The Bisons Coaching Tree
We all know that Triple-A is the final step before a player makes it to the majors. But what about players after they are players? How about the men leading the players?
Prospects aren't only found on the mound and in the batter's box. In recent years, Buffalo has proven to be stepping stone for many of the game's managers and coaches. In fact, a former Bisons player, manager or coach resides on over half of the major league coaching staffs.
On top of the list are the four former Bisons that are currently major league managers: Bud Black in San Diego, Terry Collins with the Mets, John Farrell in Toronto and Eric Wedge with the Mariners.
From there, the list is long. Check out the former Bisons that are on coaching staffs in the major leagues and minor leagues.
Cleveland Indians
Scott Radinsky - Pitching Coach
Bruce Fields - Hitting Coach
Sandy Alomar, Jr - Bench Coach
Detroit Tigers
Lloyd McClendon - Hitting Coach
Houston Astros
Dave Clark -3rd Base Coach
Bobby Meachem - 1st Base Coach
Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim
Steve Soliz - Bullpen Coach
Arizona Diamondbacks
Charlie Nagy - Pitching Coach
Chicago Cubs
Pat Listach - 3rd Base Coach
Chicago White Sox
Jeff Manto - Hitting Coach
Miami Marlins
Reid Cornelius - Bullpen Coach
New York Mets
Tim Teufel - 3rd Base Coach
Ricky Bones - Bullpen Coach
New York Yankees
Tony Pena - Bench Coach
Pittsburgh Pirates
Jeff Banister - Bench Coach
San Diego Padres
Dave Roberts - 1st Base Coach
Darrel Akerfelds - Bullpen Coach
San Francisco Giants
Ron Wotus - Bench Coach
Seattle Mariners
Carl Willis - Pitching Coach
Jeff Datz - 3rd Base Coach
Toronto Blue Jays
Torey Lovullo - 1st Base Coach
Detroit Tigers
Rafael Belliard - Infield Coach
Buffalo's baseball connections extend from the big league fields to the front office and all around Minor League Baseball.
Philadelphia Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro, Jr played for Bisons in 1995. His father Ruben Sr played for Bisons in 1959. Jr hit .305, Sr hit .258.
Former Bisons 1989 MVP Steve Henderson is the Philadelphia Phillies hitting coordinator. Andy Abad from '05 Herd is outfield & base running coordinator. 1992 pitching coach Spin Williams is the Washington Nationals pitching coordinator.
Former Bisons fan favorite and 1993 Community Service Award winner Tim Leiper will be roving infield instructor for Miami Marlins. 2 former Bisons - Tim Laker & Daryl Boston are Chicago White Sox roving instructors. Laker was 2002 Bisons Most Inspirational & Comeback Player. Former Bisons OF Trenidad Hubbard ('97) is roving instructor for the Colorado Rockies.
Triple A
Former Bisons Manager Joel Skinner will manage Charlotte Knights in '12. Former Bison Andy Tomberlin is his hitting coach. Former Bisons 3rd baseman David Bell is Louisville Bats manager. Former Bisons hitting coach Dave Keller is the hitting coach for Iowa Cubs. Former Bisons pitcher Blaise Ilsley is the St. Louis Cardinals Triple A pitching coach - Memphis Redbirds. Former Bisons catcher Dann Bilardello will manage the Batavia Muckdogs in 2012. Former Bisons pitcher and pitching coach Terry Clark ('97 & '04) is the Texas Rangers' Triple A pitching coach in Round Rock, TX. Former Bisons manager Marty Brown ('03-'05) is the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A manager in Las Vegas. 1993 Bisons MVP Russ Morman is hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants Triple-A team in Fresno. Former Bisons infielder Tony Beasley ('93) is Syracuse Chiefs manager.
Double A
Former Bisons pitching coach Gary Ruby ('97) is PC of the Houston Astros Double A team in Corpus Christi. '97 Bisons won American Association Championship. Former Bisons Jay Bell is a Double A for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Former Bisons pitching coach Gary Ruby ('97) is PC of the Houston Astros Double A team in Corpus Christi. Don Schulze of 1987 Bisons is A's pitching coach in Double A Midland, Texas. Former Bisons catcher Dusty Wathan ('03-'05) is the Philadelphia Phillies Double-A Manager in Reading, PA
Class A
Jacob Cruz is a Single-A minor league coach for Diamondbacks. Luis Salazar is the manager for the Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves - Lynchburg Hillcats. Former Bisons catcher Einar Diaz is hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles' Class A Delmarva Shorebirds. Former Bisons manager Brian Graham is coordinator of minor league instruction for the Baltimore Orioles. Former Bisons catcher Dave Wallace is manager of the Cleveland Indians' Class-A team in Lake County. Former Bisons pitcher Jeff Harris is pitching coach. Darryl Scott ('96-97) is pitching coach in Class-A Modesto. Former Bisons pitcher Jim Brower (99-2000) is coach of the Kansas City Royals Class A team in Kane County. Former Bisons 1st Baseman Razor Shines is the Los Angeles Dodgers' Class-A hitting coach - Great Lakes Loons in Midland, MI. Former Bisons OF Benny Distefano will be hitting coach for the New York Mets A-Ball team in St. Lucie. Tom Prince & Carlos Garcia are both A-Ball managers in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system in Bradenton, FL. Willie Blair is the San Diego Padres' A-Ball pitching coach in Fort Wayne for the Tincaps. Former Bisons pitcher Steve Kline ('97) is pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants A-Ball team in San Jose. Former Bisons pitching coach Tom Dettore ('93-'94) will be PC for the Seattle Mariners A-Ball team in High Desert. Former Bisons OF/DH Ernie Young is manager of the Detroit Tigers Class A West Michigan Whitecaps.
Rookie Leagues
Jason Dubois is hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs Rookie League team. Tommy Shields ('90) is rookie ball manager in the Kansas City Royals Organization. Former Bisons 2001 MVP Anthony Medrano is manager of the Cleveland Indians' Rookie League team in AZ. His pitching coach is former Bison Steve Karsay. Andy Green is a coach in the Arizona Diamondbacks Rookie ball level.
Former Bisons trainers that are 2012 MLB head trainers are Rick Jameyson (Boston Red Sox), Lee Kuntz (Washington Nationals), Nick Paparesta (Oakland Athletics) and Todd Tomczyk (Pittsburgh Pirates).