SUNS NAME COACHING STAFF FOR 2007 SEASON
The Hagerstown Suns are excited to announce their coaching staff for the 2007 season, set to begin on Thursday, April 5th when the Suns take on the Hickory Crawdads at Municipal Stadium.
The Suns new manager for the 2007 season will be Tommy Herr. Herr, a lifelong resident of Lancaster, PA spent the past two seasons managing the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League, leading them to a championship in 2006. Prior to his stay in Lancaster, Herr spent 12 years as an assistant coach of Hempfield High in Landisville, PA, his alma mater.
Herr enjoyed a 13-year career in Major League baseball with five teams. Herr is probably best known for his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1979-1988. In 1985 he was an All-Star, batting .302 with 110 RBI and 97 runs scored, helping to lead the Cardinals to the World Series. He later played for the Twins, Phillies, Mets and Giants.
Hitting Coach Jerry Browne and Pitching Coach Paul Menhart come to Hagerstown in 2007 after working together on the Savannah Sand Gnats staff in 2006.
Browne, a former second baseman and utility player for Texas, Cleveland, Oakland and Florida, was the hitting coach in Augusta in 2005. He led the GreenJackets to a .268 average, third best in the league. In 2006, his first season in Savannah, the Sand Gnats hit .241. Browne is a native of Christiansted in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Before his coaching career in Savannah, Menhart also had Major League playing experience. He made his MLB debut pitching for Toronto in 1995. He also pitched for Seattle in 1996 and San Diego in 1997. Prior to 2006 he spent three seasons coaching at Western Carolina University. In 2006 the Sand Gnats pitching staff compiled a 4.65 ERA under Menhart.
Atsushi Toriida will take over the training duties for the Suns. Toriida also spent 2006 in Savannah after spending 2003-2005 with the Vermont Expos, now the Vermont Lake Monsters, of the NY-Penn League
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