The Blue Jays will release the names of their minor league coaching and instructional staffs next week, a sign that spring may not be just around the corner here in Southern Ontario, but it’s coming down the hall.
After last season, the Blue Jays let several minor league staffers go: Rich Miller, who led Vancouver to a Northwest League title in his return to Managing; New Hampshire Manager Gary Allenson, and Willie Collazo, who served as Lansing’s Pitching Coach last year. In addition, long time Toronto minor league instructor and newly-minted Hall of Famer Tim Raines left the organization to become a goodwill ambassador with the White Sox, who he both played and coached for.
In December, it was announced that Bobby Meacham would be returning to Manage Buffalo again this year. Devon White, who served as the Bisons Hitting Coach last year, will stay with the team, but with a change in portfolio to Outfield and Base Running Coach.
Gazing into the crystal ball, in addition to the vacancies that will need to be filled, it would be reasonable to expect some changes may be made with the DSL Blue Jays in the wake of the PED suspensions that have occured since September. That’s not to say that Manager John Tamargo Jr and his staff were responsible, but it’s likely that a change of scenery might be wise.
Ken Huckaby (Roving Catching Instructor) and Jeff Ware (Pitching Instructor) were new to their roles last year, and from many accounts did a fantastic job. Corey Hart, who earned raves for his work with hitters in the Arizona Fall League after serving as Dunedin’s Hitting Coach last year, and Cesar Martin, who Managed Lansing, would be deserving candidates for a move up the ladder.
Expect an announcement sometime by the middle of next week.
