Hillcats' 2011 Coaching Staff to Return for 2012
Published on January 11, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Lynchburg, VA - For the first time in the Hillcats' 18-year history, they will welcome back the same coaching staff in consecutive seasons. Manager Luis Salazar, Pitching Coach Derek Botelho, and Hitting Coach Bobby Moore are all set to return to the "Hill City" come April for another campaign with the 'Cats.
The 2011 staff led the Hillcats to a 60-78 record. The team finished in third place in the Carolina League Northern Division in both the first and second halves.
Salazar enters his second season with the Hillcats in 2012. It will be his ninth year as a minor league manager overall. He began his managerial career at the Single-A level with the Cincinnati Reds in 1996, and managed there for two seasons. He next managed in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization at the Rookie-level with the Gulf Coast League Dodgers from 2002-2005. In 2006, he was promoted to the Advanced Class A Vero Beach Dodgers and managed that club for one season.
As a player Salazar posted a .261 batting average over 13 major league seasons in which he split time between four teams, the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. He played every position at the big league level except catcher, including two appearances as a pitcher.
Botelho will return as the pitching coach for the Hillcats. It will be his second season in Lynchburg, but he has served as a pitching coach at nearly every minor league level for the Braves. He spent 2009-2010 with Triple-A Gwinnett, 2007-2008 with Double-A Mississippi, 2006 with Triple-A Richmond, 2005 with Rookie-level Danville, and 2003-2004 with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves. In 2009, he also served as pitching coach for the US Team in the Futures Game.
Botelho pitched professionally from 1976-1989. Drafted in the second round of the 1976 draft, Botelho signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He would go on to earn two stints at the big league level. The first came with the Kansas City Royals in 1982 and the second in 1985 with the Chicago Cubs.
Moore is back as hitting coach, and is returning for his second season in Lynchburg as well. Prior to 2011, he had served as hitting coach for the Class A Rome Braves for 10 seasons. The Ohio-native has been working in the Braves organization since 1997 as a coach.
Drafted in the 16th round of the 1987 draft by the Kansas City Royals, Moore began his 10-year playing career. He played 18 games in the majors with the Royals in 1991, batting .357 (5-for-14). He spent the majority of final five seasons at the Triple-A level with the Richmond Braves before retiring and beginning his coaching career.
Also, returning with the coaching staff this season will be athletic trainer Ty Cobbs. Cobbs has worked in the Braves organization since 2007, when he began as an assistant trainer with the Gulf Coast League Braves. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he worked as an athletic training student for their football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball teams. He completed his Master of Science degree in health and movement science with a concentration in exercise science in May 2008, also from VCU.
The Hillcats' season is set to begin Friday, April 6 at 6:05pm as the 'Cats host the Potomac Nationals. Opening night will be a fireworks night at City Stadium. For ticket information please contact John Hutt at 434-528-1144 or visit our website lynchburg-hillcats.com.
Carolina League Stories from January 11, 2012
- Rangers Announce 2012 Minor League Coaching Staffs - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Carolina Mudcats Extend Player Development Contract with Cleveland Indians - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats' 2011 Coaching Staff to Return for 2012 - Hill City Howlers
- Junior Keys Club Even Better in 2012 - Frederick Keys
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