Ryan Ellis named Manager of St. Lucie Mets
Port St. Lucie, Fla. - The St. Lucie Mets announced today that Ryan Ellis will manage the Mets for their 2012 Florida State League campaign. Last year, Ellis led the Savannah Sand Gnats to a 79-60 record, including a first half division title and guided the Sand Gnats to the championship series in the South Atlantic League. Ellis was named South Atlantic League Manager of the Year, and Baseball America's Best Manager Prospect for the South Atlantic League. Prior to his first managerial role, Ellis was the hitting coach for the Sand Gnats in 2009 and 2010. He previously served as a coach for the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League in 2008 and with Binghamton in 2007. Ellis is joined on staff by veteran pitching coach Phil Regan, who will enter his fourth year as pitching coach for the St. Lucie Mets. Regan was the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians in 1999 and served in the same role for the Chicago Cubs in 1997 and 1998. He also was the pitching coach for Team USA during the 2000 Olympics. Regan managed the Baltimore Orioles to a 71-73 record during the strike-shortened 1995 season. Benny Distefano joins the St. Lucie Mets as the team's hitting coach. He is in his third season with the Mets organization, previously serving as hitting coach with the Savannah Sand Gants in 2011 and the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2010. Jose Carreno rounds out the 2012 coaching staff. Carreno returns to St. Lucie where he coached in 2010. This will be his fifth year in the Mets organization, after serving as coach of the Savannah Sand Gnats for the 2008 and 2009 seasons as well as during the 2011 campaign. Jake Henderson returns as the strength and conditioning coach. This will be his sixth season in the Mets organization and third with the St. Lucie Mets. Henderson was the strength and conditioning coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones for the 2008 and 2009 seasons and for the Kingsport Mets in 2007. Deb Iwanow also returns for her second season as the team's athletic trainer. Iwanow was the athletic trainer for the Brooklyn Cyclones from 2009-2010 and served in the same role for the Kingsport Mets from 2006 - 2008. For more information on the St. Lucie Mets 2012 Florida State League season, visit DigitalDomainPark.com.