Blue Jays Shuffle Minor League Coaches
Bobby Meacham will be one of the new faces in the Blue Jays minor league coaching ranks. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY SportsIt goes without saying that the moves made by the Toronto Blue Jays this winter would not have been possible without the development taking place at the minor league levels. A combination of smart drafting and quality coaching has enabled Toronto’s farm system to be one of the best in baseball.
On Monday, the Blue Jays looked to continue to build that position of strength, by naming their minor leagues coaching staffs for the upcoming 2013 season.
Returning to their posts from a season ago with be Marty Brown (Triple-A Buffalo – 3rd Season), John Tamargo Jr. (Class A Lansing – 2nd Season), Clayton McCullough (Class A Vancouver – 2nd Season), Dennis Holmberg (Bluefield – 3rd Season) and John Schneider (Gulf Coast League – 4th Season).
However, while consistency in the system has been what has helped build it to where it is, there are some changes for next season.
Bobby Meacham, who served as the Astros first base coach from 2010 through August 2012, will take over the managerial role in Dunedin. Meacham will replace Mike Redmond, who parlayed two successful season in the Blue Jays system into the managers job for the Miami Marlins. Meacham’s only previous role as a manager came in 2002 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Advanced-A Los Angeles Angels).
The other managerial change comes with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto’s Double-A affiliate. Incumbent manager, and 2011 Eastern League Manager of the Year, Sal Fasano has taken his famous mustache into the role of minor league catching coordinator. Replacing Fasano will be Gary Allenson. Allenson has spent the last 25 years coaching at both the minor league level and in the majors, and was most recently the manager for the Aberdeen IronBirds (Class A – Short Season) in the Orioles farm system in 2012.
The Blue Jays also named a slew of minor coaches outside of the managerial ranks. Both Tim Raines (Outfield and Base-running Coordinator) and Mike Barnett (Hitting Coordinator) had already been known among the fan base. Joining that pair will be Richie Hebner, who will serve as the hitting coach for the Fisher Cats, and Stubby Clapp, who will serve the same role with Dunedin.