2017 Twins Minor League Coaching Staffs

[Seth Stohs]

It'll trickle out over the next couple of days, and we'll fill in the below as we find out officially.

 

 

ROCHESTER 

 

Manager - Mike Quade (same)

Hitting Coach - Chad Allen (same)

Pitching Coach - Stu Cliburn (same)

 

 

CHATTANOOGA 

 

Manager - Jake Mauer (up from Cedar Rapids)

Hitting Coach - Javier Valentin (up from GCL)

Pitching Coach - Ivan Arteaga (same)

 

 

FT. MYERS

 

Manager - Doug Mientkiewicz (returns from Chattanooga)

Hitting Coach - Steve Singleton (per Berardino article. Move up from GCL)

Pitching Coach - Henry Bonilla

 

 

CEDAR RAPIDS

 

Manager - Tommy Watkins (first managerial opportunity. Many years hitting coach)

Hitting Coach - Brian Dinkelman (same)

Pitching Coach - JP Martinez (same)

 

 

ELIZABETHTON

 

Manager - Ray Smith (24th year)

Hitting Coach - Jeff Reed (16th year)

Pitching Coach - Luis Ramirez (3rd year)

 

 

GCL TWINS

 

Manager - Ramon Borrego

Hitting Coach - Toby Gardenhire (per Mike Berardino), Jose Marzan (also remains the Latin American Operations Coordinator)

Pitching Coach - Cibney Bello and Virgil Vazquez

[brvama]

I, personally, really like the first assignment.

[Seth Stohs]

Chattanooga makes the Jake Mauer manager announcement official:

 

 

 

Mike Berardino had tweeted that he's heard that Mike Quade will remain at Rochester with Mauer taking over in Chattanooga while Doug Mientkiewicz goes back to Ft. Myers. Mauer's been the only confirmed to this point.

 

I'm pretty sure I know who the Cedar Rapids manager will be. Also, some hitting coaches will change spots since Jim Dwyer is out in Ft. Myers. 

[brvama]

Does that bump Mientkiewciz (sp) to AAA. I HOP SO!

[Seth Stohs]

My personal opinion, and I've written/tweeted it many times, is that Jake Mauer is the best manager in the entire system, so having him move up to AA will be good. He's got the people skills, likes discipline, players love him, and he's always thinking well ahead in the game. 

[brvama]

Does that bump Mientkiewciz (sp) to AAA. I HOP SO!

Guess I need to type faster or react slower. Not real sure what to think about this move to Ft Meyers. Have to wait for more info.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Does that bump Mientkiewciz (sp) to AAA. I HOP SO!

 

Based on Berardino's tweet, Nope. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Guess I need to type faster or react slower. Not real sure what to think about this move to Ft Meyers. Have to wait for more info.

 

He's from Florida. His wife and son are in Florida. If he's not in the big leagues, he wants to be in Florida with his family. The Twins likely wanted him to work with a couple of the guys that passed through Chattanooga the last couple of years and he agreed, but he wants to be in Florida. 

[Seth Stohs]

Rochester now makes Quade official... 

 

[nicksaviking]

Considering Molitor's contract is up after this year, the team is rebuilding and likely to lose a lot of games and they just hired a new GM, I'd bet Quade, Mauer and Mientkiewicz are all quite eager to stick it out with the organization through this season. All would have a valid resume should the top spot at the MLB level open up.

 

Not that most of us won't be screaming for an "outside voice"

[Seth Stohs]

The Kernels announced via press release that Tommy Watkins will be their manager in 2017! 

 

I'm very happy for him, finally getting this opportunity to manage. He's put his time in as a hitting coach. He'll do great. Players love him. He knows the game inside and out. 

[HitInAPinch]

My bet for the eventual Twins MLB job is Falvey going outside the organization. 

[Thrylos]

Seth, have they announced anything about the minor league hitting and pitching coordinators?  I don't remember hearing anything about that

[Bob Sacamento]

 

The Kernels announced via press release that Tommy Watkins will be their manager in 2017! 

 

I'm very happy for him, finally getting this opportunity to manage. He's put his time in as a hitting coach. He'll do great. Players love him. He knows the game inside and out. 

FINALLY!!!  This man deserves it, great with the players, great with the game, couldn't have happened to a nicer a guy.  I think the next step is coaching in his hometown of Fort Myers where he is revered; Tommy was induced into the Lee County Hall of Fame (Ft Myers area) this year for his HS baseball career, joining his dad Thomas as well as his second cousin Sammy Watkins (Buffalo Bills WR).

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, have they announced anything about the minor league hitting and pitching coordinators?  I don't remember hearing anything about that

 

Erik Rasmussen is still pitching coordinator and Rick Epstein was named the minor league hitting coordinator late last year, maybe August or September.

[Seth Stohs]

Jeff Johnson's story in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on Tommyh Watkins taking over as the Kernels manager in 2017! 

 

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/blogs/diamonds-and-ice-by-jeff-johnson/tommy-watkins-will-manage-2017-cedar-rapids-kernels-20170103

 

[Seth Stohs]

The Miracle announce on Twitter that Doug Mientkiewicz is back as their manager this year:

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Good article by David Dorsey (New Press in Ft. Myers) on Ft. Myers native Tommy Watkins and his new job as manager of the Kernels. It includes a 2 minute interview with Watkins on the job. Check it out here: 

 

http://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2017/01/04/tommy-watkins-gets-promoted-doug-mientkiewicz-returns-fort-myers-miracle/96154658/

 

 

[Squirrel]

Good article by David Dorsey (New Press in Ft. Myers) on Ft. Myers native Tommy Watkins and his new job as manager of the Kernels. It includes a 2 minute interview with Watkins on the job. Check it out here: 

 

http://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2017/01/04/tommy-watkins-gets-promoted-doug-mientkiewicz-returns-fort-myers-miracle/96154658/

I was just going to post this. Read it in the paper this morning (you know, an actual paper paper). Tommy is the local kid here. And happy I'll get to see Mientkiewicz with the Miracle again ... but I'd really love to see Dougie as the ML manager.

[Loosey]

 

It'll trickle out over the next couple of days, and we'll fill in the below as we find out officially.

 

 

ROCHESTER 

 

Manager - Mike Quade

Hitting Coach

Pitching Coach

 

 

CHATTANOOGA 

 

Manager - Jake Mauer (up from Cedar Rapids)

Hitting Coach 

Pitching Coach 

 

 

FT. MYERS

 

Manager - Doug Mientkiewicz

Hitting Coach

Pitching Coach

 

 

CEDAR RAPIDS

 

Manager - Tommy Watkins

Hitting Coach

Pitching Coach

 

 

ELIZABETHTON

 

Manager

Hitting Coach

Pitching Coach

 

 

GCL TWINS

 

Manager

Hitting Coach

Pitching Coach

Just so I am clear.  The Mientkiewicz move to Fort Myers is NOT a demotion, correct?  If anything it is the organization respecting him enough to grant him his wish to manage near his family in FM?  

 

Also, I like they are moving Mauer up the organization.  I have heard nothing but awesome things about him.  I really don't think Molitor manages much past this season.  From an outsider looking in, he seems like he doesn't even like the job when you see him.  That being said Bobby Cox always looked like he hated his job too and was having a nervous breakdown every game but he seemed to coach a while. . . .

[ashbury]

Just so I am clear.  The Mientkiewicz move to Fort Myers is NOT a demotion, correct? 

I would think genuine demotions of staff are rare, to the point of nonexistence. If there's a problem, there's a firing.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Just so I am clear.  The Mientkiewicz move to Fort Myers is NOT a demotion, correct?  If anything it is the organization respecting him enough to grant him his wish to manage near his family in FM?  

 

Also, I like they are moving Mauer up the organization.  I have heard nothing but awesome things about him.  I really don't think Molitor manages much past this season.  From an outsider looking in, he seems like he doesn't even like the job when you see him.  That being said Bobby Cox always looked like he hated his job too and was having a nervous breakdown every game but he seemed to coach a while. . . .

 

That's what it is. And Mauer needed to move up... Mauer's path was GCL coach, GCL manager, Ft. Myers manager, Cedar Rapids manager, and now Chattanooga. When he went from Ft. Myers to Cedar Rapids, it could be seen as a demotion. However, consider that the year he went there, he was tasked with working with Buxton, Polanco, Berrios, Walker, Harrison, Rogers, Melotakis, and so many other important, key prospects. Also, it was the team's first year in Cedar Rapids. There would be media attention, and they knew that his style and personality would do well with the media, the national media brought on by Buxton's presence, FSN making the trip down there. 

 

In other words, minor league managerial and coaching assignments are not necessarily linear in the way that players' promotions are. (that's the long-winded way of getting there)

 

When the Twins hired Mientkiewicz, it was known he wanted to be in Florida, close enough to see his wife and son (who live in the Keys). They could come up in the summer and he could go there on off days and such. He worked well with the Miracle team in 2014, and they wanted him to keep working with that same group of prospects, so he agreed to spend the year or two in Chattanooga with that group. 

 

Now this isn't anything that I've heard from the Twins directly. Some of it is my opinion. Some of it is known publicly. 

[Seth Stohs]

Per the Red Wings, they will have the same coaches with Mike Quade.

Pitching Coach - Stu Cliburn

Hitting Coach - Chad Allen

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

For more on the Red Wings coaches, here is their press release:

 

 

Quade to Manage Wings for Third Season in 2017
Allen, Cliburn and Bennese also return, Burks joins staff

ROCHESTER, NY – The Minnesota Twins have announced that Mike Quade, Chad Allen, Stu Cliburn and Larry Bennese will all return to Rochester while Tyler Burks will join the Red Wings staff for the 2017 season.

Quade, 59, enters his third season as manager of the Red Wings in 2017, leading Rochester to a 158-130 (.549) record in his first two campaigns. Next year will be his 20th season as a minor league manager and sixth in the International League. Quade’s 1,365 minor league wins rank him 12th among active MiLB managers.

Allen, 41, is set for his second year as Rochester’s hitting coach. He briefly played for the Red Wings in 2002 when the club was affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. Allen spent the previous three seasons with the Twins Double-A teams in New Britain (2013-14) and Chattanooga (2015) before joining the Wings.

Cliburn, 60, returns to Rochester as pitching coach for a second consecutive season, a role he also held from 2006-08. Before rejoining the Red Wings in 2016, he spent the previous seven seasons as pitching coach for the Twins Double-A affiliates in New Britain (2009-14) and Chattanooga (2015). Overall, 2017 will be Cliburn’s 26th season as a coach in the Twins organization.

Bennese returns as Rochester’s Athletic Trainer for the fifth consecutive season and his 22nd overall in the Twins organization. He was honored as the International League’s Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2014. Bennese received his Bachelor’s in Sports Medicine from Penn State University.

Burks joins the Red Wings as Strength and Conditioning Coach after spending a majority of last season with the GCL Twins as a Strength and Conditioning Intern. He was also with Double-A Chattanooga from early August through the end of the 2016 season. Burks earned his Master’s in Nutrition & Human Performance from Logan University (MO) and his Bachelor’s in Physical Education/Exercise Science from the University of Central Missouri.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

When the Twins hired Mientkiewicz, it was known he wanted to be in Florida, close enough to see his wife and son (who live in the Keys). They could come up in the summer and he could go there on off days and such. He worked well with the Miracle team in 2014, and they wanted him to keep working with that same group of prospects, so he agreed to spend the year or two in Chattanooga with that group. 

The Keys really?  I would have guessed SoBe would be more the speed.  If you haven't been down to the Keys and you're in Florida, you are missing out.  Great bar walking scene down Duval St, Southernmost Point, Hemingway House, snorkeling, diving, fishing, the beach is not that great.  If drunken naked people bother you, just don't go around Fantasy Fest, think Mardi Gras for older people. The Key West Express from Ft. Myers to the Keys is only $125 each way and a 3hr boat ride.  

 

Burks joins the Red Wings as Strength and Conditioning Coach after spending a majority of last season with the GCL Twins as a Strength and Conditioning Intern. He was also with Double-A Chattanooga from early August through the end of the 2016 season. Burks earned his Master’s in Nutrition & Human Performance from Logan University (MO) and his Bachelor’s in Physical Education/Exercise Science from the University of Central Missouri.

I had no idea Burkie went to a Chiropractic School for his Master's Degree.

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks for the updates everyone!

[Thrylos]

 

The Keys really?  I would have guessed SoBe would be more the speed.  If you haven't been down to the Keys and you're in Florida, you are missing out.  Great bar walking scene down Duval St, Southernmost Point, Hemingway House, snorkeling, diving, fishing, the beach is not that great.  If drunken naked people bother you, just don't go around Fantasy Fest, think Mardi Gras for older people. The Key West Express from Ft. Myers to the Keys is only $125 each way and a 3hr boat ride.  

 

Not all keys are Key West   I suspect that Mient probably lives in a more family-friendly place like Key Largo or Marathon 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Not all keys are Key West   I suspect that Mient probably lives in a more family-friendly place like Key Largo or Marathon 

Just looked it up, he lives in the Venetian Shores in Islamorda, avg home up for sale is ~1.5M which is actually pretty nice pricing.  If it's not Key West, I don't want to be there that includes but not limited to Islamorda, Marathon, Key Largo, Coral Shores.  Wonder where little Steel Mient ends up playing his HS ball in a few years.

[Thrylos]

 

Just looked it up, he lives in the Venetian Shores in Islamorda, avg home up for sale is ~1.5M which is actually pretty nice pricing.  If it's not Key West, I don't want to be there that includes but not limited to Islamorda, Marathon, Key Largo, Coral Shores.  Wonder where little Steel Mient ends up playing his HS ball in a few years.

 

Key Largo High School.  That services the Islamorada area.  Good fishing there

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Key Largo High School.  That services the Islamorada area.  Good fishing there

Pretty sure the Islamorda area is encompassed in the Coral Springs HS which doesn't have a baseball team.  Doesn't matter, as most kids do traveling ball for exposure.  But yes definitely some good fishing!