Whitecaps announce 2011 coaching staff

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (WOOD) - The West Michigan Whitecaps, in conjunction with the Detroit Tigers, announced Thursday the Whitecaps' 2011 coaching staff.

New to the organization are manager Ernie Young and hitting coach Ben Oglivie, while pitching coach Mark Johnson returns for his fourth season with the Whitecaps.

Young replaces Joe DePastino as Whitecaps manager. After three years at the helm of the Whitecaps, DePastino has been named Tigers minor league roving catching instructor.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to be back in the Detroit Tigers organization and I'm looking forward to being back in the Midwest," Young said in a news release. "I can't wait to get the 2011 season started and lead the Whitecaps to another successful season."

The 41-year-old Young was an outfielder and played in 288 games during eight seasons for five different teams in the majors and in 1,680 games during 17 seasons in the minors. That included 2003 when he was signed by the Tigers and played in Toledo for most of the season, getting the call to Detroit for five games.

He was hired in 2008 by the Chicago White Sox to serve as hitting coach for Great Falls in the rookie Pioneer League. In 2009 he was promoted to manager of the Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic (low-Class A) League. In his first season as manager, he led the team to a league-best 82-57 record before losing in the first round of the playoffs. He returned to the Intimidators in 2010 and racked up a 65-74 record.

Following the 2010 minor league season, Young managed Team USA at the Pan American Qualifier tournament that was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in early October. He guided Team USA to a 9-1 record and a third-place tie.

Previously, Young was hitting coach for the gold medal 2009 World Cup team, and as a player for Team USA won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics -- the same Olympic team that had former Whitecaps manager Phil Regan as pitching coach.

"We are very fortunate and excited to have someone of Ernie's caliber as a member of the Tigers organization, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity for him to start his Tigers managing career in West Michigan,” Detroit Tigers Director of Minor League Operations Dan Lunetta said. "He will be an outstanding addition to our organization and to the Whitecaps."

Oglivie replaces Luis Quinones, whose contract was not renewed by the Tigers. Oglivie played left field for 16 seasons in the Major League, including a sting with the Tigers (1974–1977). He is a veteran hitting coach, starting his career with Class AAA Calgary (Pittsburgh) in 1995 and coaching at every level of the minor leagues for three organizations -- the Pirates, Padres and Rays. He also served as a major league hitting coach for the Padres in 2000.

Johnson enters his fourth season as the Whitecaps pitching coach and fifth in the Tigers organization. Johnson was a first-round draft pick by the Astros in 1996 and pitched for nine seasons in six different organizations. He spent the majority of his playing career in the Tigers organization (2000-2003, 2005), including his lone Major League appearance in 2000, pitching in nine games for Detroit.

The Tigers also announced that T.J. Saunders will be the Whitecaps athletic trainer in 2011, replacing Corey Tremble, who will handle training duties in Lakeland.

The Whitecaps will begin the 2011 home season on April 10 against Lansing at 1 p.m. Season tickets and mini plans go on sale Oct. 26, and group tickets go on sale Nov. 19.

Individual tickets will go on sale after the new year. For more information, call the Whitecaps front office at (616) 784-4131.