Morandini to Lead 'Claws in 2012

LAKEWOOD, NJ - Former Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini will manage the BlueClaws in 2012, it was announced by the Phillies on Monday. Morandini is joined on the staff by hitting coach Greg Legg and pitching coach Les Lancaster.

Morandini hit .268 over 11 big league seasons, nine of them with Philadelphia. He was the starting second baseman on the club that advanced to the 1993 World Series and an All-Star in 1995.

Most recently, Morandini managed Williamsport in 2011, leading the Crosscutters to a record of 43-33 with a number of players that should be with the BlueClaws in 2012. Morandini had been an instructor at spring training the two previous years and served as the head baseball coach at Valparaiso High School in Indiana.

He becomes the 10th manager in BlueClaws history, replacing Chris Truby, who will move up to manage Hi-A Clearwater in 2012.

Legg returns for his sixth season with Lakewood and fifth consecutive after serving as the first manager in team history in 2001. Legg has been Lakewood's hitting coach since 2008. Last year, he was the winner of the John Vukovich Award, presented by the Phillies in honor of his 30 years of service to the Philadelphia organization.

Lancaster went 41-28 over seven Major League seasons, five with the Cubs, from 1987-1993. He served as a pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2011, his first season in the organization.

Ryne Sandberg returns for his second season with Triple- A Leghigh Valley.

Dusty Wathan, who managed the BlueClaws to the South Atlantic League title in 2009, will manage Double-A Reading in 2012. Wathan, who spent the last two years with Clearwater, replaces Mark Parent (who led the BlueClaws to the 2010 SAL title), now the bench coach with the White Sox.

Chris Truby, Lakewood's manager last year, will manage Clearwater in 2012. Andy Tracy joins the staff and will manage short-season Williamsport.

Coaching staffs will report to Clearwater for spring training in late February. The BlueClaws open the 2012 season in Greenville on April 5th and the home opener is Thursday, April 12th.

Ticket packages and group outings for the 2012 season are now on sale. To reserve a spot, please call 732-901-7000 option 3 or log on to BlueClaws.com.

- BlueClaws -