D-Braves Announce 2010 Field Staff

DANVILLE, VA - The Appalachian League Champion Danville Braves announced today that the on-field staff has been set for 2010. Returning as manager in Danville will be Manager Paul Runge (pictured). Returning with Runge will be Hitting Coach Carlos Mendez and Pitching Coach Derrick Lewis. The same trio of coaches led the Danville Braves in 2009 to their second Appalachian League Championship in four seasons. In addition, Runge has been at the helm of both D-Braves Championships (2006, 2009).

Paul Runge returns to Danville for his sixth consecutive season (ninth overall as coach or manager in Danville) at the helm of the Braves after leading the team to a 47-21 record (.691) and the Appy League Championship. During his tenure with the Braves, Runge has won 245 games, which is the fourth-highest total in Appalachian League history. A 1979 ninth-round draft choice of the Atlanta Braves, Runge has been coaching in the Braves system all but one year since 1993.

Carlos Mendez is in his third season as a coach in the Atlanta Braves organization. Mendez, a career .297 hitter at the minor-league level, played for 16 seasons with five organizations (Kansas City, Detroit, Oakland, Baltimore and Atlanta) from 1992-2007. During his 16-year career, Mendez often was a top performer in several offensive categories and was also named to several all-star teams.

Derrick Lewis enters his third season as the pitching coach for the Danville Braves and his seventh season overall in the Braves organization. Before Danville, Lewis served in the same capacity for four seasons with the Gulf Coast League Braves. Lewis' affiliation with the Braves dates back to 1997, when Atlanta selected him in the 20th round of the June amateur draft. Lewis spent seven years (1997-2003) as a pitcher in the Braves minor league system, including 1997 with the Danville Braves.

"We are very pleased to have the same experienced staff return in 2010," stated Danville Braves General Manager David Cross. "They have shown that they can develop the future Atlanta Braves while at the same time put a winning product on the field."

The 2010 Danville Braves will begin defense of their Appalachian League title on June 22, 2010 at the Princeton Rays. For further information on the schedule, season tickets, promotional nights, and/or partnership opportunities please contact the Danville Braves office at (434) 797-3792, email us at [email protected], or log on to www.dbraves.com.