Beasley will aid Pirates in Minor Leagues

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates welcomed a couple of familiar faces back to the organization on Wednesday by naming Tony Beasley as a roving Minor League infield instructor and Roy Smith as a special assistant to the general manager.

Beasley returns to the organization following a one-year absence. After posting a .590 winning percentage in five seasons as a manager in the Pittsburgh Minor League system, Beasley spent the 2006 season as the Nationals third base coach.

Beasley led his teams to a playoff berth during each of his five seasons as a manager, and he won league championships at short-season Williamsport in 2001 and Class A Hickory in 2002. In 2004, Beasley was named Double-A Manager of the Year by Baseball America after guiding Altoona to a first-place finish in the Eastern League.

Smith, 45, served as the assistant to former Bucs general manager Cam Bonifay and current GM Dave Littlefield from October 1998 to October 2004. Smith also acted as Pittsburgh's interim general manager from the time Bonifay was relieved of his duties on June 11, 2001 until Littlefield was hired on July 12, 2001.

Smith, who pitched for eight seasons in the big leagues with the Indians, Twins and Orioles, spent the past two years serving as the Dodgers vice president of scouting and player development.