Parrish returns as Toledo skipper

The Toledo Mud Hens are bringing back a familiar face as Larry Parrish, the team's all-time wins leader, on Wednesday was named manager for the 2014 season.

Parrish managed Toledo for eight seasons over the past 20 years (1994, 2003-06 and 2008-10), accruing 569 wins and two Governors' Cup titles. He was inducted to the International League Hall of Fame earlier this year.

"As a manager, he's a great teacher and I know we'll see improvement in player development," Mud Hens president and general manager Joe Napoli said in a statement. "For our fans, he's always been a favorite. They will be glad to welcome him back."

"He's terrific. I think the world of Larry Parrish," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told MLB.com. "I think he's an outstanding baseball manager, a great evaluator. I think he's outstanding baseball guy and a great guy. I really enjoy being around him."

Parrish enjoyed a 13-year Major League career with the Expos, Rangers and Red Sox and also played two seasons in Japan. His coaching career began in 1992 with short-season Niagara Falls and he's held various coaching and player development positions since, serving as Tigers manager for part of the 1998 season and all of 1999.

The 59-year-old first managed the Mud Hens in 1994 but was promoted to roving hitting instructor the following year. He returned to Toledo in 2003, winning Minor League Manager of the Year honors in 2005 and guiding the team to consecutive International League championships in 2005-06.

Parrish accepted a position as Atlanta Braves hitting coach in 2011, a post he held for one year. This past season, he returned to the Tigers system to coach Class A West Michigan. The Whitecaps went 69-70 and finished fourth in the Midwest League Eastern Division.

The Mud Hens also announced that Al Nipper will serve as pitching coach next season, replacing A.J. Sager, who was named the Tigers' roving pitching coordinator.