Smokies announce 2013 coaching staff
Bailey will return for his third season as Smokies' manager, having spent the 2008 and 2012 seasons in Tennessee. He led the Smokies to a 72-68 record, which was fourth best in the Southern League in 2012. The Madison Heights, Va., native brings 24 years of Minor League managing experience and an overall managerial record of 1,630-1,518.
After four years (1979-1982) as a catcher in the Atlanta Braves' Minor League system, Bailey began his managerial career in 1983 with the Braves' Rookie-level Pulaski club. He then managed at Sumter (Class A, 1985, 1987), Durham (Class A, 1986, 1988) and Greenville (Double-A, 1988-1990). Bailey left the Braves' organization to manage in the Red Sox organization for Lynchburg (Class A, 1991-1992) and Pawtucket (Triple-A, 1993-1996, 2002-2004), then served as the Red Sox's Minor League catching instructor, Minor League field coordinator, roving catching instructor and advanced scout. Bailey then left for the Cubs' organization in 2006 to manage Daytona (Class A Advanced), Iowa (Triple-A, 2007), Tennessee (Double-A, 2008) and three seasons back in Daytona (Class A Advanced, 2009-2011), where he led the Cubs to the Florida State League Championship in 2011.
Fassero returns for his second season as pitching coach with the Smokies after handling the same duties in Class A Peoria in 2011 and Class A Short-Season A Boise in 2010. Fassero is a 16-year Major League veteran pitcher (1991-2006) who has a career MLB record of 121-124 with a 4.11 ERA.
Wilson enters his first season with the Smokies and sixth with the Cubs organization. He has held the same position with Class A Advanced Daytona (2012), Class A Short-Season Boise (2009, 2011) and Rookie-level Mesa (2008, 2010). Wilson appeared in 41 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1996, and during an 11-year Minor League career (1991-1997, 1999-2002), he compiled a .307 batting average in 1,043 games with five organizations (Texas, San Francisco, Arizona, the White Sox and Montreal).
Athletic trainer Scott Barringer will begin his first season with the Smokies in 2013 and his first overall in the Cubs' Minor League system, after spending the last two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Ryan Clausen joins Tennessee as the strength coach, having held the same position with Boise in 2012.
Smokies' 2012 hitting coach Mariano Duncan will remain within the Cubs organization, and will assume that same role with the Class A Advanced Daytona Cubs. Athletic trainer AJ Larson and strength coach Tyler Evans have left the Cubs organization.
The Smokies will begin the 2013 campaign on Thu, April 4 at Bayfront Stadium against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, while the home schedule gets underway on Wed, April 10 against the Chattanooga Lookouts at Smokies Park. Full and partial season tickets, group tickets and mini ticket packages are currently available by calling the Smokies front office at (865) 286-2300 or by visiting www.smokiesbaseball.com online.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are the Minor League Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the 10-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for longer than 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, please visit www.smokiesbaseball.com online.