Indians Announce '16 Player-Development
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Indians announce '16 player-development staff By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | January 11th, 2016 CLEVELAND -- John McDonald spent the better part of two decades putting dazzling defense on display on the big league stage. The Indians announced Monday that the former shortstop will now be charged with helping mold the developing infielders within their farm system. McDonald, who served as a special assistant to player development last year for Cleveland, will take over as the Tribe's Minor League infield coordinator this year. According to a release by the ballclub, the 41-year-old McDonald will be "the primary resource to Minor League coaches in the implementing and monitoring of individual infielder player plans." The Indians selected McDonald in the 12th round of the 1996 Draft, and he turned himself into one of baseball's elite infield defenders over the course of a 16-year career, which included parts of seven seasons with Cleveland. Dating back to 1990, McDonald is one of only 10 shortstops to register at least 51 Defensive Runs Saved. The Indians have also hired former pitcher Bruce Chen, who retired in 2015 after a two-start stint with Cleveland, to be a Minor League cultural development coordinator. Chen pitched in 17 seasons in the Majors with 11 teams, appearing in 400 games. Chen -- a native of Panama who speaks multiple languages -- will assist all organizational players in the transition to professional baseball, with a focus on Latin-born players. Cleveland also announced Triple-A Columbus manager Chris Tremie, Double-A manager Dave Wallace and Class A Advanced Lynchburg manager Mark Budzinski will all return to the same role in 2016. Tony Mansolino, who spent the past five seasons between three Class A teams, will manager Class A Lake County. Edwin Rodriguez, who managed the Marlins in 2010-11, will manage Class A Short-Season Mahoning Valley in his fifth season with the Indians. Another notable addition is the hiring of Steve McCatty to be the pitching coach at Lake County. McCatty spent the past seven seasons as the Major League pitching coach for the Nationals, who added him to their system after he worked as the big league pitching coach for the Tigers from 2003-05. Below is the list of Cleveland's 2016 player-development staff: Athletic trainer: Jeremy Heller Front office Strength and conditioning: Scott Nealon Director, player development: Carter Hawkins Lynchburg Assistant director, player development: Eric Binder Manager: Budzinski Assistant director, player development: Alex Eckelman Pitching coach: Rigo Beltran Director, administration: Wendy Hoppel Hitting coach: Larry Day Administrative assistant: Nilda Taffanelli Athletic trainer: Bobby Ruiz Coordinators Strength and conditioning: Juan Acevedo Field coordinator: Tom Wiedenbauer Lake County Pitching coordinator: Ruben Niebla Manager: Mansolino Assistant field coordinator: Julio Rangel Pitching coach: McCatty Lower level pitching coordinator: Matt Blake Hitting coach: TBD Hitting coordinator: Jim Rickon Coach: Junior Betances Catching coordinator: Scooter Tucker Athletic trainer: Matt Beauregard Infield coordinator: McDonald Strength and conditioning: Paul Synenkyj Cultural development: Chen Mahoning Valley Strength and conditioning: Todd Kubacki Manager: Rodriguez Rehab coordinator: TBA Pitching coach: Tighe Dickinson Pitching programs, rehab: Ken Knutson Hitting coach: Kevin Howard Strength and conditioning, Latin America: Nelson Perez Athletic trainer: Jake Legan Performance coach: Ceci Clark Strength and conditioning: Jake Sankal Performance coach: Brian Miles Arizona League (Rookie) Performance coach: Oscar Gutierrez Manager: Anthony Medrano Special assistant: Tim Belcher Pitching coach: Mark Allen Special assistant: Travis Hafner Hitting coach: Dennis Malave Advisor: Jhonny Goryl Hitting coach: Bobby Magallanes Advisor: Minnie Mendoza Athletic trainer: Ted Blackwell Advisor: Tim Tolman Rehab strength: Pat Trainor Advisor: Travis Fryman Strength and conditioning: Cesar Yepez Columbus Dominican Summer League (Rookie) Manager: Tremie Field coordinator: Jose Mejia Pitching coach: Steve Karsay Pitching coach: Jesus Sanchez Hitting coach: Rouglas Odor Pitching coach: Carlos Jan Coach: Omir Santos Hitting coach: Freddy Tiburcio Athletic trainer: Chad Wolfe Infield coach: Carlos Fermin Strength and conditioning: Ed Subel Tryout coach: Jesus Tavarez Double-A Akron Strength and conditioning: Hasani Torres Manager: Wallace Assistant, strength and conditioning: Fernando Cabral Pitching coach: Tony Arnold Athletic trainer: Gabriel Garcia Hitting coach: Tim Laker Athletic trainer: Edwin Garcia Arb-eligible Indians include Chisenhall, Allen By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | January 12th, 2016 CLEVELAND -- When Lonnie Chisenhall was back in the Minor Leagues in July, it was fair to wonder what the future held for him with the Indians. His status as an arbitration-eligible player this winter made it possible that Cleveland would consider cutting ties with the former third baseman. Things changed dramatically when Chisenhall offered to try his hand in right field -- a decision that altered his career and breathed life into his place on the Indians' roster. On Tuesday, Chisenhall joined closer Cody Allen, setup man Bryan Shaw, reliever Jeff Manship and starter Josh Tomlin in filing for salary arbitration with Cleveland. • Hot Stove Tracker "I'm not sure any of us could have expected him to go out and be as good as he was right out of the gate," Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said of Chisenhall's move to right field. "We recognize how difficult position changes are. But to his credit, he really worked out there. ... He worked at it and took a lot of pride on it." Arbitration-eligible players and their teams must exchange 2016 salary figures on Friday. If necessary, arbitration hearings will be held from Feb. 1-21, though a deal can be reached at any point leading up to a player's scheduled hearing. Chisenhall, who projects to be the Tribe's Opening Day right fielder, led American League players at the position with 11 Defensive Runs Saved in only 354 1/3 innings. Among all Major Leaguers with at least 300 innings in right field, he was tied for fourth in Defensive Runs Saved and ranked first in UZR/150 (35.3). That is the kind of defense that can result in Gold Glove Awards. After returning from Triple-A Columbus on July 30, Chisenhall also saw improvement in the batter's box. His batting average stood at .209 when he was sent back down to the Minors, but he hit at a .288 (.756 OPS) clip after rejoining the fold as a right fielder. Overall, Chisenhall hit .246 with a .667 OPS in 106 games for the Indians, making his case an intriguing one for the club. MLBTradeRumors.com projects that Chisenhall could command around $3 million in arbitration after earning $2.25 million last year. Allen, 27, is eligible for arbitration for the first time after a 2015 season that saw him lead all Major League relievers with a 2.6 WAR, according to FanGraphs.com. Right behind Allen were standout relievers Aroldis Chapman (2.5) and Dellin Betances (2.4). The right-hander had 34 saves, a 2.99 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings last year, and he has logged at least 70 games with a 2.49 ERA in the past three years While MLBTradeRumors.com forecasts that Allen will net around $3.5 million for '16, the closer said at the end of the year that he is open to discussing a multi-year extension with the Indians. "I would absolutely love to," Allen said. "I think anybody in this clubhouse would love to. We have a great staff here, a great group of guys and the city of Cleveland has treated me very well. I would love to play here for a very, very long time. If that opportunity presents itself, I'd definitely be open to it." General manager Mike Chernoff addressed that scenario at the end of the season. "I couldn't comment on Cody in particular," Chernoff said. "With relievers it can be more challenging. You just don't see those contracts out there quite as much in the industry. It's a little bit easier to project out a starting pitcher's role moving forward or a position player's role moving forward. That's harder to do in the bullpen. I think that volatility often leads to the challenge of both sides meeting on what a potential value could be." The 28-year-old Shaw, who earned $1.55 million through arbitration last season, had a 2.95 ERA in 74 appearances in 2015, following his 80- game showing in '14. In three seasons with the Indians, the right-hander has logged a 2.93 ERA in 215 1/3 innings, spanning 224 outings. MLBTradeRumors.com projects Shaw to make around $2.8 million this season. Manship is eligible for arbitration following a breakout showing in his first year with the Indians. The right-hander had a 6.46 ERA in parts of six seasons prior to joining Cleveland on a Minor League deal last winter, but he then fashioned a 0.92 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings out of the Tribe's bullpen. Among all Major League relievers with at least 30 innings, Manship led the way in ERA. Manship could earn around $700,000, according to MLBTradeRumors.com. Tomlin, who earned a $1.5 million salary in arbitration last year, is coming off a 10-start showing in which he went 7-2 with a 3.02 ERA for the Indians. The 31-year-old returned from right shoulder surgery last summer and also missed time in 2012-13 due to Tommy John surgery. Tomlin, who is Cleveland's longest-tenured player, has gone 36-30 with a 4.65 ERA in 95 career games. MLBTradeRumors.com projects him to earn around $3.1 million. Brantley among trio added to Tribe Fest By Jamal Collier / MLB.com | January 12th, 2016 Three Indians players have been added to the roster of current team members scheduled to be in attendance at this year's Tribe Fest.