Indians announce 2006 field staff
Kevin Higgins has been named manager, and he will have Tony Arnold and Dennis Malave heading up the pitching and hitting staffs, respectively. Teddy Blackwell will once again fill the athletic training position.
Higgins returns to the Indians after being the batting coach in 2005. He brings an extensive baseball background to the staff, including time as a player and coach. Higgins came to Burlington from American River College (Calif.) where he coached the Beavers for 17 years. He stepped down there after the 2002 season to take on a smaller role, but not without leaving a mark. In his time as head coach, Higgins led his squad to two league championships and 13 playoff appearances.
Higgins also has experience in the farm systems of the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Montreal Expos. From 1996-1997 he managed the Vermont Expos. He led the team to a New York-Penn League title and was named Manager of the Year in 1996. Before starting his rounds in professional baseball, Higgins played first base for California State-Northridge in 1975, then transferred to Sacramento State where he earned a bachelor's degree in recreation administration. He then shifted to South Dakota State as a graduate assistant and earned a master's in physical education.
Arnold is entering his 14th season in the Cleveland system. In 2005 he was the pitching coach for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a Class A Short-Season affiliate of Cleveland. He earned the honor of South Atlantic League Coach of the Year in 2003 when he was with the Lake County Captains and helped his staff to a league-leading ERA of 2.67.
Arnold was drafted in the 10th round by the Baltimore Orioles in 1981 and spent 10 years playing professional baseball. His coaching career began in 1990 with a Class A team for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He joined the Indians system in 1993 and has been the pitching coach for Burlington (1993, 2000-2002), Watertown (1994), Kinston (1995) and Akron (1996-1999).
Malave spent nine years as a player in the Indians organization and will return for his second season on the coaching staff. He was an outfielder with a Minor League career average of .255 and 116 stolen bases. Malave made his coaching debut in 2005 as an assistant at Burlington.
Blackwell is returning for his fourth consecutive season as the athletic trainer with Burlington, after spending nine in Kinston. He graduated from Elon in 1988 and has been affiliated with the system since then.
"Our staff has a lot of experience and is an easy group to work with," said Burlington general manager Mark Cryan.
"We'll have a team that will compete hard every night," Higgins said. "I'm excited to be coming back to Burlington. It's a great baseball town and a first-class operation."