Oliver Marmol Named New Manager
Marmol will replace Mike Shildt, who was named manager of the St. Louis Cardinal's Double-A affiliate in Springfield, MO. Marmol is entering his second season as a coach in the Cardinals system after spending the 2011 season as the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Cardinals. Prior to his coaching debut he spent four seasons playing in the Cardinal's minor league system after being drafted by the organization in 2007. His playing career included stints with the Batavia Muckdogs, Quad Cities River Bandits, and Palm Beach Cardinals. Prior to his professional playing career Marmol attended the College of Charleston (S.C.) where he batted .327 over three seasons with the Cougars.
Doug White enters his fifth season as a Cardinals minor league pitching coach and fourth with the Johnson City Cardinals. Prior to his time in Johnson City White was the pitching instructor with the Cardinals Short Season A club in Batavia, New York. He has helped lead his teams to three league championships including two in Johnson City and one in Batavia. White has extensive experience as a pitching instructor and is the founder of the "Passion for Pitching" program in Southern California, which offers clinics, program design, group and private instruction, analysis, and consultation for youth and professional pitchers. He has also recently served as pitching instructor for a Major League Baseball International sponsored clinic in Peru. White is a 2001 graduate of Arizona State University and is a certified personal trainer.
Ramon Ortiz enters his third season with Johnson City after spending the 2009 season with the Batavia club. Ortiz will maintain his role as the team's hitting coach. Under the watch of Ortiz, the 2010 and 2011 Johnson City club led the Appalachian League in almost every major batting category on their way to back to back championships. Ortiz was in the Dodgers organization from 2005-07, last serving as hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Dodgers in 2007. Ortiz spent six seasons from 1999-2004 as a coach in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' organization. The Venezuela native started his coaching career at the University of Central Venezuela (1983-1985). He then spent nine seasons as a coach in the Cardinals' system, followed by a three-season coaching stint in the New York Yankees' organization. Ortiz, an outfielder, played five seasons of professional baseball in the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins systems.
The 2012 season will mark the 38th consecutive year of affiliation with the 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and the 9th year the Johnson City Cardinals will be managed by the nonprofit Johnson City Sports Foundation (JCSF). Proceeds from the Cardinals' season will help provide grants for local youth sports and education programs. To purchase tickets, or for information on advertising with the Johnson City Cardinals, contact the Cardinals front office at (423) 461-4866 or by email: [email protected].