CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Potomac Nationals 2008 field staff announced

Published on December 17, 2007 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


WOODBRIDGE, Va.-The Potomac Nationals today announced that manager Randy Knorr, pitching coach Randy Tomlin and trainer Sean Wayne will return to the P-Nats staff for the 2007 season. In addition, Jerry Browne will replace Troy Gingrich, who was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg, as the team's hitting coach. The announcement was made by Potomac Nationals General Manager Jonathan Griffith.

"We are thrilled to have the core of our field staff back for the 2008 season," said Griffith. "With the addition of Jerry Browne, we are looking forward to great year."

Randy Knorr recently completed his second season as manager of the Potomac Nationals and his third season overall as a minor league manager. The 39-year-old led the P-Nats to a 69-68 record in 2007, becoming the first Potomac club since 1998 to finish with a winning record and record 40 wins in a half after going 40-29 in the second half of the season. The team also became just the second full-season Nationals affiliate in the organization's brief three-year history to finish with a winning record joining the 2006 Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs (72-71).

He guided the P-Nats to a 32-36 record in 2006 before being called up to Washington on June 16 to serve as the bullpen coach. In 2005 he managed the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Low-A South Atlantic League to a 62-76 record. Overall, Knorr is 163-180 as a manager in three minor league seasons.

The former catcher was originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round, 263rd overall, of the 1986 June draft. He played in parts of 11 seasons at the Major League level for Toronto, Houston, Florida, Texas, and Montreal. The California native had a .226 career batting average with 24 home runs and 88 RBI in 253 big-league games including playing in one World Series game for the 1993 World Champion Blue Jays.

Randy Tomlin returns for his second season with the P-Nats after joining the Washington Nationals organization from his Alma mater, Liberty University, where he spent the previous nine seasons as the pitching coach. He joined the Flames coaching staff in 1997 after a nine-year professional career that included five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990-1994).

The former 18th-round pick of the Pirates was the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 1990 and compiled a 30-31 career mark in Pittsburgh including leading the pitching staff in ERA (2.98) in 1991. That same season he started game four of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves. In 106 Major League games, Tomlin recorded a 3.43 ERA and struck out 297 batters in 580-1/3 innings pitched.

Jerry Browne becomes the second hitting coach since the club affiliated with the Nationals in 2005. The 42-year-old worked in the same capacity the previous two seasons with the Low-A Hagerstown Suns and Savannah Sand Gnats. Prior to joining the Washington Nationals organization in 2006, Browne served as the hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants' Low-A affiliate, the Augusta Green Jackets. He also worked in the Toronto Blue Jays organization as the minor-league infield instructor in 2002.

Nicknamed "The Governor," Browne enjoyed a big-league career that spanned 10 seasons with Texas, Cleveland, Oakland, and Florida. He hit .271 in 982 major league games including 23 home runs and 288 RBI. While with Oakland in 1992, Browne went 4-for-10 in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto.

Sean Wayne enters his third season as the Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Potomac Nationals and is in his seventh year in the Expos/Nationals organization. He spent three years with the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) Expos before joining the Savannah Sand Gnats (Low-A) in 2005. Wayne is the assistant athletic trainer for Weber State University where he covers football and the nationally ranked track and field team.

The Salt Lake City, Utah, native received his Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training and a minor in nutrition education from Weber State University and a Master's degree in rehabilitation sciences from California University of Pennsylvania. Wayne is a certified Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Performance Enhancement and Corrective Exercise Specialist by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is a member of the NATA, and NSCA. He is currently the Director of Education for Pure Speed Training in Clearfield, Utah.

Season tickets and ticket packages for the upcoming 2008 season are on sale now! For more information, call the Nationals ticket office at (703) 590-2311 ext. 215. The P-Nats kick off the 2008 season on the road against the Salem Avalanche on April 4 and celebrate Opening Day at Pfitzner Stadium on April 8 against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

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Carolina League Stories from December 17, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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