Travs Announce 2009 Coaching Staff
Published on November 26, 2008 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Travelers, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Angels, announce that Bobby Magallanes will return for his third season as field manager. "Mags" skippered the Travs to the 2008 Texas League championship and has been the team's only manager since moving to Dickey-Stephens Park. Ken Patterson also returns for his third season as the Travs pitching coach, while athletic trainer Eric Munson is back for a second go-around. Francisco Matos will join the club as hitting coach following a stint as the hitting coach for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
Magallanes guided the Travs to a first-half division championship in 2008 with a 36-24 record. Although the team slumped during the second half and finished the season 62-78, they put together a tremendous playoff run culminating in the first championship of Magallanes's managerial career. Before coming to Arkansas, Magallanes managed the Angels' single-A Cedar Rapids affiliate for three seasons. In five years as a manager in the Angels organization, Magallanes owns a 312-366 record with two playoff appearances. Under Magallanes the Travs hold a 107-153 record.
"I'm really excited to come back to Arkansas," said Magallanes from his home in Phoenix. "My family loves the area and especially the people. Arkansas is a great place for us."
Patterson will serve in his fourth year as a pitching coach in the Angels' organization. A veteran of 224 appearances in the major leagues, Patterson joined the Travs initially in 2006 for the club's last season at Ray Winder Field. The Waco, Texas native coached at Rancho Cucamonga in 2007 and returned to Arkansas for 2008. He began his coaching career in the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2005.
Matos will spend his third season as a hitting coach in the Angels organization following stints at Rancho Cucamonga and rookie-level Orem. Under Matos in 2008, the Quakes batted .270 as a team and scored almost 5 runs per game. The Quakes ranked fourth in the California League in team batting and third with 129 home runs. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic enjoyed a 16-year playing career which included 14 games with the Oakland A's in 1994.
Matos replaces Eric Owens as Travs hitting coach after Owens was hired to manage at Rancho Cucamonga.
"I'm very comfortable with our staff," Magallanes remarked. "I enjoyed coaching with KP (Patterson) last year and Munson is a great trainer. I haven't worked with Francisco, but my brother Ever (who managed at Rancho Cucamonga in 2008) had good things to say about him."
The Travs will begin defense of their Texas League championship on April 9, 2009.
Texas League Stories from November 26, 2008
- Travs Announce 2009 Coaching Staff - Arkansas Travelers
- Royals Sign Former Travs' Slugger Smith - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Happy Thanksgiving From The Hooks - Corpus Christi Hooks
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.
