Oliver Promoted, Suarez Named New Spinners Manager
Published on January 14, 2016 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
BOSTON, Massachusetts - The Lowell Spinners, the Class A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will have a new manager in the first base dugout at LeLacheur Park come 2016.
Now former Spinners manager Joe Oliver has been promoted by the Red Sox to fill the same role with the Salem Red Sox, the team's High-A affiliate, while Spinners hitting coach Iggy Suarez will manage the team moving forward.
Oliver was hired in 2014 and led the Spinners to a 74-77 record in two seasons with the team. Prior to managing, Oliver spent 13 seasons as a catcher in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox before retiring in 2001. He was a member of the 1990 Reds team that won the World Series.
Suarez will take over the manager position after serving as an assistant in 2014 and the team's hitting coach in 2015. In addition to his time as a coach, Suarez spent seven seasons as an infielder in the Red Sox organization. He reached as high as Triple-A Pawtucket in 2009 and played for the Spinners in 2003 after being drafted in the 24th round of the First Year Player Draft out of Texas State. Suarez will be the first to have both played for and manage the Spinners.
In addition to the Suarez promotion, Lance Carter will return for his second season as the team's pitching coach and Wilton Veras will take over for Suarez as the new hitting coach.
Carter played six seasons in the majors between 1999 and 2006, including an All-Star appearance with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. In addition to Tampa Bay, Carter also played for the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Veras spent two seasons as a third baseman with the Boston Red Sox from 1999-2000.
He previously was a hitting coach in the Dominican Summer League. He was also a member of the inaugural Lowell Spinners team in 1996 and was the first former Spinner to play in the majors.
The team also announced that Scott Gallon will be taking over as the team's athletic trainer. Gallon previously was a member of the Red Sox organization in 2001 and most recently worked for the Boston College basketball team.
The team's previous trainer, Nick Kuchwara, will join Joe Oliver with the Salem Red Sox for the 2016 season.
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