Tim Leiper Will Take the Helm as the Club's Manager

Duffy, Iapoce to coach Hammerheads

January 15, 2009

JUPITER, FL- The Florida Marlins announced the Jupiter Hammerheads coaching staff for the 2009 season. The announcement was made by Marlins Vice President of Player Development and Scouting Assistant General Manager Jim Fleming. Tim Leiper will manage the club, and his on-field staff will include pitching coach John Duffy, hitting coach Anthony Iapoce, and athletic trainer Cesar Roman.

Tim Leiper will be making his debut as the Jupiter Hammerheads skipper after serving as the Altoona Curve (AA) manager from 2006-2008. In his three seasons with the club, he compiled a 213-209 record. He previously managed in Jupiter in 2001, which was then a Montreal Expos affiliate. Leiper has nine-years of minor league managerial experience and has managed in the Expos (2000-02), Red Sox (2003), Orioles (2004), and Pirates (2005-08) organizations. He was also a coach for the 2004 Canadian Olympic baseball team.

John Duffy will begin his first season as the Hammerheads pitching coach. Duffy joins Jupiter after serving as the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A) pitching coach the past two seasons.

Anthony Iapoce will return for his second season as Jupiter's hitting coach. Prior to joining the Hammerheads in 2008, he spent the 2007 season as a coach for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A) and a coach with the Jamestown Jammers (A-) in 2006. Iapoce spent 11 seasons as a player in the minor leagues.

Former Jupiter Hammerheads manager, Brandon Hyde, will be spending the 2009 season as the Jacksonville Suns (AA) manager. In 2008, Hyde managed the Hammerheads to an overall record of 74-64. Reid Cornelius, who has been Jupiter's pitching coach since 2004, will join Hyde in Jacksonville as the team's pitching coach. Under Cornelius, Jupiter's pitching staff compiled a 3.58 ERA along with 903 strikeouts in 2008.

The Jupiter Hammerheads will begin their 2009 Florida State League campaign on April 9, 2009 against the Palm Beach Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium.

For more information, please contact Jason Cantone at 561-630-1846.