Mets Announce Gnats Coaching Staff for 2009
Published on February 3, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Edgar Alfonzo will manage the 2009 Savannah Sand Gnats, the New York Mets announced today. Alfonzo will be joined in Georgia's First City by Pitching Coach Marc Valdes, Hitting Coach George Greer, First Base Coach Jose Carreno, Trainer Brad Hutson and Strength Coach Nick Wright.
"It will be great to have Fonzie here in Savannah," said Sand Gnats President R.C. Reuteman. "He has a great track record and does a good job of managing the fine line between developing players and winning. It's exciting that the Mets are bringing an experienced staff around him."
Alfonzo, older brother of former Mets third baseman and Major League veteran Edgardo Alfonzo, has managed the short season Brooklyn Cyclones the past two seasons and led them to a combined record of 94-55. The 2007 Cyclones advanced to the New York-Penn League Championship series but fell to the Auburn Doubledays in the best-of-three series while the '08 Cyclones finished in second place in the McNamara Division.
Overall, Alfonzo owns a career managerial record of 181-111 in four seasons. In his first stint with the Cyclones in 2001, Alfonzo led Brooklyn to a McNamara Division title and a NYPL Co-Championship. For his efforts, he was named Baseball America's short-season Manager of the Year. The upcoming season will mark Alfonzo's ninth in the Mets organization.
"I'm excited to manage at a higher level," Alfonzo said. "I've been in Brooklyn for three years now and I'm looking forward to the challenge of managing a full-season club. I can't wait to get to Savannah because I've heard it's a great town with great food. I can't wait to get there and start managing."
Valdes will make his Savannah debut in 2009 after spending the past two seasons as the pitching coach with the Rookie-level Kingsport Mets. The former number one draft choice by the Marlins in 1993 spent six seasons in the major leagues, compiling a record of 12-15 with a 4.95 ERA in 144 games (22 starts) with the Marlins, Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. After his career stateside, Valdes played three seasons in the Japanese Professional League.
A Florida Gators alum, Valdes is the school's all-time leader in wins (31) and innings pitched (394.2). He is second on the school's all-time list in strikeouts with 351.
Greer returns to Savannah for his second straight season as the team's hitting coach. The heralded Greer owns a 714-504-8 record as a NCAA Division I Head Coach with 608 of those wins coming during his 17-year tenure at Wake Forest. The '09 campaign will be his fourth in the Mets system. He spent 2007 as a coach for the Kingsport Mets and managed the Brooklyn Cyclones squad to a 41-33 record in 2006.
Carreno rejoins Savannah as a coach after spending the second half of 2008 with the Sand Gnats. He was brought to the Coastal Empire after coach Pedro Lopez was promoted to manager of the Rookie-level Kingsport Mets in mid-June.
Hutson is making his first appearance in Savannah on the heels of two years of service as the trainer for the Gulf Coast Mets. The 30-year-old graduated from Troy (Ala.) University in 2006 and currently lives in Decatur, Ala.
Wright begins his second consecutive season with the Gnats as will resume his duties as Strength coach. The 25-year-old Wright has a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Sacramento State University (Calif.). This will be his third season with the Mets organization.
Savannah opens its 25th season of South Atlantic League baseball on April 9 versus the Augusta GreenJackets. The first game of the year is a Thirsty Thursday contest, which will be followed by postgame fireworks. Season tickets and mini plans are on sale now.
South Atlantic League Stories from February 3, 2009
- Mets Announce Gnats Coaching Staff for 2009 - Savannah Sand Gnats
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- Legends set National Anthem tryouts for February 14-15 - Lexington Legends
- Charleston RiverDogs Have Unique Breed for Obama Family Dog - Charleston RiverDogs
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.
