Whitecaps Announce 2024 Coaching Staff

Cappuccilli Named Whitecaps Manager

Mud Hens Bench Coach Heads to West Michigan

COMSTOCK PARK, MI (JANUARY 22, 2024) – The West Michigan Whitecaps will have several new faces in their 2024 dugout, led by Tony Cappuccilli, named the 15th manager in club history, in a move announced with the Detroit Tigers on this morning.

Cappuccilli (pronounced Cap-uh-CHELLY) arrives with vast coaching experience, having spent the past two seasons as the bench coach for the Tigers Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens. “I’m really excited to be in West Michigan,” said Cappuccilli. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about the city, fans, and organization from people throughout our system, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The native of Huntington Beach, CA, heads to Comstock Park alongside a mix of coaches with experience with the Whitecaps and some new to West Michigan. Returning from the 2023 coaching staff is pitching coach Dan Ricabal. Former Whitecaps infielder Francisco Contreras, part of West Michigan’s most recent Midwest League Championship team in 2015, joins the team as Hitting Coach. Other first-timers to the Whitecaps coaching staff include Pitching Coach Collin Murray, Athletic Trainer Justin Wagler and Strength Coach Kevin Kleis. Brayan Pena, who managed the ‘Caps for the past three seasons, has moved into the Detroit Tigers Minor League Catching Coordinator role.

“It’s always great to see the quality of managing and coaching that the Tigers provide West Michigan, and this combination of talent looks to continue the trend,” said Whitecaps Vice President and General Manager Jim Jarecki. “Having Dan Ricabal back to lead the pitching staff and former Whitecap Francisco Contreras to handle the hitters lessens the learning curve as they are both familiar with our organization and LMCU Ballpark.”

Cappuccilli has made coaching stops at collegiate and professional levels, having worked with the Irvine Valley College, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and the University of New Mexico. In 2017, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as a minor league coach, helping the Dodgers Rookie affiliate to an Arizona League Championship. In 2021, he managed the Arizona Complex League Dodgers before joining the Tigers, beginning with Toledo in 2022.

Ricabal returns for his second year after leading a pitching staff that tossed a Midwest League-best 15 shutouts during the 2023 season. Contreras hit .294 with a home run and six RBIs in the 2015 postseason to help the Caps win their last league title. The 32-year-old has been the hitting coach for the Lakeland Flying Tigers (2022) and Erie Seawolves (2023) – a team that posted Top-3 marks in many offensive categories in the Eastern League last year.

Murray returns to the Tigers organization after being with the club as a Baseball Information Assistant in 2021 before becoming a Development Coach for the Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles) for the last two seasons. Wagler attended Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and worked for the Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks and, most recently, as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Mud Hens. Kleis has a MS in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State University, and joins the Tigers from the Pittsburgh Pirates where we was an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.

“Tony’s first year managing will be supported with some familiar faces to West Michigan that should lead to a solid transition,” said Jarecki. “We’re looking forward to getting the season going and working with this staff.”

The Whitecaps have preparations for the 2024 campaign well underway. The scheduled season opener is Friday, April 5, at Classic Park against the Lake County Captains before the home opener on Tuesday, April 9, against the Quad Cities River Bandits. Get information on 2024 season tickets by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.