Twins Announce Minor League Staff
Stan Cliburn will begin his fourth year as manager of the Twins' Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings (International League). Cliburn, 49, spent five seasons managing the Twins' Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (2001-05) prior to being named the Red Wings Manager in 2006. He has a 924-907 (.505) record during his 15 years of Minor League managerial experience, 661-613 (.519) with the Twins.
Bobby Cuellar will begin his second stint as pitching coach (served as the Twins Triple-A pitching coach from 2002-05) after serving as manager for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats last year and Riccardo Ingram will begin his second Triple-A season as coach, after spending the 2006-07 seasons as the manager of Double-A New Britain.
Tony Leo will return for his fifth season as trainer for the Red Wings and Mark Frens and will return as the club's strength and conditioning coach.
Tom Nieto will begin his first year as manager of the Twins' Double-A affiliate New Britain Rock Cats (Eastern League), after spending the last four seasons with the New York Mets, most recently as the Mets first base coach in 2008. Nieto was a member of the 1987 World Championship team where he appeared in 41 games for the Twins. Stu Cliburn returns to New Britain as pitching coach, a position he held from 1999-2005, after spending the last three seasons as Rochester's pitching coach. Floyd Rayford returns for his fifth season as a coach at the Double-A level, his 10th season in the Twins' system. Chad Jackson will return for his fifth season as trainer for the Rock Cats.
Jeff Smith will begin his second year as manager of the Twins' Single-A affiliate Ft. Myers Miracle (Florida State League). Smith, 34, spent the 2006-07 seasons as manager of the Beloit Snappers, the Twins' Single-A affiliate (Midwest League). He has a 230-184 (.556) record during his three years of Minor League managerial experience. Steve Mintz will begin his first season as pitching coach for the Miracle, after serving in the same capacity for Double-A New Britain last season and for Single-A Beloit in 2007. Mintz also served as the GCL Twins pitching coach from 2002-05. Jim Dwyer will begin his fourth year as a coach at Ft. Myers, after spending the previous nine as the Twins minor league hitting coordinator. Larry Bennese returns for his 10th season as trainer for the Miracle.
Nelson Prada will begin his second year as manager of the Twins' Single-A affiliate Beloit Snappers (Midwest League) after finishing 71-67 last season. Prada, 32, spent the 2004-07 seasons as manager of the GCL Twins. He has a 162-139 (.538) record during his four years of Minor League managerial experience. Gary Lucas will continue his second stint (2005) as pitching coach after spending the 2006-07 seasons as pitching coach for Double-A New Britain. Alan Rail will return for his fifth season as trainer with the Snappers.
Ray Smith returns as manager for the rookie level Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League). Smith, 53, who will be in his 23rd season on staff for Elizabethton, has a career managerial record of 620-390 (.614), with nine first place finishes in 15 seasons guiding the Twins. Jim Shellenback will begin his 14th season as pitching coach, his 32nd year in the Twins' system, and Jeff Reed will return for his eighth season as a coach. Ryan Hedwall returns for his fourth season as trainer for Elizabethton.
Jake Mauer will begin his second season as manager of the rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins and will also run the Twins' extended Spring Training. Mauer, 29, spent the 2006-07 seasons as a coach for the GCL Twins after playing five seasons in the Twins' Minor League system. Ivan Arteaga will begin his fourth season as pitching coach. Milt Cuyler returns for his seventh season as a coach, specializing in baserunning and outfield play. Rudy Hernandez also joins the staff as coach, after serving as coach the previous four seasons with Beloit. Chris Johnson returns for his fourth season as trainer for the GCL Twins.
In addition, Joel Lepel, returns for his fourth year as the Twins' minor league field coordinator. Eric Rasmussen has been promoted to pitching coordinator after spending 10 years as the Ft. Myers pitching coach and Bill Springman returns for his fourth season as hitting coordinator. John Kertis returns for his third season as minor league strength and conditioning coordinator and Lanning Tucker returns for his 11th season as the club's head minor league trainer and rehab coordinator (18th season with the Twins).
Jose Marzan returns for his fourth season as the Twins' Latin America coordinator, overseeing Latin America scouting and international field coordinating, while Dave Ringler returns for his 13th season as equipment manager and Brian Maloney returns for his fourth season as Florida operations coordinator.
Also, former Twins' great Tony Oliva will continue in his role as hitting coach, as well as various duties involving community relations, former manager Tom Kelly will continue in his role as special assistant to the General Manager, and Hall of Famer Paul Molitor will continue in his role as Minor League infield/baserunning coordinator.
The Twins also announced the coaching staff for their academies in the Dominican Republic (Ramon Borrego, mgr., Pablo Frias, pitching ch., Claudio Almonte, ch, and Joselin Carrera, trainer) and Venezuela (Asdrubal Estrada, mgr., Luis Ramirez, pitching ch. and Wladimir Morales, trainer).