Todd Steverson and Entire River Cats Field Staff to Return for 2009 Season
Published on November 18, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release
West Sacramento, Calif. - The Sacramento River Cats and Oakland Athletics announced today that Manager Todd Steverson and the entire 2008 River Cats Field Staff will return to Sacramento for the 2009 season. Steverson will enter his second season as River Cats Manager, once again joined by Pitching Coach Rick Rodriguez, Hitting Coach Brian McArn and Athletic Trainer Brad LaRosa.
Steverson guided the River Cats to a Pacific Coast League and Triple-A Championship in his first season as River Cats Manager in 2008. The River Cats finished 83-61 in the PCL regular season to earn the Pacific Conference Southern Division crown and pave the way for the team's championship run.
"Our first season together as a staff couldn't have been any more remarkable," Steverson said from his home in Arizona. "Sacramento fans are the best in baseball and I look forward to another great year."
Steverson spent 2007 as manager of the Athletics' Double-A affiliate Midland RockHounds and the previous two seasons (2005-06) at the helm of the Single-A affiliate Stockton Ports. He has a lifetime managerial record of 297-264. The 37-year-old Los Angeles native joined the A's organization in 2004 as the hitting coach for the short-season Single-A Vancouver Canadians. He spent the previous five seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system at Single-A Palm Beach (2003), Single-A Potomac (1999; 2001-02) and Single-A Peoria (2000).
Steverson had a seven-year playing career that included major-league appearances with Detroit (1995) and San Diego (1996). He finished his minor league career in 1998 with Triple-A Memphis of the Pacific Coast League. Steverson was originally drafted out of Culver City (Calif.) High School by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the June 1989 amateur draft but elected to attend Arizona State University. Three years later, in 1992, he was a first-round draft pick (25th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rick Rodriguez
Rodriguez, 48, will serve his ninth season as Sacramento's pitching coach in 2008. After three years with the River Cats from 2000-02, he managed the Modesto A's in 2003 before returning to the Cats in 2004. Prior to his first stint with the River Cats, he was pitching coach for Modesto in 1999. Last year, Rodriguez's pitching staff had an ERA of 4.41, 2nd best in the PCL.
Rodriguez played parts of four seasons in the major leagues as a right-handed pitcher. In his major league career, he compiled a 3-4 record and a 5.72 ERA in 31 games. He played in the majors with Oakland (1986-87), Cleveland (1988) and San Francisco (1990).
Brian McArn
McArn, 39, is the third hitting coach in the club's history. Last season, his fourth with the Cats, Sacramento hitters batted .270, was third in home runs (177) and second in walks (551). The 177 round-trippers set a River Cats team record. He replaced Joe Sparks in 2005, who serves the Oakland A's as their major league advance scout. Roy White was the River Cats' hitting coach for their first four seasons, from 2000-03.
This season will mark McArn's 12th as a hitting coach in the A's organization, his 13th as a coach in professional baseball. Prior to joining the Cats, he served as Hitting Coach for Midland, after six seasons with Modesto (Single-A). McArn began his professional coaching career with the Vermont Expos (Single-A) of the New York-Penn League in 1996.
McArn was selected by the A's in the 26th round of the 1991 Amateur Draft out of the University of Nebraska and spent two years as a player in the Oakland organization before injuries ended his career. After retiring, McArn coached at American River Junior College in Sacramento for five seasons.
Brad LaRosa
LaRosa, 32, enters his second season with the River Cats and in the A's organization. Prior to joining the River Cats, LaRosa spent the past three seasons as a Minor League Athletic Trainer in the St Louis Cardinals organization.
In addition to his athletic training duties, LaRosa, a 2000 graduate of Southern Illinois University who earned a graduate degree in 2003, assists with the team's travel and equipment responsibilities.
Pacific Coast League Stories from November 18, 2008
- Todd Steverson and Entire River Cats Field Staff to Return for 2009 Season - Sacramento River Cats
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