MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Giants have finalized their minor league coaching staff for the 2009 season, with several changes and additions to the organization.

 

San Francisco’s minor league system is coming off a superb 2008 campaign in which it finished with a combined record of 434-330 (.568), second in all of baseball behind only the farm clubs of the New York Yankees (.582). The Giants had five of their seven affiliates make the playoffs, including the South Atlantic League Champion Augusta GreenJackets, who won their first championship since 1999, while the Arizona Rookie League Giants were also crowned champions.

 

At triple-A Fresno in 2009, former Major League infielder Dan Rohn will return for his third season at the helm of the Grizzlies. Rohn will be joined by a pair of newcomers, pitching coach Pat Rice, who joins the Grizzlies after one season with San Jose and hitting coach Hensley Meulens, who coached in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization the past four seasons. Anthony Reyes will return for his second season as the club’s head athletic trainer.

 

The Giants’ double-A Connecticut affiliate will be guided by Steve Decker, who will be in his first season as the skipper of the Defenders after spending last season at the helm with single-A San Jose. Decker was promoted after leading the Giants to the California League playoffs last year. His coaching staff will include pitching coach Ross Grimsley, who was with Augusta last season, hitting coach Garey Ingram, a new addition to the club from the Dodgers organization and athletic trainer Eric Ortega, who will enter his fourth season with the Giants organization.

 

Single-A San Jose will be managed by Andy Skeels, his first year as the skipper of the Giants. Skeels was promoted from Augusta after winning the championship in his first year as the manager. Alongside Skeels will be pitching coach Jerry Cram, who was with Salem-Keizer last season, hitting coach Gary Davenport and athletic trainer Yukiya Oba.

 

At single-A Augusta, manager Dave Machemer will guide the defending South Atlantic League Champions in his first season at the helm of the GreenJackets. Machemer, who managed the Arizona League Giants to the AZL title last season, will be assisted by former big league Giants reliever Steve Kline, who will serve as the pitching coach, Lipso Nava returns as the hitting coach and James Petra will begin his first year in the Giants’ organization as the athletic trainer.

 

At short-season Salem-Keizer, Tom Trebelhorn returns for his second season at the helm of the Volcanoes. He will be joined on the staff by pitching coach Brian Cooper, who was with the AZL Giants last season, hitting coach Ricky Ward and first-year athletic trainer David Getsoff.

 

The rookie level Arizona Giants will be skippered by Mike Goff, who will be in his first season with San Francisco’s organization after 16 seasons in the Seattle system. The defending Arizona League Champions will have Mike Caldwell as pitching coach, Victor Torres as hitting coach and Jeremiah Randall as the athletic trainer.

 

The Dominican Summer League Giants will be managed by Jesus Tavarez and the coaching staff will include pitching coach Marcos Aguasvivas, hitting coach Carlos Valderrama and coach Hector Borg.

 

Roving instructors and medical staff for the upcoming season include: Shane Turner – Coordinator of Instruction; Bert Bradley – Coordinator of Minor League Pitching; Bob Mariano – Coordinator of Minor League Hitting; Lee Smith – Roving Pitching Instructor; Jose Alguacil – Roving Infield Instructor; Henry Cotto – Coordinator of Outfield/Baserunning; Brian Harper – Roving Catching Instructor; Kirt Manwaring – Spring Training Catching Instructor; Jay Williams – Coordinator of Minor League Trainers; Tony Reale – Organizational Physical Therapist and Geoff Head – Coordinator of Minor League Strength and Rehabilitation.

 

                                San Francisco Giants Minor League Coaching Staff for 2009

 

Triple-A Fresno                                     Single-A San Jose                                Short-Season Salem-Keizer

Dan Rohn, Manager                               Andy Skeels, Manager                           Tom Trebelhorn, Manager

Pat Rice, Pitching Coach                        Jerry Cram, Pitching Coach                   Brian Cooper, Pitching Coach

Hensley Meulens, Hitting Coach            Gary Davenport, Hitting Coach              Ricky Ward, Hitting Coach

Anthony Reyes, Trainer                         Yukiya Oba, Trainer                               David Getsoff, Trainer

 

Double-A Connecticut                         Single-A Augusta                                 Rookie-level Arizona Giants

Steve Decker, Manager                         Dave Machemer, Manager                     Mike Goff, Manager

Ross Grimsley, Pitching Coach             Steve Kline, Pitching Coach                    Mike Caldwell, Pitching Coach

Garey Ingram, Hitting Coach                  Lipso Nava, Hitting Coach                      Victor Torres, Hitting Coach

Eric Ortega, Trainer                                James Petra, Trainer                              Jeremiah Randall, Trainer

 

                                                                                                                                DSL Giants

                                                                                                                                Jesus Tavarez, Manager

                                                                                                                                Marcos Aguasvivas, Pitching Coach

                                                                                                                                Carlos Valderrama, Hitting Coach

                                                                                                                                                Hector Borg, Coach