The New York Mets today announced the 2009 coaching staff for the Kingsport Mets, the team's Appalachian League affiliate. Former Mets catcher Mike DiFelice will manage and be joined on the bench by hitting coach Ryan Ellis, pitching coach Jonathan Hurst and bench coach Juan Lopez.
DiFelice, 39, begins coaching following a 13-year major league career. The former catcher, whose 33.0 percent (138-418) mark of throwing out would-be base stealers was fifth among active players at the time of his retirement, spilt last season between the American League champion Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the club's Triple-A affiliate at Durham. DiFelice appeared in 38 games for the Mets from 2005-2007.
Ellis will return for his second year at Kingsport and his third in the Mets organization. The former utility man-he played each infield position, pitcher, catcher and the outfield during his professional career-spent 2007 as a coach with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League. Originally drafted by Montreal in 2000, the 30-year-old Ellis was the first base coach at Norfolk (AAA) of the International League in 2006.
Hurst starts his first stint with Kingsport after spending the last two seasons as the pitching coach with Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic League. The 41-year-old, who pitched for the Mets in 1994 and also spent time in Japan, Mexico and Taiwan during a 19-year professional career, joined the organization in 2006 as the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast Mets (R).
Lopez returns to the organization's minor league system after spending the last three seasons as the Mets' batting practice pitcher. The 56-year-old Lopez has been with the Mets since 1996.
In addition, Luis Aguayo, Jr. will serve as the Athletic Trainer and Troy Fessbender will be the Strength Coach.
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