Cora announced as new Curve manager
CURVE, Pa. - Former Major League All-Star Joey Cora will take over in 2016 as the new manager of the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pirates announced on Tuesday morning. Cora will be joined by hitting coach Kevin Riggs and pitching coach Justin Meccage, who are both returning for their second season in Altoona.
Cora, 50, joins the Altoona staff for his first season in the Pirates organization. He becomes the ninth manager in franchise history.
As a player, Cora was a first-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 1985 after his All-American career at Vanderbilt. The Caguas, Puerto Rico native spent 11 seasons in the Majors from 1987-1998 with the Padres, White Sox, Mariners and Indians. He was an American League All-Star with the Mariners in 1997.
Following his retirement as a player, Cora served as a minor league manager in the New York Mets system for two years. He led the Rookie-level Appalachian League's Kingsport Mets in 2001 and 2002, going 54-80 over the two seasons. In 2003 he was the manager of the Montreal Expos' Single-A affilliate in the South Atlantic League, the Savannah Sand Gnats, posting a 58-80 record.
In his three seasons as a minor league manager, Cora is 112-160.
Cora joined the Major League staff of the Chicago White Sox in 2004, serving various roles during his eight seasons under manager Ozzie Guillen, including the final five years as the bench coach, and won a World Series ring in 2005. He joined Guillen as the bench coach for the Miami Marlins for the 2012 season.
Former Curve manager Tom Prince, who led the team in 2015 to a 74-68 record and its first playoff appearance since 2010, has been reassigned to another position within the Pirates organization.
Riggs, 46, embarks on his second season in Altoona and second with the Pirates organization after leading the Curve offense to the top overall team batting average (.271) in the Eastern League in 2015. Prior to joining the Double-A Tulsa Drillers (Colorado Rockies affiliate) in the Texas League to a two-year record of 139-138. The managerial assignment was Riggs' first after serving as the team's hitting coach in 2012. He also served as the hitting coach in Modesto (Advanced-A, California League) in 2011, Asheville (Low-A, South Atlantic League) in 2009-10 and short-season Casper in 2007-08.
As a player Riggs was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 28th round of the 1990 draft out of East Carolina University. He played eight seasons stateside in his pro career, reaching as high as Double-A in four different seasons. In 528 career games in the states, Riggs posted a .296 career batting average. The Connecticut native also spent one season in China playing for the China Trust Whales where he was named the league's MVP.
Meccage, 35, will also be back for his second year with the Curve in 2016. Last season, he coached an Altoona pitching staff that led the Eastern League and set a franchise record with 16 shutout victories. Prior to joining Altoona, the Montana native spent two seasons with the A-Adv. Bradenton Marauders. Over the last three seasons, Meccage has worked with standout pitching prospects Tyler Glasnow, Nick Kingham, Chad Kuhl and Steven Brault. In 2011 and 2012, he was the pitching coach for the State College Spikes. As a player, Meccage was selected in the 32nd round of the 2002 draft out of Oklahoma State University by the New York Yankees. He spent two seasons playing in affiliated baseball with Staten Island before a short stint with Cook County of the Independent Frontier League.
The Pirates also announced the other coaching assignments for their minor league affiliates, and many former Curve coaches will be working throughout the organization in 2016. 2013-14 Curve pitching coach Stan Kyles will hold the same role for his second season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he will be joined by sixth-year manager Dean Treanor (2009 Curve pitching coach).
In Bradenton, 2012 Curve coach Michael Ryan will return for his second season as the manager of the A-Adv. Marauders. 2012 Curve pitching coach Jeff Johnson will join the Bradenton staff under the same role in 2016 after spending 2015 with the Rookie-level Bristol Pirates. Long-time Curve hitting coach Ryan Long (2009-10; 2012-14) will take over as the hitting coach for the Class-A West Virginia Power after serving in that role in Bradenton last season.
2013 Curve coach Austin McClune will return for his second season as the Bristol hitting coach. 2010 Altoona pitching coach Tom Filer will join the Bristol staff in 2016 under same role after spending last season with the Short-Season West Virginia Black Bears.
Former Curve player Milver Reyes (2006-09) will return for his fourth season as the manager of the GCL Pirates with 1999 Curve outfielder Kory DeHaan also returning as the club's hitting coach. 2011-12 Altoona infielder Greg Picart will join the DSL Pirates staff as a coach.
The Curve begin their 18th season on April 7 at 6 p.m., hosting the Harrisburg Senators at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Season tickets, mini plans and flex books for the 2016 season are on sale now by calling 877.99.CURVE, visiting AltoonaCurve.com or stopping by the offices at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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