Sal Fasano Named Fisher Cats' Manager

Manchester, N.H. - The Toronto Blue Jays, parent club of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, today named former Major League catcher Sal Fasano as the sixth manager in Fisher Cats team history.  Fasano will be joined in the dugout by new hitting coach Justin Mashore and new pitching coach Pete Walker.  Robert Tarpey returns as the Fisher Cats Athletic Trainer for his second season.

Fasano, 39, comes to New Hampshire after making his managerial debut in 2010 with the Lansing Lugnuts, Blue Jays' Class-A affiliate of the Midwest League, where he posted a 70-69 record at the helm.  Fasano, an eleven year Major Leaguer, played in 16 games with Toronto during the 2007 season and clubbed 47 home runs and 140 RBIs in his 427-game Major League career. 

"We welcome back Bob and we are looking forward to working with Sal, Pete and Justin," said Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner. "I am sure that 2011 will be more exciting than 2010."

Fasano was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 37^th round of the 1993 amateur draft and spent five of his eleven big league seasons in a Royals uniform.  The Chicago native won a World Series ring as a member of the 2002 Anaheim Angels.  

Mashore, 38, enters his sixth year in the Blue Jays organization as a coach.  Originally selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 1991 amateur draft, he served as the hitting coach for the Dunedin Blue Jays (Class-A/Florida State League) in 2010 when his club led the league in doubles and home runs.  He began his coaching career with the Pulaski Blue Jays (Rookie/Appalachian League) in 2004 before joining the Auburn Doubledays (Short Season-A/NY-Penn League) in 2006.  Mashore spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a coach with Lansing.

Walker, 41, joins New Hampshire after serving as the Blue Jays rehab pitching coach during the 2010 season.  A University of Connecticut graduate, Walker was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 1990 amateur draft and went on to play in eight Major League seasons; four of which were with the Blue Jays.  He enjoyed his best year in 2002 when he posted a 10-5 record with one save in 37 games (20 starts) while splitting time between the Toronto rotation and bullpen.

Tarpey, 30, enters his second season as the Fisher Cats athletic trainer. Prior to joining New Hampshire he spent three years as the trainer for Lansing, where he was named the 2008 Midwest League Athletic Trainer of the Year.  The York, ME, native graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and earned his master's degree at California University of Pennsylvania.  Tarpey, a former Blue Jays intern, joined the club as a full-time athletic trainer in 2006 with the Pulaski Blue Jays (Rookie/Appalachian League). 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats Full- and Half-Season Tickets for the 2011 All-Star Season, including Opening Day 2011 on April 7^thand the 2011 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Game on July 13 at Merchantsauto.com Stadium, are on sale now.  Mini-Ticket Plans for the 2011 season are also available by calling (603) 641-2005 or by visiting www.nhfishercats.com.