Menchaca Named 44th Manager in Clinton History

Clinton, IA - The Clinton LumberKings, in conjunction with the Seattle Mariners, have announced the LumberKings' coaching staff for the 2011 season. Former Pulaski manager Eddie Menchaca will become the 44th manager in Clinton franchise history and will be joined by former Everett pitching coach Rich Dorman and trainer Jake Naas. Hitting coach Terry Pollreisz is the only returning member of the 2010 staff.

Menchaca, who turns 30 on February 7, enters his fourth season as a coach in the Mariners organization after spending last year at the helm of the short-A Pulaski Mariners. In his first-ever managerial post, Menchaca guided the Mariners to a 37-28 record, capturing the Appalachian League East division title. His club advanced to the Appy League playoffs, losing to Elizabethton in the first round. The El Paso, TX native previously served as the hitting coach for Pulaski in 2009 and began his coaching career in 2008 with the Peoria Mariners. Menchaca enjoyed a seven-year playing career in the Mariners system from 2001 to 2007 after Seattle signed him as a non-drafted free agent out of South Mountain Community College (Phoenix, AZ). He hit .225 with 156 runs scored and 128 RBI in 443 career games, including stints at low-A Wisconsin (2002), high-A Inland Empire (2003) and double-A San Antonio (2004-2005).

Dorman, 32, begins his first season with the LumberKings and his third in the Seattle system in 2011. He spent last season as the pitching coach for short-A Everett, leading the AquaSox to the Northwest League's best team ERA (3.22) and the Northwest League championship. His 2010 staff included eight eventual LumberKings including Yoervis Medina, Forrest Snow and Tom Wilhelmsen. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 13th round of the 2000 June draft, Dorman pitched for nine minor-league seasons with Tampa Bay (2000-2001), Seattle (2002-2006, 2008) and Florida (2007) before retiring in 2009 to become a coach. In a nine-season career, he went 52-43 with a 3.80 ERA, reaching as high as triple-A Tacoma (2005-2006, 2008) and Albuquerque (2007).

Pollreisz, 63, starts his second season as the LumberKings' hitting coach and his 13th in the Mariners' system. Under his veteran leadership, the Clinton offense ranked first in the Midwest League in home runs (134) and seventh in overall hitting (.259) on their way to the West Division championship in 2010. Pollreisz has been in the Seattle organization since 1998 and has coached at every level, including short-A Everett (manager from 1998-2001), double-A San Antonio (2002-2003), triple-A Tacoma (2004-2007) and low-A Wisconsin (manager in 2008). Born in Whitefish, MT and now residing in Peoria, AZ, Pollreisz also spent 10 seasons as the head coach at the University of Portland.

Naas enters his first season in the Mariners system as the trainer for the LumberKings. The Performance Specialist position has yet to be announced.

Menchaca replaces John Tamargo, who following one season as Clinton manager has been promoted to Seattle's Latin America Field Coordinator post. Dwight Bernard, LumberKings' pitching coach in 2010, has returned to his previous position of triple-A pitching coach with the Tacoma Rainiers. B.J. Downie will be the trainer at short-A Pulaski.

Menchaca and the rest of the 2011 LumberKings return to Alliant Energy Field on Thursday, April 7 at 6:30 PM as they host the Burlington Bees. Season ticket packages and group party dates are on sale now. Call 563-242-0727 or visit www.lumberkings.com for more information.