Brown Returning to Tacoma, New Pitching Coach Marks Lone Change to Field Staff in 2020

TACOMA, WA - Daren Brown will return to Tacoma for his ninth season as the Rainiers manager, leading the field staff in 2020 as he approaches 500 wins with the club. Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Dipoto and Director of Player Development Andy McKay made the announcement on Tuesday.
Brown will again be joined by hitting coach Roy Howell, who transitioned back to Triple-A with Brown from Double-A Arkansas in 2019. Pitching coach Rob Marcello Jr. is the lone newcomer on the Tacoma staff in 2020 after making a two-level jump from Advanced-A Modesto, where he coached in the same role last season.
Brown, 52, was the club's skipper for all or parts of seven seasons from 2007-13, with two stints on the Mariners staff in 2010 and 2013. In 2010 Brown served as interim manager in Seattle for the final 50 games of the season, going 19-31. The former 29th round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays returned to Tacoma in 2019, already the winningest manager in Rainiers franchise history. Following a 61-78 campaign a year ago, the Holdenville, OK native has 494 wins as the Rainiers manager.

Brown led the Rainiers to back-to-back division titles in 2009 and 2010, helping earn Tacoma's first outright PCL Championship since 1969 in the latter year. Since last steering the Rainiers in 2013, Brown has served in the Mariners organization as a Baserunning Coordinator (2014), Bunting and Baserunning Coordinator (2015), and manager at the Double-A level with the Jackson Generals (2016) and Arkansas Travelers (2017-18).
This coming season will be Brown's 22nd year with the Mariners, and his 20th campaign as a manager. His all-time managerial record is 1,463-1,333 (.523) and includes time with independent Amarillo (1998-2000), Advanced-A San Bernardino (2001-02), Single-A Wisconsin (2003), Advanced-A Inland Empire (2005), Double-A San Antonio (2006), Tacoma (2007-13), Double-A Jackson (2016), and Double-A Arkansas (2017-18).
Howell, 66, is gearing up for his ninth season in the Mariners organization and second in-a-row with Tacoma. The former first round draft selection, 1978 American League All-Star, and member of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers American League Championship squad formerly served as the Rainiers manager in 2014, going 74-70. From 2015-18 Howell served as the hitting coach for the Mariners Double-A affiliates before returning to the Rainiers last season.
The former infielder strung together an 11-year Major League career that included time with the Texas Rangers (1974-77), Toronto Blue Jays (1977-80), and Milwaukee Brewers (1981-84). He was selected by the Rangers with the fourth overall pick in the 1972 draft, and went on to post a career batting average of .261 with 80 home runs and over 450 RBI.
Marcello, 29, is entering his second season in the Mariners organization after serving as Modesto's pitching coach in 2019. He began his coaching career at Indian River State College in Okeechobee, FL, where he also started his collegiate career. The former left-handed pitcher was drafted in the 17th round out of Appalachian State University by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013 and played professionally at Short Season-A Williamsport for the remainder of the year, his only season as a professional pitcher.
The remainder of the field staff includes athletic trainer Tom Newberg, athletic trainer Josh DiLoreto, and performance specialist Derek Mendoza. The 2020 season will be Newberg's 14th in Tacoma, while Mendoza will log his fifth-consecutive campaign with the Rainiers. DiLoreto will be in Tacoma for the second year in-a-row.
The Rainiers begin their 2020 home campaign, the 61st season of professional baseball at Cheney Stadium, at home on April 9 at 7:05 p.m. PT against the Fresno Grizzlies. Tacoma's entire 2020 schedule can be found here.
To inquire about 2020 season tickets, group and hospitality options, contact [email protected]. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Rainiers throughout the season can be found by WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.
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