Pankovits Returns as Generals Skipper
Jim Pankovits returns for his second season as manager the Jackson Generals. Pankovits has recorded 776 wins in his minor league managing career and led the Generals to 68 wins in 2011. He managed the 2011 Southern League North All-Stars, which included seven Generals on the squad. Pankovits spent the previous 16 years working in the Houston Astros Player Development department, including two seasons as manager of the Tri-City ValleyCats and in 2010 led the ValleyCats to the New York-Penn League Championship. In addition to his managerial duties, he also served as the Astros Minor League infield coordinator. He also managed at various levels in the Astros Minor League system from 1995-1999 and 2006-08. Jim began his managerial career managing Boston's Double-A club in New Britain from 1992-94.
Pankovits was originally drafted by the Astros in the 4th round of the June 1976 Draft and spent parts of five seasons with the Astros, compiling a .250 average in 318 games. He also played with the Pittsburgh, Los Angels (NL), and Boston.
Lance Painter returns to Jackson for a third season as pitching coach. He will begin his seventh season in the Mariners organization. Lance spent the 2009 season a pitching coach with Low-A Clinton and 2008 with High-A High Desert. He spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons as a pitching coach in Low-A Wisconsin.
Painter pitched professionally from 1990-2003, spending time in the San Diego, Colorado, St. Louis, Toronto and Milwaukee organizations, including 10 years in the Major Leagues.
Cory Snyder returns for his second season as hitting coach. Snyder joined the Mariners player development staff after four-seasons managing in the independent Golden League, most recently with the Na Koa Ikaika in Maui, Hawaii
Snyder played in the Major Leagues from from 1986 to 1994 with Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Dodgers...prior to his pro-career, was a three-time All-American for BYU. In 1984, he was on the first Olympic Baseball team for the United States, which earned a Silver Medal.
Joining the Generals staff for his first season will be athletic trainer Eduardo Tamaz. This will be Tamaz's fifth season as an athletic trainer in the Mariners Organization. He spent the past three seasons with High-A High Dessert and was trainer for the Clinton Lumberkings in 2009, where he was named Mid-West Athletic Trainer of the Year
Rob Fumagalli returns for his second season as Performance Coach. This is his third season as a performance specialist in then Mariners Minor League system.
The 2012 season marks both the 15th year of Double-A baseball at Pringles Park, in Jackson, TN and sixth as the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
Jackson Generals season tickets, flex plans, along with group outings and suite rentals, are available by calling the Generals front office at (731) 988-5299. Once again, a $5 food voucher will be included on every season ticket for each game.
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