Braves Announce Minor League Coaching Staffs for 2009

The Atlanta Braves announced their 2009 Minor League coaching staffs today, including new coaches at the Triple-A and Double-A levels.

The inaugural Gwinnett Braves (AAA) coaching staff will include the return of manager Dave Brundage for his third season as the Triple-A manager and trainer Mike Graus who will be entering his 16th season with the Braves. Pitching coach Derek Bothelo joins the staff after serving as the Mississippi (AA) pitching coach the last two seasons.

Joining the Braves system as the Gwinnett hitting coach is Jamie Dismuke, who spent nine seasons coaching in the Cincinnati Reds' organization, the last five as the Double-A Chattanooga hitting coach. Dismuke, 38, was named Chattanooga's interim manager the final 16 games of the 2008 season. He was originally drafted by Cincinnati in 1989 and the former first baseman played nine Minor League seasons.

Southern League champion Mississippi (AA) returns manager Phillip Wellman and trainer Ricky Alcantara, but has new pitching and hitting coaches. Marty Reed will serve as the pitching coach after spending nine years in the Los Angeles Dodgers system as a pitching coach, including the last three as the Minor League pitching coordinator. He was drafted by the California Angels in 1984 and pitched five seasons in their system, compiling a 49-36 record.

Roosevelt Brown will be making his debut as the hitting coach. Brown, 33, was originally drafted by the Braves in the 20th round of the 1993 draft. He hit .300 with 120 home runs and 513 runs batted in during his 10-year Minor League career and he hit .251 with 11 home runs and 69 runs batted in during parts of four major-league seasons with the Chicago Cubs from 1999-2002.

The Myrtle Beach (A) coaching staff returns Rocket Wheeler as the manager and Rick Albert as the hitting coach. Guy Hansen joins the team as the pitching coach after serving as the Richmond (AAA) pitching coach the past two seasons. Trainer Chas Miller moves up after spending one season at Rome (A), which was his third season in the Braves system.

Randy Ingle will return to Rome (A) in his 18th season managing in the Braves' system. Bobby Moore returns as the hitting coach and Jim Czajkowski returns as the pitching coach. Trainer Allan Chase was promoted from the Gulf Coast team and will make his Rome debut.

At Danville (Rookie), Paul Runge will be the manager again and he will have pitching coach Derrick Lewis and hitting coach Carlos Mendez returning. Trainer Ty Cobbs joins the team after serving as a part-time trainer with the Gulf Coast team last season.

Luis Ortiz returns as the Gulf Coast (Rookie) manager, along with hitting coach Sixto Lezcano and pitching coach Gabe Luckert. Eric Malek, who was Danville's trainer in 2008, makes the move to the Gulf Coast squad.

There were two changes announced to the player development staff. Luckie Dacosta takes over as the Minor League strength and conditioning coordinator after Phil Falco's promotion to the major league team and Matt Saitz was promoted from a part-time strength and conditioning coach to assistant strength and conditioning coordinator.

2009 Atlanta Braves Minor League Staffs

GWINNETT (AAA)
Dave Brundage - Manager
*Derek Bothelo - Pitching Coach
#Jamie Dismuke - Hitting Coach
Mike Graus - Trainer
MISSISSIPPI (AA)
Phillip Wellman - Manager
#Marty Reed - Pitching Coach
#Roosevelt Brown - Hitting Coach
Ricky Alcantara - Trainer
MYRTLE BEACH (A)
Rocket Wheeler - Manager
*Guy Hanson - Pitching Coach
Rick Albert - Hitting Coach
*Chas Miller - Trainer
ROME (A)
Randy Ingle - Manager
Jim Czajkowski - Pitching Coach
Bobby Moore - Hitting Coach
*Allan Chase - Trainer
DANVILLE (Rookie Advanced)
Paul Runge - Manager
Derrick Lewis - Pitching Coach
Carlos Mendez - Hitting Coach
*Ty Cobbs - Trainer
GULF COAST (Rookie)
Luis Ortiz - Manager
Gabe Luckert - Pitching Coach
Sixto Lezcano - Coach
*Eric Malek - Trainer

* Denotes new team
# Denotes new to organization

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