Moves bolster minor league operations

Posted Nov 5, 2009 by Tribune Sports

Updated Nov 5, 2009 at 03:57 PM

Veteran baseball man Bill Evers is moving back to the field as co-minor league field coordinator with Jim Hoff in one of several minor league staff moves the Rays announced Thursday.

Evers has spent 14 years in the Rays organization, including eight (1998-2005) as the manager at Triple-A Durham and two (2006-2007) as the major league bench coach. He was a professional scout in 2008-2009.

Former Astros pitching coach Dewey Robinson has been hired to join Dick Bosman as minor league pitching coordinator, and Matt Quatraro, who managed at Class A Bowling Green and Columbus the last two years, will join Steve Livesey as hitting coordinator.

Matt Arnold was promoted to the newly created position of Director of Pro Scouting after three seasons as a professional scout. Tateki “Bori” Uchibori, the interpreter for second baseman Akinori Iwamura the last two years, was hired as an international scout.

“We made these additions to our player development staff because we want to support our young players as much as possible,” Rays director of minor league operations Mitch Lukevics said.

In addition to Hoff, Livesey and Bosman, Skeeter Barnes will return as outfield and baserunning coordinator, Jamie Nelson as catching coordinator, Mark Vinson as medical training coordinator, Joel Smith as rehabilitation and athletic training coordinator and Trung Cao as strength and conditioning coordinator.