| Monday, October 13, 2008 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jesse Goldberg-Strassler ( 517) 485-4500 ext. 233 |
Lugnuts announce 2009 coaching staff
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts, in conjunction with the Toronto Blue Jays, have announced the names of the 2009 Lugnuts coaching staff.
Clayton McCullough will return for his second season at the helm for Lansing, after leading the Lugnuts to a 75-65 record and a first-half championship. Joining McCullough will be returning hitting coach Justin Mashore, new pitching coach Antonio Caceres, and third-year trainer Bob Tarpey.
McCullough, 28, will resume the role as manager in Lansing after leading the Lugnuts last season, which was just his second as a skipper. Under his guidance, the Lugnuts were able to capture the Eastern Division's first-half championship and made their 10th playoff appearance in 13 seasons. McCullough also won the Bobby Mattick Award following the 2008 season, which is given to recognize excellence in player development for the Blue Jays organization.
Before managing, McCullough spent time in the Jays organization as the hitting coach for Pulaski in 2006 and as a volunteer coach at East Carolina University. The Greenville, North Carolina native was a 22nd round selection of the Cleveland Indians in 2002 as a catcher. He played four seasons in the Indians organization before joining the Blue Jays.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to come back to Lansing," McCullough said. "We had some success last year, and I am looking forward to another outstanding year in mid-Michigan."
Mashore, 36, will resume his role as the Lugnuts hitting coach in 2009. Mashore will be entering his fifth year as a coach in the Blue Jays system. Last season, the Lugnuts offense finished with a .248 batting average, despite having one of the youngest attacks in the league. Mashore was a fifth round selection of the Detroit Tigers in 1991 and spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues with six organizations. He now resides in Mesa, Arizona.
Caceres, 31, enters his first season as the Lugnuts pitching coach, taking over for Tom Signore who has been assigned to the same role with Double-A New Hampshire. Caceres's pitching staff in Auburn posted a 3.33 ERA last year, good enough for fourth in the league. The staff also posted six shutouts in just 75 games. Caceres began his coaching career in 2000 after spending four seasons as a hurler in the Blue Jays system from 1995 through 1998.
Tarpey, 28, returns for his third season in the Midwest League as the team's athletic trainer. He was named the Midwest League's Trainer of the Year last season by his peers. Tarpey began his career as an intern with the big league club during spring training in 2003 before joing the Blue Jays organization full-time. He is a graduate from the University of Maine at Inesque-Isle and currently resides in Boston, Massachussetts.
The Lugnuts' 14th season will begin on Thursday, April 9, 2008 when they host the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Season tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased for as little as $54 by visiting www.lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500.
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