Today the Reds named Bill Doran minor league infield/baserunning coordinator and Tom Browning pitching coach at extended spring training and rookie Billings…Doran, a Cincinnati native and resident, was an instructor in the Reds’ minor league system from 1995-August 1999, was minor league field coordinator from August 1999-November 1999, was director of player development from November 1999-September 2000, was a special assistant to the general manager during the 2000 season and was the club’s Major League first base coach in 2001…he spent the last 2 seasons as bench coach in KC under manager Buddy Bell…Browning previously worked for the Reds during Major League spring training camp as an instructor.
From Rob Butcher:
The Cincinnati Reds today announced that Major League coaches Mark Berry, Billy Hatcher, Brook Jacoby and Dick Pole along with bullpen catcher Mike Stefanski will be offered contracts for the 2008 season.
The club also announced that bullpen coach Tom Hume will not be offered a contract and that bench coach Pat Kelly has been reassigned within the organization. The bullpen coach and bench coach vacancies on new manager Dusty Baker’s staff will be filled in the near future.
Berry will return for his 25th season in the organization and for his 10th year on the Major League coaching staff. He has been the club’s third base coach the last 4 seasons. Hatcher has been with the organization for 2 years, both as first base coach. Jacoby and Pole will return for their second seasons as hitting coach and pitching coach, respectively. Stefanski will return for his fifth straight season as bullpen catcher. Hume was with the organization for 11 seasons as bullpen coach and for 1 season (2006) as pitching coach.
Kelly will return as manager of the organization’s Gulf Coast League Sarasota affiliate and as director of Florida on-field operations, positions he held last season until he was named interim manager Pete Mackanin’s bench coach on July 3.
Ken Griffey Jr. is one of five finalists for the National League’s Hank Aaron Award for best overall offensive performance. The other finalists are Chipper Jones, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.
Fans can vote at mlb.com
Redlegs
Hamilton cf
Gonzalez ss
Griffey rf
Phillips 2b
Dunn lf
Encarnacion 3b
Votto 1b
Valentin c
Arroyo p
Redbirds
Eckstein ss
Ankiel rf
Pujols 1b
Edmonds cf
Ludwick lf
Molina c
Branyan 3b
Reyes p
Miles 2b
Josh Hamilton will an have MRI tomorrow
Class A Dayton manager Donnie Scott will join the Reds’ coaching staff tonight…he’ll stay with the team through the Cubs series next week…Class AAA manager Rick Sweet will join the staff in San Francisco.
In other player development news, the Reds announced they will not renew the contracts of assistant director of player development Grant Griesser, field coordinator Tim Naehring, extended spring training coordinator/roving instructor Rick Burleson, roving hitting instructor Jim Hickman, outfield/baserunning coordinator Lynn Jones, Billings coach Ricardo Cuevas or Chattanooga manager Jayhawk Owens…Chattanooga pitching coach Grant Jackson is retiring
Cincinnati Reds Executive Vice President and General Manager Wayne Krivsky today announced the acquisition of C Alvin Colina off waivers from the Colorado Rockies (not to report).
Colina, 26, spent the 2007 season at Class AAA Colorado Springs, where he produced 5 HR and 35 RBI in 80 games. He threw out 23 of 60 baserunners attempting to steal (38%).
Colina had spent his entire career with the Rockies organization since he signed in 1998 at the age of 17. Last season he made his Major League debut, appearing in 2 games with Colorado. In his first big league appearance, on September 18 vs the Giants, Colina collected a pinch-hit RBI-single on the first pitch he saw from Jonathan Sanchez.
Prior to this season, Colina was rated among Colorado’s 25 best prospects by Baseball America. The Venezuela native is a 2-time minor league All-Star (2000, 2003).