Grasshoppers announce 2013 field staff
Hernandez will be joined by returning hitting coach Frank Moore and returning pitching coach Blake McGinley. Ben Cates, athletic trainer, will advance from Class A Short-Season Jamestown to Greensboro.
2013 marks Jorge Hernandez's first season at the helm of the Greensboro Grasshoppers. He has spent the past three seasons as manager of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins. Hernandez is not a stranger to Greensboro, however, as he was the Grasshoppers' hitting coach during the 2008 season. His professional coaching career started in 2004 with the Pensacola Pelicans as hitting coach.
Hernandez started coaching in 1993 as the hitting coach for the University of Mobile. From there, he spent two seasons at Texas A&M. In 2003, he was the hitting coach at the University of West Florida. Hernandez is a former ninth round pick of the Houston Astros in 1986, but did not sign. He earned All-Conference honors at Troy State University and was a member of the Trojans team that won the 1987 NCAA Division II World Series. In addition, he was a member of the 1984 American Legion World Series champion squad.
Blake McGinley enters his second year as the Greensboro Grasshoppers' pitching coach. McGinley is entering his third year with the Marlins organization, having spent the 2011 season as the Jamestown Jammers' pitching coach.
McGinley was a 21st round selection by the New York Mets in the June 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He spent seven years in the Minor League system, six with the Mets and his final year with the Marlins in 2007.
Frank Moore enters his second year as the Greensboro Grasshoppers' hitting coach, after one year with the Jupiter Hammerheads and two years with Jamestown in the same capacity. Before being named Jamestown hitting coach, he played with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in 2007.
Moore was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1998 out of Middle Georgia Junior College. He saw time with Marlins' affiliates in Jupiter, Carolina and Albuquerque from 2005-07.
Season tickets, mini ticket plans and advertising packages are now on sale for the 2013 season. For more information, please contact the Grasshoppers office at 336.268.2255, or visit www.gsohoppers.com online.