Mintz Replaces Owen as 'Dads Manager

Hickory, NC - The Texas Rangers, major league parent club of the Hickory Crawdads, have announced that Steve Mintz will replace Spike Owen as the 'Dads manager for the upcoming 2016 season. Owen has been named the interim third base coach with the Rangers, filling in for former Hickory skipper Tony Beasley as he undergoes treatment for cancer.

Mintz joins the Crawdads after originally being slated to serve as the pitching coach in Double-A Frisco. This will be Mintz's fourth season in the Texas organization after serving three seasons as a pitching coach for the High-A affiliate. The former major league right-hander has 15 years of experience as a minor league pitching instructor. He also gained managerial experience this past offseason with the Adelaide Bite in the Australian Baseball League and led the Bite to the ABL Championship Series.

Mintz joined the Texas organization prior to the 2013 campaign after 11 seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He was a pitching coach at various levels within the Minnesota organization, including his last stop with the High-A Fort Myers Miracle from 2009-12. Prior to Ft. Myers, Mintz was a pitching coach with New Britain (2008), Beloit (2006-07), and the GCL Twins (2002-05). He also spent the 2008 offseason in the Arizona Fall League as a pitching coach for the Mesa Solar Sox. Mintz began his coaching career in 2001 with Anaheim, working as pitching coach for the organization's short season clubs following his retirement midway through the campaign.

Mintz pitched professionally for 12 seasons with Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Anaheim after he was originally drafted as a catcher by the Dodgers in the 1990 June Draft. He made his major league debut with the San Francisco Giants on May 18, 1995 and recorded his first career win on June 14, 1995 at Chicago-NL.

Mintz resides in Leland, NC with his wife, Cathi. They have three children: Abby, Hunter, and Jacob.

 

###