BINGHAMTON,NY – The New York Mets announced today that Pedro Lopez will serve as managerof the Binghamton Mets for the 2012 season. Lopez takes the reins in theSouthern Tier after leading the St. Lucie Mets to the Florida State LeagueChampionship Series last year.
“Iam extremely happy to get this promotion and thankful to the Mets’ frontoffice,” said Lopez. “Last year with St. Lucie was a great season; especiallyfor the young kids. It will be great to have a good number of them up inBinghamton this year.”
Lopez,43, will be joined by hitting coach Luis Natera and pitching coach GlennAbbott. Team trainer Matt Hunter and strength and conditioning coach DustinClarke round out the field staff.
Lastyear marked Lopez’s first season at the High-A level as a manager. His St.Lucie squad charged out to gate, going 18-3 to start the season en route to theFirst Half South Division crown. In the postseason, the Mets defeated the BradentonMarauders to take the South Division Championship before falling to the DaytonaCubs in the FSL Championship Series.
Lopezis more than familiar with professional baseball. The former catcher logged 13seasons in the minor leagues after being drafted in the 21st roundby the San Diego Padres in 1988. He reached as high as Triple-A with the LasVegas Stars before joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 1995. Lopezfinished his playing career with the Houston Astos’ system in 2000. In 909career games, he hit .247, clocked 49 home runs, and drove in 338 runs.
Afterhanging up his playing cleats in 2000, Lopez got right back on the field as acoach in the Texas Rangers system in 2001. He served as a manager and coach inthe Rangers system for seven years before latching on with the Mets’organization in 2008.
Lopezhas steadily climbed the Mets’ minor league managerial ladder; compilingwinning records at each stop. His journey began with the Kingsport Mets(Rookie) in 2008, where he guided the club to a 34-32 mark. Under his watch in2009, the Brooklyn Cyclones (Short Season-A) finished second in the McNamaraDivision and punched their ticket to the New York-Penn League postseason with a45-30 record. Lopez kept the success rolling at his next managerial stop withthe Savannah Sand Gnats (Low-A) in 2010. They went 75-64, but missed a playoffberth by two games.
Withthe action beginning to heat up in the Mets’ Spring Training home of Port St.Lucie, Florida, Lopez is ready to get his B-Mets prepared for their 142-gameschedule. “The most important thing this Spring Training is that everybody isin good shape, great health, and ready for a great season,” said Lopez.
Pedroand his wife, Gladys, have twin daughters, Leslian Marie and Lainey Marie andreside in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
GlennAbbott comes to the Binghamton Mets as pitching coach after serving theSavannah Sand Gnats in the same capacity last year. Abbott’s Sand Gnats staffled the South Atlantic League in 2011 with a 3.26 ERA. They also combined forthe most saves (50) and lowest WHIP (1.223).
Priorto his time with the Mets, Abbott was a pitching coach for five years in theSan Diego Padres’ system, spent four seasons with the Texas Rangers’organization, and logged 13 years at various levels with the Oakland Athletics.The Arkansas native began his coaching career with the Little Falls Mets in1985.
Aftergetting drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 8th round in 1969,Abbott spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues as a starting pitcher for the A’s(1973-76), Seattle Mariners (1977-83), and Detroit Tigers (1983-84). In 248career games, the righty made 206 starts, went 62-83, amassed a 4.39 ERA,struck out 484 batters, and hurled five shutouts.
Asa member of the Athletics in 1975, Abbott was part of the first four-pitcherno-hitter in MLB history. On September 28, he combined with Vida Blue, PaulLinblad, and Rollie Fingers to baffle the Angels on the final day of theregular season.
Abbottresides with his wife, Patti, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The couple hasthree children, Todd, Jeff, and Amy.
LuisNatera will serve as the B-Mets hitting coach for the fifth straight season andsixth overall. This year marks Natera’s 21st in the Mets’organization. He has served as a hitting coach at five different levels duringthat timeframe, including stints with Buffalo (AAA, 2009), St. Lucie (High-A,2007), Hagerstown (Low-A, 2005-06), Kingsport (Rookie, 2003-04), and CapitalCity (Low-A, 1999).
Nateraserved in his native country as coordinator of the Mets’ Dominican Academy in2001 and 2002. He managed the Dominican Mets (Rookie) in 2002 and skippered theDSL Mets from 1992-1997.
The46-year-old played shortstop in the Mets’ system from 1984 to 1988 and reachedas high as Low-A Savannah Sand Gnats. He lives with wife Maria Elena and theirsons Luis Alberto, Jose Luis, and David Luis.
TheB-Mets kick off their 21st season with a bang on Thursday, April 5at NYSEG Stadium when they host the Akron Aeros at 6:35pm with a fireworks showto follow the final out.
Fanscan meet Lopez, Abbott, Natera and the rest of the 2012 Binghamton Mets at theWelcome Back Mets Dinner on Tuesday, April 3 at the Riverwalk Hotel.
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