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 West Michigan Whitecaps

Tigers name 2009 Whitecaps coaching staff

December 16, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps, in conjunction with the Detroit Tigers, announced the Whitecaps* 2009 coaching staff today. All three of the 2008 coaches will return, with Joe DePastino at the helm and Benny Distefano and Mark Johnson returning as hitting and pitching coaches, respectively.

DePastino is returning for his second season as the Whitecaps manager. In 2008, he led the team to a 72-65 overall record, the ninth best in the team*s 15-year history, and earned a trip to the Midwest League playoffs for the 12th time in team history. The Whitecaps lost in the first round of the playoffs to South Bend.

The 2008 season was DePastino*s first as manager at the professional level. Prior to joining the Tigers organization as the Whitecaps manager in 2008, he coached high school baseball in his hometown of Sarasota, Florida. DePastino was a Minor League catcher for 13 seasons (including seven seasons at the Triple-A level) from 1992 to 2005. He played for six different organizations, including the Orioles, Astros, Braves, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets, and posted a .265 batting average with 87 home runs, 468 RBI and 401 runs scored in 944 career games. He reached the Major Leagues in 2003, appearing in two games with the New York Mets.

Distefano will return in 2009 for his third season as Whitecaps hitting coach and fourth season in the Tigers organization. With Distefano overseeing the hitters, the Whitecaps hit a team .257 average in 2008, fifth best in the league. In 2007, the hitters led the league with a .268 average, good for second best in team history. Distefano was drafted in the second round of the 1982 amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played five seasons in the Major Leagues with the Pirates and Astros. He is from Missouri City, Texas.

The 2009 season will be Johnson*s second as Whitecaps pitching coach and third in the Tigers organization. The 33-year-old expects to improve on the team 3.29 ERA that ranked 11th in the league. Johnson was a first-round draft pick by the Astros in 1996 and pitched for nine seasons in six different organizations. He spent the majority of his playing career in the Tigers organization (2000-2003, 2005), including his lone Major League appearance in 2000, pitching in nine games for Detroit. Johnson lives in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The Whitecaps will begin the 2009 season at home on April 9 against South Bend at 6:35 p.m. Season and group tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131. Individual tickets will go on sale January 19.


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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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