EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Indians Announce 2015 RubberDucks Field Staff

Published on January 20, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


(AKRON, OHIO) January 20, 2015 - The Cleveland Indians have announced the organization's minor league managerial and coaching assignments for the 2015 season, and a number of familiar faces will return to the RubberDucks dugout.

Former Akron catcher David Wallace will reprise his role as RubberDucks manager, returning to the helm after leading Akron to a 73-69 record and a playoff appearance last season. Wallace is the first man to manage the team in consecutive seasons since Chris Tremie in 2011 and 2012. Joining Wallace on the field staff will be hitting coach Tony Mansolino and pitching coach Jeff Harris. The support staff will include trainer Jeremy Heller and strength and conditioning coach Jake Sankal. Of that group, Mansolino is the only newcomer, having served as hitting coach for Class-A Carolina last season.

Wallace, 35, became the 15th manager in club history on December 20, 2013, and led the RubberDucks through a successful 2014 campaign that ended in a second-place finish in the EL West and a playoff berth. Despite injuries and promotions that robbed Wallace of his top three offensive players the final two months of the season, the RubberDucks never dropped below .500, after April 25th, and occupied either first or second place from April 27th through the end of the season. Matched up with Western Division champ Richmond in the first round of the playoffs, Akron fell three games to one to end the campaign.

The 2015 season will be Wallace's fifth campaign as a manager in the Indians player development system. Prior to his promotion to Akron, he managed the Advanced Class-A Carolina Mudcats in 2013. Wallace began his managerial career in 2011 at short-season Mahoning Valley, and moved up to Class-A Lake County in 2012. His 2012 Captains team won a second-half division title, and advanced to the Midwest League playoffs. Wallace's overall managerial record stands at 242-254 (.488).

"I am very excited to be back in Akron for the 2015 season," said Wallace. "There is not a better environment in AA to develop future Major League ball players."

Throughout his managerial career, Wallace has mentored a number of top Indians prospects, including position players Francisco Lindor, Tyler Naquin, Eric Gonzalez, Bryson Myles and Tony Wolters, as well as pitchers Cody Anderson, Ryan Merritt, Louis Head and Shawn Morimando.

"We're obviously very excited about the talent we have coming up through the organization," said Wallace. " "We will have another great staff in place, especially with the addition of Tony Mansolino as hitting coach. Rouglas Odor will be missed, but Tony is ready and excited about the opportunity."

Wallace manages from experience. After signing with the Indians as a non-drafted free agent, he played professionally for seven seasons, the first six with the Indians organization. A 6-foot-4, righthanded-hitting catcher, Wallace appeared in 486 minor league games, hitting .223, with 45 homers and 180 RBI. No stranger to Canal Park, he spent parts of three seasons in Akron (2004, 2006-07), appearing in 122 games, with 17 homers and 54 RBI. He concluded his career after spending the 2008 season in Triple-A with the Washington Nationals.

Upon his retirement as a player, Wallace was hired by the Indians as a major league staff assistant, and spent 2009-10 with the major league club, first under Eric Wedge and then with Manny Acta. He embarked on his managerial career the following year with the Scrappers.

Notable for being a two-sport athlete at Vanderbilt University, Wallace split his first two years in college playing both football and basketball. He was a quarterback on the Vanderbilt football team in 1998 and 1999 under coach Woody Widenhofer. As a freshman in 1998, Wallace threw for 678 yards and four touchdowns. After limited action his sophomore year, Wallace devoted his time exclusively to baseball his final two collegiate years. Born and raised in Nashville, Wallace entered Vanderbilt after a stellar prep career at Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Wallace makes his off-season home in Jacksonville, Florida. He and his wife, Lauren, have two children-a daughter, Lakely (age 4), and a son, Stratton (1).

Harris, 40, will make return for his second season as the RubberDucks pitching coach after serving in the same capacity under Wallace last season. As a pitching staff under Harris, the RubberDucks ranked 7th in the league in ERA (3.98) and averaged seven strikeouts and three walks per nine innings. Harris joined the Indians organization as a coach in 2009, following a 14-year professional career. He began his career in the Twins organization in 1995, and finished with the Indians in 2008. He pitched in the major leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 2005-06, appearing in 14 big league games. He was 2-5, with a 4.26 ERA in the major leagues.

Mansolino, 32, steps into the role of RubberDucks hitting coach, replacing the legendary Rouglas Odor, who was promoted to AAA Columbus. The 2015 season will mark Mansolino's fifth season as a coach in the Indians minor league system. He served as the hitting coach at Class-A Carolina last season. After playing professionally for six seasons in the Pirates, Phillies and independent organizations, Mansolino began his coaching career in 2011, at Class-A Mahoning Valley. Like Wallace, Mansolino played college baseball at Vanderbilt, where he was teammates with current player development chief Carter Hawkins and former Akron and Cleveland pitcher Jensen Lewis. Mansolino's father, Doug, is the Field Coordinator for the Phillies.

Additional minor league notes: Hawkins will take over the role of Player Development Director from Ross Atkins, who was promoted to Vice President, Player Personnel. Hawkins will be assisted by Eric Binder. Former Akron hitting coach and Hudson resident, Jim Rickon, was promoted to minor league hitting coordinator after serving as the hitting coach for Columbus last season. The Tribe's new Advanced Class-A affiliate is the Lynchburg (VA) Hillcats. Former Akron third baseman Shaun Larkin will manage Low Class-A Lake County. It will be Larkin's rookie season as a manager.

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2015 season will be its 19th since moving to Canal Park and its second as the RubberDucks. Last season, the team attracted 350,704 fans to Canal Park, an average of 5,157 per game. The team will begin the 2015 regular season at home on Thursday, April 9th against the defending EL champions, the Binghamton Mets, at 6:35 p.m. at Canal Park. For ticket information and merchandise featuring the Akron RubberDucks, go to www.AkronRubberDucks.com or call 330-253-5151. The Akron RubberDucks are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks and Twitter at @AkronRubberDuck.

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Eastern League Stories from January 20, 2015


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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