Rafael Santana to make managerial debut with Warthogs
January 16, 2006 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem, NC - The Chicago White Sox announced the 2006 Warthogs' field staff on Monday. Rafael Santana, who won a World Championship with the New York Mets in 1986, was named the Warthogs' manager. 2006 will be Santana's first managerial job since retiring as a player after the 1990 season. J.R. Perdew returns to Winston-Salem as pitching coach after serving in the same capacity for the Low A 2005 South Atlantic League champion Kannapolis Intimidators. Perdew served as pitching coach for the Warthogs from 2002-2004. Former Warthogs' outfielder, Ryan Long, was named hitting coach. Josh Fallin, the 2005 Carolina League Trainer of the Year, will return for his sixth season as the Warthogs' athletic trainer, while Raymond Smith will serve as the Warthogs' strength and conditioning coach.
Santana will begin his eighth season in the White Sox organization and his 12th in minor league baseball. Santana makes his managing debut after serving as the White Sox minor league infield rover in 2005. Santana spent the 2003 and 2004 as the Chicago White Sox first base coach and infield instructor. Since retiring after the 1990 season, Santana has worked in the Boston, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City organizations. Santana was the starting shortstop for the 1986 World Champion New York Mets. He hit .246 with 113 home runs and 156 RBIs in 668 career major league games with St. Louis, Cleveland, the New York Mets and Yankees.
Perdew begins his tenth season in the White Sox organization and fourth in Winston-Salem. Perdew returns to Winston-Salem after serving as the pitching coach for the 2005 Low A South Atlantic League Champion Kannapolis Intimidators. His pitching staff ranked second in the South Atlantic League with a 3.57 ERA. Perdew spent three season as the pitching coach for the Warthogs (2002-2004). Helped the Warthogs to the 2003 Carolina League championship.
Long begins his sixth season in the White Sox organization and first in Winston-Salem. Long was hitting coach for the 2005 Low A South Atlantic League Champion Kannapolis Intimidators. Long played 10 minor league seasons with a brief major league stint in 1997 with the Kansas City Royals. In six games with the Royals, Long hit .222 with two RBIs. Long collected first major league hit and RBI off Seattle's Randy Johnson on July 18, 1997. Long hit 10 home runs in 19 games with the Warthogs in 2000.
Fallin begins his eighth season as an athletic trainer in the White Sox organization and sixth in Winston-Salem. Fallin began his career with the White Sox in 1999 as the athletic trainer for the Class A Burlington (IA) Bees. Fallin is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and graduated from New Mexico State, where he participated in track and field and served as a student trainer for football and baseball.
Chris Cron, who managed the Warthogs into the CL playoffs last season, was promoted to manage at AA Birmingham. Sean Snedeker, who was the Warthogs' pitching coach in 2005, was will serve as the pitching coach in low A Kannapolis. Andy Tomberlin, who was the Warthogs hitting coach in 2004 & 2005, was promoted to AA Birmingham. Ryan Carroll, who was the Warthogs' strength coach in 2005, was promoted to the same post for AA Birmingham. The Warthogs open the 2006 season at home against Kinston on April 6. It's the first time since 2000 the Warthogs have opened up at home.
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Carolina League Stories from January 16, 2006
- Rafael Santana to make managerial debut with Warthogs - Winston-Salem Dash
- Nationals Announce Front Office Changes - Potomac Nationals
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