INDIANAPOLIS, Ind -
Manager Frank Kremblas, Hitting Coach Jeff Branson and Strength and Conditioning Coach Mubarak Malik are all set to return to the Indianapolis Indians' Coaching Staff for 2010 season, while Dean Treanor and Thomas Pribyl will join the Tribe from Double-A Altoona.
Last season Kremblas led the Tribe to a 70-73 record and third place finish in the International League West Division in his first season as Indians' Manager. The former Indianapolis' infielder spent four years (2005-08) as the manager for Triple-A Nashville, where he led the Sounds to three straight division titles (2005-07), a Pacific Coast League title (2005), was named 2007 PCL Manager of the Year and posted 299 victories in just four seasons.
"Frank Kremblas brought an aggressive spirit to the Tribe last year," says Indians Vice President & General Manager Cal Burleson. "He works hard at relating to our players and has created a positive impact for the Indianapolis Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates organization."
Frank spent eight seasons in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, playing for the Gulf Coast League Reds (Fla.), Low-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa), Double-A Chattanooga (Tenn.) and Triple-A Indianapolis. He registered a .233 batting average with 20 home runs and 201 RBI in 621 career games as a Minor League catcher and infielder. Kremblas recorded a .227 batting average with nine home runs and 68 RBI in his four seasons with the Tribe (1993-96).
Branson also returns to Indianapolis for his second season as the Tribe's hitting coach. Under his instruction in 2009, Indians' hitters hit their most home runs since becoming a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate (119) and recorded an extra-base hit in 139 of 143 total contests.
Branson joined the Tribe last season after spending the previous two seasons as the manager of High-A Lynchburg (Va.) and is in his seventh season as a coach/manager in the Pittsburgh organization. He played in 139 games for Indianapolis during the 1997 and 1999 seasons and played in over 694 Major League contests over nine seasons with the Reds, Indians and Dodgers.
Both Kremblas and Branson hope for similar success as they had with the instruction and development of outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones, both of whom went on to have successful Rookie campaigns with the Pirates, including both being named to the Baseball America All Rookie Team and McCutchen taking home Baseball America's Rookie of the Year honors.
Joining Kremblas and Branson on the field staff is pitching coach Dean Treanor, who spent last season in the same role with the Pirate's Double-A affiliate in Altoona, Pa.
Treanor brings a wealth of experience to the Indians as he enters into his 23rd season as a coach/manger in professional baseball, a career which includes six seasons as a manager and one as the Minor League Pitching Coordinator in the Florida Marlins system. The San Luis Obispo, Calif native will also be making his second go-around as Pitching Coach in the International League as he also served in that same capacity for the Ottawa Lynx during the 1998 season.
Also making the trip from Altoona, along with Treanor, is new Indians' trainer Thomas Pribyl, who joins the Tribe after spending the last four seasons with the Double-A Curve. The Victoria, Texas native has spent the last eight seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization, including two seasons with Class-A Lynchburg (2004-05) during which time he was a two-time winner of the Carolina League's Trainer of the Year award.
Another returning coach and the longest tenured member of the Indianapolis' Field staff is Strength and Conditioning Coach Mubarak Malik, who is set to begin his fifth season with the Tribe and sixth in the Pirates' organization.
Last season Kremblas led the Tribe to a 70-73 record and third place finish in the International League West Division in his first season as Indians' Manager. The former Indianapolis' infielder spent four years (2005-08) as the manager for Triple-A Nashville, where he led the Sounds to three straight division titles (2005-07), a Pacific Coast League title (2005), was named 2007 PCL Manager of the Year and posted 299 victories in just four seasons.
"Frank Kremblas brought an aggressive spirit to the Tribe last year," says Indians Vice President & General Manager Cal Burleson. "He works hard at relating to our players and has created a positive impact for the Indianapolis Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates organization."
Frank spent eight seasons in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, playing for the Gulf Coast League Reds (Fla.), Low-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa), Double-A Chattanooga (Tenn.) and Triple-A Indianapolis. He registered a .233 batting average with 20 home runs and 201 RBI in 621 career games as a Minor League catcher and infielder. Kremblas recorded a .227 batting average with nine home runs and 68 RBI in his four seasons with the Tribe (1993-96).
Branson also returns to Indianapolis for his second season as the Tribe's hitting coach. Under his instruction in 2009, Indians' hitters hit their most home runs since becoming a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate (119) and recorded an extra-base hit in 139 of 143 total contests.
Branson joined the Tribe last season after spending the previous two seasons as the manager of High-A Lynchburg (Va.) and is in his seventh season as a coach/manager in the Pittsburgh organization. He played in 139 games for Indianapolis during the 1997 and 1999 seasons and played in over 694 Major League contests over nine seasons with the Reds, Indians and Dodgers.
Both Kremblas and Branson hope for similar success as they had with the instruction and development of outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones, both of whom went on to have successful Rookie campaigns with the Pirates, including both being named to the Baseball America All Rookie Team and McCutchen taking home Baseball America's Rookie of the Year honors.
Joining Kremblas and Branson on the field staff is pitching coach Dean Treanor, who spent last season in the same role with the Pirate's Double-A affiliate in Altoona, Pa.
Treanor brings a wealth of experience to the Indians as he enters into his 23rd season as a coach/manger in professional baseball, a career which includes six seasons as a manager and one as the Minor League Pitching Coordinator in the Florida Marlins system. The San Luis Obispo, Calif native will also be making his second go-around as Pitching Coach in the International League as he also served in that same capacity for the Ottawa Lynx during the 1998 season.
Also making the trip from Altoona, along with Treanor, is new Indians' trainer Thomas Pribyl, who joins the Tribe after spending the last four seasons with the Double-A Curve. The Victoria, Texas native has spent the last eight seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization, including two seasons with Class-A Lynchburg (2004-05) during which time he was a two-time winner of the Carolina League's Trainer of the Year award.
Another returning coach and the longest tenured member of the Indianapolis' Field staff is Strength and Conditioning Coach Mubarak Malik, who is set to begin his fifth season with the Tribe and sixth in the Pirates' organization.
