Date: February 1, 2010 Contact: Matt McCabe, mmccabe@bmets.com
Familiar Faces to Join Teufel in B-Mets Dugout
New manager Tim Teufel will be flanked by a pair of returning Binghamton Mets coaches for the 2010 season. The New York Mets announced today that Mark Brewer, a member of the B-Mets coaching staff in 2006, will assume the role of pitching coach and Luis Natera will return for his third season as hitting coach.
Brewer rejoins the Mets organization after serving as the Pittsburgh Pirates rehabilitation coordinator in 2009. He left New York (NL) for the Pirates after acting as the Mets Latin American pitching coordinator in 2008. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as a pitching coach in the Mets farm system, including 2006 with Binghamton. The B-Mets finished third in the Eastern League in ERA (3.61) under Brewer’s tutelage in ‘06. Six of the pitchers from that staff went on to pitch in the Major Leagues, including Philip Humber, Matt Lindstrom and Joe Smith.
Brewer, advanced to New Orleans (AAA) in 2007 where he helped the Zephyrs to a division title in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). He served as pitching coach for the Omaha Royals (AAA) in 2005. Previous to his short stint with the Royals, Brewer spent four seasons as the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before assuming the coordinator’s role, he worked as a pitching coach in the Dodgers and Texas Rangers organizations.
The former right-hander was drafted in 32nd round of the 1978 draft by the San Francisco Giants after a strong prep career at Coronado High School in Scottsdale, AZ. However, he forwent a professional career to enter the college ranks.
Natera is entering his 13th season in the Mets’ organization as a coach or coordinator, including three seasons as the B-Mets hitting coach (2000, 2008-09). Last year, Natera broke camp as the hitting coach with the Buffalo Bisons, but was reassigned to Binghamton in early June when Bill Masse moved up to AAA. Natera, has served as a hitting coach for New York at five different levels, including St. Lucie (2007), Low-A Hagerstown (2005-06), Rookie Kingsport (2003-04) and Low-A Capital City (1999). He was also a member of the coaching staff for the Rookie Gulf Coast League Mets in 1998.
He served in his native country as coordinator of the Mets’ Dominican Academy in 2001 and 2002. An infielder, Natera played shortstop in the Mets’ organization from 1984-1988 advancing as high as the Low-A South Atlantic League. Currently, his son, Luis Natera Jr., is a Mets’ farmhand.
In addition to Brewer and Natera, the support staff is rounded out by returnees athletic trainer Joe Golia and strength and conditioning coach Clayton Wilson. Both are in their fifth years with the B-Mets, respectively. Golia, served as one of two trainers for the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League during the offseason. Wilson is the only local on the 2010 staff. He and his wife, Jill, make their home in Endicott, NY.
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