FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Indians Announce RubberDucks ’16 Field Staff David Wallace Returns to Akron for 3rd Season as Ducks Skipper By David Wilson, Akron RubberDucks (AKRON, OHIO) January 11, 2016 – The Cleveland Indians have announced the organization’s minor league managerial and coaching assignments for the 2016 season, and former Akron catcher David Wallace will return to manage the RubberDucks for the third consecutive season. While Wallace reprises his role as RubberDucks manager, he’ll be joined on the field staff by pitching coach Tony Arnold and hitting coach Tim Laker. The support staff will include trainer Jeremy Heller and strength and conditioning coach Scott Nealon. Of that group, only Wallace and Heller return from last season’s staff. Since the franchise began as the Canton-Akron Indians in 1989, the only other managers with a three-year tenure are Brad Komminsk (2002-2004) and Joel Skinner (1998-1999, 2010). Wallace, 36, was named the 15th manager in club history on December 20, 2013. During his first two seasons, he has led the RubberDucks to identical 73-69 records. Last season, the RubberDucks battled for the Western Division wild card until the final day of the season, ultimately falling one game short of the playoffs. In 2014, Wallace led the RubberDucks through a successful campaign that ended in a second-place finish in the EL West and a playoff berth. The 2016 season will be Wallace’s sixth campaign as a manager in the Indians player development system. Prior to his promotion to Akron, he managed the Advanced Class-A Carolina Mudcats in 2013. Wallace began his managerial career in 2011 at short-season Mahoning Valley, and moved up to Class-A Lake County in 2012. His 2012 Captains team won a second-half division title, and advanced to the Midwest League playoffs. Wallace’s overall managerial record stands at 315-323 (.494). “I’m thrilled to be back for the ’16 season and build on the successes of the last two years. We have assembled a great staff and are excited to lead what looks to be a very talented roster,” said Wallace. “This year will be particularly special as we host the Eastern League All-Star Game in July.” Throughout his managerial career, Wallace has mentored a number of top Indians prospects, including position players Francisco Lindor, Tyler Naquin, Eric Gonzalez, Bryson Myles, Bradley Zimmer and Tony Wolters, as well as pitchers Cody Anderson, Ryan Merritt, Adam Plutko, Kyle Crockett and Shawn Morimando. Wallace manages from experience. After signing with the Indians as a non-drafted free agent, he played professionally for seven seasons, the first six with the Indians organization. A 6-foot-4, righthanded-hitting catcher, Wallace appeared in 486 minor league games, hitting .223, with 45 homers and 180 RBI. No stranger to Canal Park, he spent parts of three seasons in Akron (2004, 2006-07), appearing in 122 games, with 17 homers and 54 RBI. He concluded his career after spending the 2008 season in Triple-A with the Washington Nationals. Continued next page… 2016 RubberDucks Field Staff Announced (page 2) Upon his retirement as a player, Wallace was hired by the Indians as a major league staff assistant, and spent 2009-10 with the major league club, first under Eric Wedge and then with Manny Acta. He embarked on his managerial career the following year with the Scrappers. Notable for being a two-sport athlete at Vanderbilt University, Wallace split his first two years in college playing both football and baseball. He was a quarterback on the Vanderbilt football team in 1998 and 1999 under coach Woody Widenhofer. As a freshman in 1998, Wallace threw for 678 yards and four touchdowns. After limited action his sophomore year, Wallace devoted his time exclusively to baseball his final two collegiate years. Born and raised in Nashville, Wallace entered Vanderbilt after a stellar prep career at Christ Presbyterian Academy. Wallace makes his off-season home in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his wife, Lauren, have two children—a daughter, Lakely (age 5), and a son, Stratton (2). Arnold, 56, is a familiar face at Canal Park. A fixture in the Indians player development system for the last 24 years, the 2016 season will mark Arnold’s fourth stint as the Indians’ AA pitching coach. He previously served in the same capacity from 1996-1999, 2008, and 2011-2012. He began last season as the pitching coach at Class-A Lynchburg and finished at Triple-A Columbus, helping the Clippers to the International League title. Arnold’s 2012 Akron Aeros staff crafted a franchise-record 3.03 ERA, and went on to claim the Eastern League championship. A former All-American at the University of Texas, Arnold pitched in the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles in 1986 and 1987. We he suits up for the RubberDucks in April, Arnold will become just the second man to wear the uniforms of the Canton-Akron Indians, Akron Aeros and Akron RubberDucks. He joins former hitting coach Rouglas Odor in that exclusive group. Laker, 46, returns to the Indians organization after spending the last five seasons as a coach and hitting coordinator in the Chicago White Sox system. A former Cleveland Indians catcher, Laker was a member of the Indians player development staff as the manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2007, and then the minor-league catching coordinator from 2008-2009. He also served as the manager at AA Tennessee in the Mariners organization in 2010. After being drafted by Montreal in the sixth round of the 1988 draft out of Oxnard (CA) College, Laker went on to play parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues with the Expos, Orioles, Rays, Pirates and Indians, hitting a combined .226, with 11 homers and 79 RBI in 282 big league games. He appeared with the Indians as a player from 2001-2004. Notes: Last season’s hitting coach, Tony Mansolino, will manage Class-A Lake County, his first managerial assignment…The Lake County job opened when former Aeros slugger Shaun Larkin left the organization to become the Mental Skills Coordinator with the Los Angeles Dodgers…The last Akron manager to win a league championship, Chris Tremie, will return for his third season as manager at Triple-A Columbus…Strength and Conditioning coach Jake Sankal, who spent the last three seasons in Akron, will assume the same role with Class-A Mahoning Valley. The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2016 season will be its 20th since moving to Canal Park and its third as the RubberDucks. Last season, the team attracted 340,916 fans to Canal Park, an average of 5,013 per game. The team will begin the 2016 regular season at Bowie, Maryland, on Thursday, April 7th, at 6:35 p.m. against the defending EL champions, the Bowie Baysox. The Home opener at Canal Park will take place on Thursday, April 14th, at 6:35 p.m., also against the Baysox. The team will also host the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game at Canal Park on Wednesday, July 13th. For ticket information and RubberDucks merchandise, visit www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. The Akron RubberDucks are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck. -###- .