BLUE JAYS ANNOUNCE MINOR LEAGUE APPOINTMENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – courtesy of the Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO, ONTARIO

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS announce the following appointments to their Minor League Field staffs for the 2011 season. New to the organization are managers MARTY BROWN, MIKE REDMOND & pitching coach JIM CZAJKOWSKI, a former Blue Jay farmhand from 1996-1997. SAL FASANO will manage New Hampshire (AA) of the Eastern League, OMAR MALAVE has been appointed as manager of the Gulf Coast Blue Jays, while RICK LANGFORD will serve as the Pitching Rehab Coordinator.

MARTY BROWN, has been appointed manager at Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League (AAA). The 47 year old has spent the previous five seasons in Japan, most recently managed the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Japanese Pacific League. Previously the Lawton, Oklahoma native managed the Nashville Sounds (AAA) from 2001-2002 & the Buffalo Bisons (AAA) from 2003-2005, being named Minor League Manager of the Year in 2004 with Buffalo. The former 12^th round selection of the Reds played 14 seasons of professional baseball, spending three seasons in Japan (1992-1994), eight years in the minors from 1985-1991, 1995 & appeared in 35 games at the Major League level from 1988-1990 with Cincinnati and Baltimore. 

SAL FASANO, has been promoted to manager of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA). The Chicago, Illinois native is entering his 2^nd season as a manager after making his coaching debut last season with Lansing (A) of the Midwest League after 17 professional seasons as a player. The right-handed hitting catcher played in 427 Major League games, with nine different clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007.

CLAYTON McCULLOUGH, will manage Dunedin of the Florida State League (Advanced-A) for the 2^nd straight season. The 30-year-old East Carolina University product will be entering his 5^th season as a manager, all with the Blue Jays and has led the Lansing Lugnuts to the playoffs in 2009 and the Dunedin Blue Jays in 2010.

MIKE REDMOND, will make his managing debut at Lansing of the Midwest League (A) after 19 professional seasons as a player. The 39-year-old played last season with the Cleveland Indians, appearing in 22 games. The former catcher spent 13 seasons at the Major League level, with three different Clubs (1998-2004 with FLA, 2005-2009 with MIN & 2010 with CLE), batting .287 with 13 home runs & 243 RBI in 764 career games.

JOHN SCHNEIDER, will manage the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League (Short-A) this season, the Blue Jays first season affiliated with the Canadians. The Princeton, New Jersey native is entering his 4^th season and 3^rd as manager. The 29 year old led the Gulf Coast Blue Jays to a 2^nd place finish with a 31-28 record in the 2010 season.

DENNIS HOLMBERG, will manage Toronto’s new affiliate, Bluefield of the Appalachian League.  The Palm Harbor, Florida resident had spent the last nine seasons managing at Auburn (A) in the New York-Penn League from 2002-2009. The 59 year old has been a manager or coach in the Blue Jays system since the 1978 season and in 21 seasons as a manager, has posted a 1239-1154 record, making nine playoff appearances, including a NY-Penn League Championship with Auburn in 2007.

OMAR MALAVE, has been appointed manager of the Gulf Coast Blue Jays after spending last season as the first base coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Clearwater, Florida resident has spent 18 seasons as a manager in the minors (1134-1000 record), all with the Blue Jays from 1991-2009. In fact, the Cumana, Venezuela native has spent his entire professional career dating back to 1981 as a player, coach and manager within the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

A complete list of the Blue Jays 2011 player development staff follows.

COORDINATORS
Field Coordinator                       Doug Davis
Pitching                                Dane Johnson
Hitting                         Anthony Iapoce
Infield                         Mike Mordecai
Outfield/Baserunning            Richard Miller
Pitching/Rehab                  Rick Langford
Senior Advisor                  Mel Queen
Senior Advisor                  Mel Didier
Motivational Coach              Steve Springer
Rehab Coordinator               TBA
Athletic Training Coordinator   TBA
Strength & Conditioning         Donovan Santas
Equipment                       Billy Wardlow

LAS VEGAS                                               NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manager:        Marty Brown                             Manager:        Sal Fasano
Pitching:               Tom Signore                             Pitching:               Pete Walker
Hitting:                Chad Mottola                            Hitting:                Justin Mashore
Trainer:                Voon Chong                              Trainer:                Bob Tarpey

DUNEDIN                                         LANSING
Manager:        Clayton McCullough                      Manager:        Mike Redmond
Pitching:               Darold Knowles                          Pitching:               Vince Horsman
Hitting:                Ralph Dickenson                         Hitting:                John Tamargo Jr.
Trainer:                Dan McIntosh                            Trainer:                James Gardiner

VANCOUVER                                                       BLUEFIELD
Manager:        John Schneider                          Manager:        Dennis Holmberg
Pitching:               Jim Czajkowski                          Pitching:               Antonio Caceres
Hitting:                Dave Pano                               Hitting:                Kenny Graham   
Trainer:                TBA                                     Trainer:                Shawn McDermott

GULF COAST
Manager:        Omar Malave
Pitching:               John Wesley
Hitting:                Paul Elliott & Danny Solano
Trainer:                Jon Woodworth