Manatees announce 2013 field staff
Returning to Brevard County for 2013 will be manager Joe Ayrault, hitting coach Ned Yost IV, pitching coach Mark Dewey, athletic trainer Tommy Craig and strength and conditioning specialist Jonah Mergen.
"The entire Manatees organization is thrilled to have our 2012 coaching staff back for 2013," Brevard County general manager Kyle Smith said. "This group of guys are not only good 'baseball guys,' but they are also great individuals away from the field, as well."
Ayrault will return for his second season as Brevard County's manager. In 2012, he led the 'Tees to a 63-72 overall record, with a 34-33 mark in the second half of the season. This will be Ayrault's fourth season managing in the Milwaukee organization as he led the Helena Brewers in both 2010 and 2011.
"I'm thankful that the Brewers have given me the opportunity to return for a second season in Brevard," Ayrault said. "I'm looking forward to working with a great coaching staff, top notch front office and a very talented group of players."
Ayrault previously managed in the Florida State League from 2007-2009 with the Sarasota Reds, and he was also a coach in the Texas Rangers organization. Ayrault spent eight seasons in the Braves' Minor League system as a catcher. He made his Major League debut on Sept. 1, 1996, for Atlanta and was included on the postseason roster for the Braves as they went play in the 1996 World Series.
Yost will also be back for his second year as the Manatees' hitting coach. Yost is in his fifth season as a coach in the Brewers system. From 2009-2011, he was a coach with the Helena Brewers.
Prior to coaching, Yost spent three seasons as an infielder in Milwaukee's farm system from 2005-07. He played in 71 games over two seasons with the Manatees in 2006 and 2007. He is the son of former Brewers manager and current Royals manager, Ned Yost III.
Dewey will return for his second year with both Brevard County and the Milwaukee organization as the Manatees' pitching coach. Under Dewey's direction in 2012, Brevard County's team earned run average improved to 3.86 from 4.70 in 2011. Prior to last season, Dewey spent two seasons as the pitching coach for the Washington Wild Things of the independent Frontier League.
He also served as pitching coach at Emory & Henry College in 2009 and has additional experience as pitching coach with the Aiken Foxhounds of the South Coast League in 2007 and with the Kingsport Mets in both 2000 and 2002. In six Major League seasons, Dewey threw 249 innings in 205 relief appearances with the San Francisco Giants (1990, 1995-96), the New York Mets (1992) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1993-94).
Craig -- the 2012 Florida State League Trainer of the Year -- will be back in Brevard County for his seventh season as the team's athletic trainer. Before joining the Brewers' organization, Craig was with the Toronto Blue Jays for 25 years.
Craig filled many roles during his years with Toronto, including head trainer and rehab coordinator. He served as head trainer during Toronto's back-to-back championship seasons in 1992 and 1993. Craig also served as head trainer for the American League during the 1991 MLB All-Star Game, and as head trainer for Team Canada during the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Mergen will be returning for his third season as Brevard County's strength and conditioning specialist. He previously worked in the Houston Astros organization in 2010, as strength and conditioning coach of the Greeneville Astros. Mergen also served as the coordinator of strength and conditioning for Houston's extended spring training program.
Mergen has also worked in strength and conditioning departments of North Carolina State University, the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse and the National Strength and Conditioning Association World Headquarters.
For more information on the Brevard County Manatees, please call (321) 633-9200 or go to ManateesBaseball.com online. Also, don't forget to Like the Manatees on Facebook at facebook.com/manateesbaseball and follow the Manatees at twitter.com/bcmanatees via Twitter.