Rays Manage To Stay Static

ST. PETERSBURG—Change can be good sometimes, as the Rays showed by shuffling their minor league coaching corps in 2015.

The Rays kept their staffs largely intact for 2016, returning the same managers to all seven domestic affiliates.
“Stability is important to us,’’ farm director Mitch Lukevics said. “We have managers up and down the system that are not only good teachers, but good leaders of men. Stay with what works.’’

Under that plan, Jared Sandberg returns to manage Triple-A Durham for his second season, Brady Williams to Double-A Montgomery for his third season, Michael Johns to high Class A Charlotte for his second, Reinaldo Ruiz to low Class A Bowling Green for his second, Tim Parenton to short-season Hudson Valley for his third, Danny Sheaffer to Rookie-level Princeton for his fourth and Jim Morrison to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his fourth.

The biggest change among the coaching staffs was the promotion of hitting coach Ozzie Timmons, who moves up from Montgomery to Durham to replace veteran Dave Myers, who was not offered a contract. Timmons, who played briefly for his hometown Rays during a 16-year pro career that included parts of five seasons in the majors, had spent the last seven seasons with the Biscuits, and worked previously at low Class A Columbus (2008) and Hudson Valley (2007).

“Ozzie has been an important part of our staff for years,’’ Lukevics said. “He is a former Rays and Bulls player that has been ready for the next level. He has more than earned his promotion, and we look forward to what he can bring to our players in Durham.’’

Timmons was replaced in Montgomery by Dan DeMent, who continues his climb through the organizations.

COOL RAYS

• Charlie Haeger, who spent parts of five seasons in the majors throwing a knuckleball, was hired as a pitching coordinator. Haeger, who had been working as the pitching coach for Madonna University in Livonia, Mich., joins a veteran staff that includes Dick Bosman, Dewey Robinson and Jorge Moncada. Rafael Valenzuela, a former minor-league infielder with the Astros, was also hired as a coach with the GCL Rays.

• Athletic trainer Mike Sandoval returns to Durham for what will be his 30th season in pro ball.