Smith, Reed, and Shellenback Return for 2011

The Minnesota Twins announced that Ray Smith will return to manage the 2011 Elizabethton Twins. Smith first managed the club in 1987. Since that time he has been named Appalachian League Manager of The Year six times and has led the Twins to seven Appalachian League Championships. Smith has an overall record of 706 wins with 438 (.617) losses with 10 first place finishes in 17 seasons. Smith signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1977 as a non-drafted free agent and advanced to the major leagues as a catcher in 1981. Ray currently lives in Elizabethton with his wife Shelly and daughter Hannah.

Along with Smith, both coaches return from last season as well. Jeff Reed will enter his eleventh year as third base coach for Elizabethton. Reed, a first round pick by the Twins in 1980, spent 17 years in the big leagues. He was a member of the 1990 World Series Champions, the Cincinnati Reds. Reed will once again focus a great amount of his time on working with the Twins young hitters.

Jim Shellenback will handle the duties as pitching coach for the Twins. This will be his eighteenth season in Elizabethton. Shellenback was the pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins in 1983 and is also used quite often to assist with the Twins Major League pitching staff during spring training and post season play.

The trio of Elizabethton Twins coaches together have won four Appalachian League Championships which occurred in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008.