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Sports - Modesto Nuts

Monday, Feb. 04, 2013

Sakata to return as Nuts' skipper

By Brian VanderBeek
bvanderbeek@modbee.com
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The Colorado Rockies formally announced their minor league coaching staffs on Monday, including Lenn Sakata's return to Modesto for a second season as the manager of the Modesto Nuts.

As reported first in The Bee on Jan. 17, Sakata will be joined atop the Nuts' first staff by Fred Nelson, a long-time field and front office member of the Houston Astros staff, in the newly created role of director of baseball operations.

The director's position will be in place in all of the Rockies' minor league locations. While the director's job description has yet to be completely determined, his main role will include making sure Colorado's plan for player development is followed and progress communicated to the front office in Denver.

  • ABOUT THE REPORTER

    alternate textBrian VanderBeek
    Title: Staff writer
    Coverage areas: Sports, including preps, colleges and the Modesto Nuts
    Bio: Brian VanderBeek joined The Bee in 1996 after previously working at The Home News-Tribune and The Star-Ledger in New Jersey, the (Dover) Delaware State News and the Hanford Sentinel. He is a graduate of Ripon High, Modesto Junior College and holds a degree in journalism from Fresno State.
     Recent stories written by Brian
    On Twitter: @modestobeek
    E-mail: bvanderbeek@modbee.com

Also as reported earlier, major league veteran Dave Burba will be Modesto's pitching coach and Jon Stone will return as hitting coach.

Darryl Scott, Modesto's pitching coach for the last three seasons, will be handling that position in Double-A Tulsa.

In addition, former Modesto Nuts coaches and players continue to be scattered through the Rockies' minor league coaching ranks.

Former pitching coach Doug Linton is now the organization's head pitching coordinator, while longtime Merced resident and coach Butch Hughes returns to where he began last season, as the organization's part-time pitching coach.

Former Modesto manager and hitting coach Glenallen Hill, who has been Colorado's first base coach for six seasons, takes over as the manager at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he will be joined by former Modesto hitting coach Dave Hajek.

In Tulsa, Scott is joined by former Modesto hitting coaches Duane Espy (director) and Kevin Riggs, the Drillers' new manager.

Also, former Modesto infielder Warren Schaeffer will make his coaching debut this season as the hitting coach for short-season Tri-City.

The Modesto Nuts' home opener is April 11 against defending California League champion Lancaster.

Brian VanderBeek can be reached at (209) 578-2150. Follow him on Twitter @modestobeek.

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