2011 Player Development Staff Announced

Fryman will not manage in 2011, but will

remain in organization as the fielding

coordinator. (Photo: Ken Carr)

The Cleveland Indians and Vice President of Player Development Ross Atkins today have announced the staff assignments for the 2011 Player Development System.

Mike Sarbaugh will return to manage the Triple-A Columbus, Chris Tremie is now the head man at Double-A Akron, Aaron Holbert remains at High-A Kinston, Ted Kubiak returns to Low-A Lake County, Dave Wallace will make his managerial debut at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley and Anthony Medrano will manage the rookie-level Arizona League Indians.

The Indians also announced the field staff assignments for the 2011 season as Dave Hudgens (Field Coordinator), Dave Miller (Pitching Coordinator), Bruce Fields (Hitting Coordinator), Gary Thurman (Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator), Minnie Mendoza (Advisor, Latin America Operations), Jhonny Goryl (Advisor, Player Development), Jake Beiting (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator), Julio Rangel (Mental Skills Coordinator), and Lino Diaz (Cultural Development) will all return to the same positions they held during the 2010 season.

Travis Fryman, who spent the last three seasons as the manager at Mahoning Valley will now serve as the fielding coordinator. Ken Rowe, who has been a pitching coach each of the last 20 years in the Indians Player Development System, will transition into a pitching advisor role for Atkins and the minor league staff. In addition to managing Mahoning Valley, Wallace will also serve as the catching coordinator.

Sarbaugh returns to Columbus where the Clippers will look to defend their Governor’s Cup Championship. Ruben Niebla will serve as the pitching coach after spending the 2010 season on the Indians coaching staff. Prior to the 2010 season Niebla spent nine seasons as a pitching coach at various levels in the Indians Player Development System. Lee May Jr. also returns to the Columbus staff for his 2nd season as the club’s Hitting Coach.

Tremie will begin his first season as the manager of the Akron Aeros. Last year Tremie served as manager of the AZL Indians as well as the Indians farm system catching coordinator. Tony Arnold will serve as the pitching coach of the Aeros with Rouglas Odor serving as a coach. Both Arnold and Odor spent the 2010 season on the staff at Kinston.

Holbert will return to Kinston for the second consecutive season. Mickey Callaway will serve as Holbert’s Pitching Coach after spending last season at Lake County. Phil Clark joins the Kinston staff as a coach after serving in the same capacity last year at Lake County.

Kubiak returns to Lake County for his second campaign after leading the Captains to their first ever Midwest League title. Jeff Harris, who last year was on the AZL staff, will be the Captains pitching coach, while Jim Rickon will be the club’s coach. Last year Rickon was part of the Akron Aeros coaching staff.

Wallace will make his managerial debut as the manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in addition to assuming the role as the catching coordinator in the Indians Player Development System. Wallace joins the Scrappers after spending the last two seasons as an assistant on the Major League coaching staff following a seven-year playing career at the minor league level. Gregg Hibbard will serve as the pitching coach on Wallace’s staff after being the pitching coach at Akron last year. The hitting coach is to be determined.

Medrano who served as a coach of the AZL Indians last year, will also make his managerial debut with the AZL Indians. Junior Betances, who last year was the Indians Director of Dominican Operations, will now serve as a coach for the AZL Indians, while Dennis Malave returns to the AZL Indians for the second straight season as a coach.

Posted in: Player Development Staff