The Lake County Captains will be led by first-time manager Tony Mansolino this year. His five years in the Cleveland Indians organization include serving as Lake County’s hitting coach in 2013.
The former infielder played four seasons of affiliated ball in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies organizations before finishing his playing career in independent leagues.
Mansolino replaces last year’s skipper, Shaun Larkin, who will manage in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization this year.
Lake County’s pitching coach will be Steve McCatty, who previously was the major-league pitching coach for the Washington Nationals (2009-15) and the Detroit Tigers (2003-05). This will be his 20th season as a pitching coach at the professional level, and his first in the Indians organization. He previously was a pitching coach in the Midwest League with the West Michigan Whitecaps, in 1997-98.
McCatty’s 15-year playing career included pitching part or all of nine seasons for the Oakland Athletics. He was the runner-up for the American League Cy Young Award in 1981, a split season in which he went 14-7 with an AL-best 2.33 ERA, four shutouts, 91 strikeouts and 61 walks. His 14 wins tied three others for the most in the AL.
Also joining the Captains coaching staff is Junior Betances, who has spent more than 20 years as a coach, player or executive in the Indians organization. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and played three years in their farm system, including the 1995 season with the Beloit Snappers. He batted .293 with 1 HR, 52 RBI, 21 doubles and 21 SB in 122 Midwest League games.
The Indians have not announced who will be Lake County’s hitting coach.