 and finished last in the International League's South Division.

Rudy Pena ('03, C, '08, assistant coach) - Assistant Coach, Indianapolis (AAA Pittsburgh Pirates). In his first year as an assistant under Dean Treanor, the Indians went 73-71 and finished second in the International League's West Division.

Miles Durham ('08, 1B) - Assistant Coach, Altoona (AA Pittsburgh Pirates). In his first year as an assistant under Carlos Garcia, the Curve went 61-81 and finished fifth in the Eastern League's Western Division.

Greg Picart ('08, 2B) - Assistant Coach, Bradenton (High-A Pittsburgh Pirates). In his first year as an assistant under Tom Prince, the Marauders went 78-61 and won the second-half South Division title in the Florida State League. Bradenton was swept in the first round by Fort Myers.

Liu Rodriguez ('96-'97, 2B) - Assistant Coach, AZL Brewers (Rookie Milwaukee Brewers). In his first year as an assistant under Nestor Corredor, the Brewers went 24-31 and finished third overall in the Arizona Summer League's Central Division.

Alberto Puello ('13, assistant coach) - Assistant Coach, AZL Rangers (Rookie Texas Rangers). In his first year as an assistant under Kenny Holmberg, the Rangers went 26-30 overall, but won the first-half West Division title in the AZL. The Rangers won their first round matchup with the Angels before dropping a semifinal game to the Indians.

Austin McClune ('08, OF) - Assistant Coach, GCL Pirates (Rookie Pittsburgh Pirates). In his first year as an assistant under Milver Reyes, the Pirates went 20-40 record, good for third in the Gulf Coast League's Northwest Division.

Humberto Miranda ('12, assistant coach) - Assistant Coach, DSL Rangers (Rookie Texas Rangers). In his first year as an assistant under Aaron Levin, the Rangers went 54-16 and won the Dominican Summer League Championship.

 

Minor League Coordintors (7):

Chris Cron ('96-'97, manager) - Minor League Hitting Coordinator (Arizona Diamondbacks). Cron was in his first season with the Diamondbacks.

Curt Hasler ('93-'94, pitching coach) - Minor League Pitching Coordinator (Chicago White Sox). Hasler completed his fourth season as the White Sox pitching coordinator. He has been with the White Sox as a player or coach since 1987.

Gary Green ('07-'08, manager) - Minor League Infield Coordinator (Pittsburgh Pirates). Green completed his fourth season as Pirates hitting coordinator. He has been with the Pirates as a manager or coordinator since 2006.

Brian Dayett ('09, hitting coach) - Special Assignment Coach (Texas Rangers). Dayett completed his third season as the Rangers special assistant coach. He has been with the Rangers as a coach or coordinator since 2008.

Hector Ortiz ('09, manager) - Minor League Catching Coordinator (Texas Rangers). Ortiz completed his third season as the Rangers catching coordinator. He has been with the Rangers as a coach, manager or coordinator since 2006.

Mike Barnett ('96, hitting coach) - Minor League Hitting Coordinator (Toronto Blue Jays). Barnett completed his second season as the Blue Jays hitting coordinator.

Tony Beasley ('02-'03, manager) - Minor League Field Coordinator (Washington Nationals). Beasley was in his first season as the Nationals field coordinator and his fourth with the Nationals minor league system.