New Clones Coaching Staff

For the first time since 2003, there will be an entirely new team of coaches at the helm of the Brooklyn Cyclones. On Wednesday, the club has announced its seventh manager – Pedro Lopez – along with Pitching Coach Rick Tomlin, Hitting Coach Jack Voigt, and Coach Joel Fuentes.

Lopez, 40, begins his second season with the Mets organization, having spent the 2008 season as a coach with Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic League. From 2000-2007, Lopez was a manager and coach in the Texas Rangers’ farm system, last managing the Rangers’ Arizona League (R) team in ’07. As a player, Lopez was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 21st round of the 1988 amateur draft, and then joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization as a minor league free agent in 1995, advancing as high as Triple-A. He and his family currently live in Toa Baja, PR.

Tomlin enters his first season with the Mets – his 21st in the minor leagues – after having served as the pitching coach for the Washington Nationals’ Harrisburg (AA) affiliate in the Eastern League from 2005-2008. From 1996-2004, Rick served in various roles within the New York Yankees’ minor league system. He was a pitching coach in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system from 1989-1995. Tomlin has also coached at the college level, as an assistant coach at both Manatee Community College (FL) and the University of Alabama. He and his family currently live in Bradenton, FL.

Voigt begins his fourth season with the Mets. In 2005, he was a member of Frank Robinson’s staff with the Washington Nationals, and was a minor league coach in the Atlanta Braves organization in 2004. Voigt began his coaching career in 2000 as a player/coach with Oklahoma City (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, before coaching and managing in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization from 2001-2003. Jack played for seven seasons in the major leagues with Baltimore (1992-1995), Texas (1995-1996), Milwaukee (1997), and Oakland (1999). He was drafted by Baltimore in the ninth round of the 1987 Amateur draft, out of Lousiana State University, where he played in the College World Series and was named to the All-CWS team. In the tournament, he hit a game-winning home run in the seventh inning to beat Arkansas. He and his family live in Florida.

Fuentes begins his third year with the Mets, having coached with St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League in 2008, and Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic league in 2007. As a player, Joel signed with the San Francisco Giants in 1997 and played in their organization until 2003, advancing as high as Double-A.

“We are excited to welcome a new staff to Brooklyn,” said Cyclones’ General Manager Steve Cohen. “Each year, we have been fortunate to have coaches who work tirelessly, both on the field and in the community, and we look forward to continuing that tradition.”