MWL1 Burlington Bees

Gabella To Return As Bees Manager In 2010

Published on November 18, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Burlington, IA (November 18, 2009) - The Kansas City Royals have announced the minor league coaching staffs for the 2010 season. Jim Gabella will return for his sixth season as Bees manager.

Gabella led the Bees to the Midwest League Championship Series in '09. The playoff appearance was the second in a row for the Bees, and the first time the franchise has been in the playoffs two years in a row in 30 years. After a 29-41 first half record, the Gabella-led Bees went 35-34 in the second half and captured the Western Division Wild Card.

Gabella had been the Bees manager from 2004-2007, which was the longest tenure for a manager in the organization's 47 years in the Midwest League. He holds the franchise record for wins as a manager with 309. In 2008, Gabella led short-season Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League to a 33-43 record. Also in '08, he took on the added responsibility of coordinating the Royals extended spring training in Surprise, Arizona. Gabella was the recipient of the 2006 Dick Howser Trophy from the Royals, presented annually to a staff member for outstanding contributions to player development. Gabella and his wife Cindi, have one son, Cody and reside in Burlington.

The Royals also announced that Jerry Nyman will be back as the Bees pitching coach next season. He spent the '07 and '08 seasons as the pitching coach in Idaho Falls. This season will mark Nyman's 23rd year as a professional coach. From 2004-2006, he was the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays. Nyman has also spent time as a coach in the Padres, Brewers, Braves, and Pirates organizations. As a player, Nyman made 30 career appearances in the Majors with the White Sox and Padres from 1968-1970, going 6-7 with three complete games, and a 4.57 ERA. A native of Logan, Utah, he resides in Missoula, Montana.

Hitting coach Omar Ramirez will spend his second consecutive season in Burlington as well. Ramirez, a former Cleveland draft pick out of Hill Junior College in Texas, played outfield for eight seasons in the minors with the Indians and Astros before retiring following the 2001 season. Born in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Ramirez now resides in Colinia del Valle, Mexico.

After one year each in Burlington (NC) and High-A Wilmington, Mark Stubblefield returns to Burlington as the Bees trainer in 2010. He joined the Royals organization as a trainer in Spokane in 2002 after spending the 2001 season as the Athletic Trainer for the Reds Gulf Coast League Club in Sarasota, FL. Stubblefield was an athletic trainer intern for the Milwaukee Brewers system in 1999. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Indiana State in 2000 and his master's degree from California University of Pennsylvania in 2001. Stubblefield resides in St. Petersburg, FL.

2008 Manager, Brian Rupp, is set to return to Wilmington next summer for his second season there. Former Bees coach Doug Henry, will join the Triple-A Omaha Royals staff as their pitching coach. This past summer, Henry served as the Royals' roving pitching coach. For a complete listing of the coaching staff, please log onto www.royals.com.

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Midwest League Stories from November 18, 2009


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