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Jackson Generals

Mariners Announce 2015 Jackson Coaching Staff

January 12, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Jackson Generals News Release


JACKSON, TENN (JANUARY 12, 2015) - The Seattle Mariners have announced their Minor League Coaching staffs for the upcoming 2015 season as Jim Horner will return as the Field Manager, Lance Painter returns as Pitching Coach and B.J. Downie as Athletic Trainer. New additions to the staff are Roy Howell as Coach and Derek Mendoza, Performance Coach.

MANAGER - JIM HORNER - SECOND SEASON

Horner, 41 returns for his second season as Manager of the Generals and ninth season in the Mariners organization. In 2014, Jackson was 63-76, finishing third in the Southern League North Division. In seven seasons as a manager, Horner accrued a record of 432-510.

Horner rejoined the Mariners organization prior to the 2013 season as Manager of A+ High Desert. He spent the previous two and a half seasons (2010-12) as Hitting Coach at Texas Tech University. He left High Desert on July 30, 2010 to accept a position as coach at TTU. He was named the 2009 Mariners Player Development Staff Member of the Year and the California League Manager of the Year after leading High Desert to first-place finishes in both the first and second half of the season. He managed Wisconsin in 2006 and 2007 and was a coach for Short-A Everett in 2005.

As a player, Horner signed as a non-drafted free agent with Seattle on August 8, 1996 and spent nine seasons as a minor league catcher with the Mariners. He graduated from Twin Falls (ID) High School in 1992 starring in football and baseball, including an honorable mention on the USA Today All-American football team. He graduated from Washington State University in 1996 with a degree in criminal justice. Horner resides in Twin Falls, Idaho.

HORNER'S MANAGERIAL RECORD

Year Team League Level Aff Wins Loss Win %

2006 Wisconsin Midwest A SEA 54 86 .386

2007 Wisconsin Midwest A SEA 53 85 .384

2008 High Desert California A+ SEA 58 82 .414

2009 High Desert California A+ SEA 83 57 .593

2010 High Desert California A+ SEA 57 48 .543

2013 High Desert California A+ SEA 64 76 .457

2014 Jackson Southern AA SEA 63 76 .453

7 Seasons 432 510 .459

A+ (4 seasons) 262 263 .499

A (2 seasons) 107 171 .385

AA (1 season) 63 76 .453

PITCHING COACH - LANCE PAINTER - FIFTH SEASON

Painter, 47, enters his fifth season as Pitching Coach for the Generals and eighth season in the Mariners organization. Painter has served as Pitching Coach for Jackson (2010-12, 14), Clinton (2009),

High Desert (2008) and Wisconsin (2006-07). He has been an integral part of the Mariners Player Development staff developing pitching prospects such as Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Danny Hultzen, Brandon Maurer, Stephen Pryor, Yoervis Medina and Erasmo Ramirez.

Painter pitched professionally from 1990-2003, spending time in the San Diego, Colorado, St.

Louis, Toronto and Milwaukee organizations, including 10 years in the Major Leagues. He attended the University of Wisconsin. Painter was born in England and became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1994. He resides in Gilbert, Ariz.

COACH - ROY HOWELL - FIRST SEASON

Howell, 61, enters his first season as Coach for the Generals and third in the Mariners organization. Howell was the Manager for the Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League in 2014, leading the M's Triple-A club to a 72-72 record. The previous two seasons Howell was the Hitting Coach at A+ High Desert. The Mavericks hit a .289 as a team in 2013 and scored 827 runs. In 2012, the Mavericks set franchise-highs in nearly every offensive category, including average, hits, RBI and runs scored.

Howell was originally slated to be Jackson's Hitting Coach in 2014. He replaced Rich Donnelly as Tacoma's Manager. Donnelly was promoted to the MLB staff to coach third base after John Stearns, who managed the Rainiers for most of the 2013 season stepped down because of health reasons.

Howell started his coaching career with the Padres organization in 2000, spending six seasons in the minor league system as a coach. His managerial experience consists of four years with the San Luis Rattlers in the California Collegiate League from 2007-10 and the 2011 season as the Manager for the Road Warriors travel team in the independent Atlantic League.

Howell played in parts of 11 big league seasons as an infielder, including stints with the Texas Rangers (1974-77), Milwaukee Brewers (1977-80) and the Toronto Blue Jays (1981-84). He has a career .261 batting average, 80 home runs and 454 RBI in 1,112 games. He was an American League All-Star and Toronto's team MVP in 1978. He also was a member of the Brewers squad in the 1982 World Series. He resides in Shell Beach, CA.

ATHLETIC TRAINER - B.J. DOWNIE - SECOND SEASON

Downie, 41, enters his second season as trainer for the Generals. Downie spent the first half of 2014 and 2013 season as a trainer for AAA Tacoma. He served in the same capacity with High Desert in

2012 and Pulaski in 2011. He also served as athletic trainer for Clinton in 2010 and as a strength coach and assistant athletic trainer in 2009. Downie worked as the AZL Mariners trainer in 2001. For six years (2003-08), Downie worked for Foothills Sports Medicine in Ahwahtuke, Ariz., and Peoria, Ariz, was trainer in San Francisco Giants organization with the AZL Giants (2002) and San Jose (2003). He was athletic trainer at Trover Sports Medicine (1997-99) and Advanced Fitness in Seattle (1999-2001).

Downie is a graduate of Western Oregon University (1995), with a BS in physical education. He also graduated from the University of Oregon in 1997 with an MS in exercise science.

PERFORMANCE COACH - DEREK MENDOZA - FIRST SEASON

Rounding out the 2013 Field Staff, Mendoza, enters his first season with the Generals and second with the Mariners as Performance Coach. Mendoza served as the Latin American Performance Coach for the Mariners in 2014. Mendoza earned a BS and MS from the University of North Texas.

The Generals open the 2015 season on April 9th at Jacksonville and will open the home schedule on Wednesday, April 15th, against the Mississippi Braves. Season, Flex and Group tickets are available now for the 2015 season by calling 988-5299 or visiting jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.

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