New Manager Luis Rojas Leads Veteran Staff
Savannah, GA – In conjunctionwith the New York Mets, the Savannah Sand Gnats are pleased to announce theirfield staff for the 2012 baseball season, led by new manager Luis Rojas. Rojas, who served as the Savannah bench coachin 2010, will be joined by Major League veteran Frank Viola (Pitching Coach). Rounding out the staff will be Joel Fuentes (Coach).
“I’mexcited for the opportunity to manage in Savannah,” Rojas said from Mets SpringTraining in Port St. Lucie, FL. “I’m happy to be coming back to Savannah, andwe are looking forward to putting a championship-caliber team on the field atGrayson Stadium.”
Rojasenters his seventh season with the Mets organization and his second as amanager. Rojas managed the Gulf Coast Mets (R) of the Gulf Coast League in2011. Prior to the Gulf Coast Mets, Rojas spent the 2010 season alongside PedroLopez as a coach in Savannah. He spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a coachwith the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets. In 2007, Rojas served as a coach for theMets Dominican Summer League team after spending the 2006 season as manager ofthe DSL Nationals.
Theson of Felipe Alou, who is recognized as the first Dominican to play regularlyin the Major Leagues, Luis is a member of one of the sport's most notablefamilies of the late 20th century. His uncles, Matty Alou and Jesús Alou, andhis brother Moisés Alou, all had successful Major League careers. Rojas, 31,played professionally with the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins and MontrealExpos / Washington Nationals minor league systems from 1999-2005.
“Luisis the perfect guy to manage this club,” said Gnats Team President John Katz.“Luis is low-key, but very passionate about the game and really intense.”
MajorLeague veteran Frank Viola willbegin his 2nd year as a pitching coach on the professional level in2012. Viola spent the 2011 season as the pitching coach with Brooklyn (A) ofthe New York-Penn League. Viola served as the manager of the LeesburghLightning in the Florida Collegiate Summer League from 2008-2010, leading themto the FCSL championship in 2009 and the championship game in 2010. Prior tocoaching in the FCSL Viola was a coach at Lake Highland Prep in Florida from1998-2007.
Originallydrafted in the 2nd round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft bythe Minnesota Twins, Viola pitched in the Major Leagues for 15 years with theMinnesota Twins (1982-1989), New York Mets (1989-1991), Boston Red Sox(1992-1994), Cincinnati Reds (1995) and Toronto Blue Jays (1996). Afterspending less than a year in the minors, he made his Major League debut on June2, 1982, quickly becoming a permanent fixture of the Twins’ starting rotationfor the next seven seasons, picking up 112 of his 176 career wins. Viola was nicknamed“Sweet Music”, courtesy of a Minnesota sports writer who declared that whenViola pitched, there was “sweet music” in the Metrodome.
Viola helped pitch the Twins to their second World Series appearance an first World Series Championship in 1987, with a 2.90 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 251.2innings. Viola brought his sweet music to the post-season, going a combined 3-1with 25 strikeouts in 31.1 innings (despite a 4.31 ERA). Following the Twins’Game 7 series clinching win -- a game in which Viola earned the win, Viola was named the 1987 World Series MVP.
Manywould say that 1988, Viola’s last full season with the Twins, was his bestyear. In ’88, Viola compiled an impressive 24-7 record, with seven completegames and two shutouts in 255.0 innings pitched, with a career-best ERA of2.64. Viola led the league in wins and went on to win the Cy Young Award.
“FrankViola was one of those guys I loved to watch pitch growing up, as long as hewasn’t pitching against my favorite team,” said Katz. “It’ll be great to havehim in our dugout, and our pitching staff is bound to benefit from such anaccomplished Major Leaguer.”
CoachJoel Fuentes begins his sixth yearin the New York Mets organization and his second as a coach with the SavannahSand Gnats. Fuentes spent last season with the St. Lucie Mets (A) of theFlorida State League, and the 2010 and 2009 seasons on the staff of theBrooklyn Cyclones (A) of the New York-Penn League. He served the same role withSt. Lucie in 2008 and Savannah in 2007. Fuentes signed with the San FranciscoGiants in 1997 and played in their organization until 2003, advancing toDouble-A. Fuentes is very active in community service and organized baseballclinics in Vega Baja, PR for children 7-11 years old in 2006.
AthleticTrainer Tom Truedson enters his fourthseason with the Mets organization and his second consecutive in Savannah, whilenew Strength and Conditioning Coach JasonGriffin enters his first season with the Mets organization.
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