Biscuits announce 2006 coaching staff, trainer
January 24, 2006 - Southern League (SL1)
Montgomery Biscuits News Release
Charlie Montoyo will return in 2006 for his third season as the Montgomery Biscuits' manager, according to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' announcement of minor league coaching staffs today.
Montoyo, who guided last year's Biscuits to a 67-70 mark, will be back at the helm, joined by the rest of his coaching staff from last season. Pitching Coach Xavier Henandez and Coach Mako Oliveras return for their second seasons in Butter and Blue.
Matt Lucero, who had been the Biscuits' trainer for their first two seasons, will be replaced by Mark Vinson.
For Montoyo, 41, 2006 will be his fourth season as manager at the Double-A level and his 10th as a skipper in the Devil Rays' organization. The native of Puerto Rico carries a career mark of 556-565. Prior to his 2004 debut with the Biscuits, he previously managed the Orlando Rays (Southern League, 2003), Bakersfield Blaze (California League, 2001-02), Charleston RiverDogs (South Atlantic League, 1999-2000), Hudson Valley Renegades (1998) and Princeton Devil Rays (1997). During the offseason, he guided the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona League. Montoyo is 120-157 in his two seasons with the Biscuits.
Montoyo was a middle infielder during his playing career. He made the major leagues in 1993, spending 27 days with the Montreal Expos. He is a career .400 hitter (2-for-5). He attended San Jose de Anza Junior College in San Jose, Calif. and Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. He lives in Tucson, Ariz. with his wife Samantha and their son, Tyson (3).
"I'm proud to be coming back to Montgomery," Montoyo said. "It's as good a place as you could hope to be. The people are friendly, the ballpark is great, and the travel is not too bad. I'm really pleased to be managing in a town that almost feels like a home away from home."
Hernandez, 40, enjoyed a 10-year major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers. After spending three seasons managing Houston Baptist University, he has worked four seasons in the Devil Rays organization. He worked with the Bakersifeld Blaze in 2004 and the Charleston RiverDogs in 2002 and 2003. Hernandez was born and raised in Texas, and he currently lives in Sugar Land, Tex., where he and his wife Deborah have four children.
"I'm really happy that I could work with 'X' again," Montoyo said. "He's a good teacher, and he knows the game really well, so that's good for the players."
Oliveras, 59, had been a manager in the Devil Rays' system for two seasons before switching to his role as Coach for the Biscuits last season. For much of the year, he departed to manage the Puebla Parrots of the Mexican League. He guided the Bakersfield Blaze in 2004 and has managed more than 1500 games for several different organizations in his 24-year baseball career, which also included eight seasons as a minor league player. He spent three seasons with the Chicago Cubs as the as the first base coach (1997) and bench coach (1995-96). He also worked as a bullpen coach for the California Angels in 1994. Oliveras played infield in the minors from 1969-76 in the Pirates and Red Sox organizations. He and his wife Dilsy reside in Bayamon, Puerto Rico with their three children.
"Mako and I have a very close relationship," Montoyo said.
"[Charlie] is like a son to me," Oliveras commented last season. "To see him do well as a manager and to see his teams do well makes me very proud. So that's one of the big reasons that I'm here."
Vinson is new to the Devil Rays' organization. He had most recently been a trainer at Bluefield College, where he received his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training. He earned a Masters of Education at the University of Virginia in 1999. Vinson's experience includes four years as a trainer in the Texas Rangers organization. He has been a certified athletic trainer (ATC) since 1998 through the National Athletic Trainer's Association as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, since 2000.
Lucero is now working in Arizona for the Rangers organization. 2004 Coach Skeeter Barnes will return to the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (Midwest League), while 2004 Pitching Coach Dick Bosman will make it two straight years for the Hudson Valley Renegades (New York-Penn League).
Southern League Stories from January 24, 2006
- Mudcats Announce 2006 Field Staff, Game Time Change - Carolina Mudcats
- Biscuits announce 2006 coaching staff, trainer - Montgomery Biscuits
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