Mizzou Baseball in the Minors 2011

If you have further information about any of these players, or corrections to my info, please e-mail me at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

CLASS AAA

■ Brock Bond (06-07): Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League) San Francisco Giants organization

• Bond has moved up steadily through the Giants' organization in his four years. He spent most of 2010 with Fresno and begins 2011 there again. This will be an important year for him to show that he can be a major league infielder.

■ Kyle Gibson (07-09: Rochester Red Wings (Independent League) Minnesota Twins organization

• Gibson rocketed up through the Twins minor league system in his first full year in the pros. Pretty much everyone expects Gibson to be moved up to the Minnesota Twins at some point during the 2011 season

■ Andrew Johnston (05): Colorado Springs SkySox (Pacific Coast League) Colorado Rockies organization

• Johnston has been in the minors for six years. In 2010 he distinguished himself as the closer for the AAA Sky Sox. If he continues to perform well, and if openings appear in the parent bullpen, Johnston could get his first taste of the Big Leagues in 2011. This is a pivotal year for him to prove he is a true prospect.

■ Doug Mathis (05): Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League) San Francisco Giants organization.

After moving back and forth between the Texas Rangers and their AAA team over the past couple of years, Mathis was traded from the Rangers organization to the Indians organization. He was among the last players in the major league training camp to be sent to the minor league camp, whereupon he requested and was granted his release. He has sent been picked up by the Giants organization and is on the roster for their AAA club, along with fellow MU alum Brock Bond.

CLASS AA

■ Evan Frey (05-07): Mobile BayBears (Southern League) Arizona Diamondbacks organization

■ Rick Zagone (06-08): Bowie Bay Sox (Eastern League) Baltimore Orioles organization

CLASS A ADVANCED

■ Trevor Coleman (07-09): High Desert Mavericks (California League) Seattle Mariners organization

■ Greg Folgia (07-09): Kinston Indians (Carolina League) Cleveland Indians organization

■ Ryan Lollis (06-09): San Jose Giants (California League) San Francisco Giants organization


CLASS A

The following players have not yet been officially announced as assigned to a particular team. Low-A rosters will be firmed up in the next week or so. At this point they are in extended spring training. As we learn their assignments, we will update their info here on SimmonsField.com.

■ Tyler Clark (08-10): Detroit Tigers organization

■ Mike Liberto (09-10): Kansas City Royals organization

■ Brett Nicholas (10): Seattle Mariners organization

■ Aaron Senne (07-10): Florida Marlins organization

■ Nick Tepesch (08-10): Texas Rangers organization


INDEPENDENT LEAGUES

The independent leagues will not finalize rosters and begin play until May.

RETIRED

■ Nathan Culp (04-06) and Kyle Mach (06-09) retired from professional baseball during the off-season.

COACHING

■ Torre Tyson: Minor League Defensive Coordinator, NY Yankees

Yanks promote former R-Dogs skipper (postandcourier.com)

The New York Yankees announced that former Charleston RiverDogs manager Torre Tyson was promoted and will be the organization's new minor league defensive coordinator. He intends to make Charleston his permanent residence.

Tyson replaces Jody Reed, who recently accepted a position in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

"I'm thrilled to be returning to Charleston, and this time it's on a permanent basis," Tyson said. "My wife (Jennifer) and I fell in love with the city of Charleston and over the years coaching and managing the RiverDogs, we knew someday it would be our home."

Tyson served as the RiverDogs hitting coach in 2005-06 before a three-year stint as the team's manager from 2007-09.

In 2010, the 35-year-old Tyson managed the Tampa Yankees of the High-A Florida State League to its second straight league championship and his first title as manager. Earning those accolades was the culmination of a career in Charleston that saw him leave as the winningest manager in RiverDogs team history with a record of 232-186.

■ Jayce Tingler: After coaching at various levels in Texas Rangers organization, Jayce is has been promoted to be the Rangers' Director of Instruction for the Dominican and Arizona Leagues.