Skinner named Red Wings new skipper

ROCHESTER, NY - The Minnesota Twins announced today that Joel Skinner will manage the Rochester Red Wings in 2018. Hitting Coach Chad Allen, Pitching Coach Stu Cliburn and Strength & Conditioning Coach Tyler Burks will return while Mike McCarthy joins the staff as Bullpen Coach and Chris Johnson will be the new Athletic Trainer.

Skinner, 56, has managed 12 minor league seasons since 1995, combining to go 860-777, and also served as interim manager of the Indians in 2002, leading Cleveland to a 35-41 record after Charlie Manuel was fired on July 11. He was away from baseball in 2017 but spent the previous five seasons managing in the White Sox organization with Single-A Winston-Salem (2016) and Triple-A Charlotte (2012-15). Skinner was named Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America and The Sporting News while leading Triple-A Buffalo to the International League Governors' Cup Finals in 2000 and by USA Today Baseball Weekly in 1998 with Double-A Akron. He won the 1995 New York-Penn League Championship with Short-A Watertown, earning Manager of the Year that season and in 1997 with Single-A Kinston of the Carolina League. Skinner also managed Team USA at the All-Star Futures Game (2000), Double-A Akron (2010, 1998-99) and Single-A Columbus (1996). He was on Cleveland's staff as Bench Coach (2006), Third Base Coach (2001-02, 03-05, 07-09) and Catching Instructor (1994) and also served as Oakland's Bench Coach in 2011.
Skinner takes over for Mike Quade, who managed Rochester to a 238-192 record over three seasons.
The new Rochester skipper enjoyed a 15-year professional career from 1983-91, playing 564 MLB games with the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. Skinner was selected in the 37th round of the 1979 June Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Mission Bay High School (San Diego, CA).
Skinner's father, Bob, managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1968-69 and the San Diego Padres in 1977. The two are the second father-son tandem to manage in the major leagues, joining Red Wing and Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler (St. Louis Browns, 1924-26) and his son, Dick (Cincinnati Reds, 1964-65).
McCarthy is a former 14th-round selection by the Boston Red Sox in 2011 out of California State-Bakersfield. He pitched six seasons in the organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Pawtucket in 2016. McCarthy studied pre-med at Bakersfield.
Johnson will be in his 13th season in the Twins organization and has spent the past five years working as Athletic Trainer with the Double-A affiliate in Chattanooga (2015-17) and New Britain (2013-14). He joined the organization as a spring training intern in 2005.
Allen returns for his third season with the Red Wings while Cliburn is set for a third consecutive season and sixth overall with Rochester. Burks will be in his second season with the team.