THE Detroit Tigers have two new managers in the minor leagues: Tim Federowicz at Triple-A Toledo and Tony Cappuccili at High-A West Michigan.
Both managers were internal hires. Hiring internally was the result of consistent messaging between coaches across the organization, as well as strong internal candidates.
The most notable change: Anthony Iapocéwho managed Triple-A Toledo last season, will be the Tigers’ first base coach in the 2024 season. He joins third base coach Joey Cora as a new addition to manager AJ Hinch’s coaching team.
Federowicz, who replaces Iapoce, published his first book — “The catcher of modern times” – beginning of October. The book draws on personal experiences and details pitch framing, blocking, pitch calls, and building relationships with pitchers, among other topics.
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While Cappucilli leads the Whitecaps, Brayan Pena became capture coordinator.
Peña, a former 12-year MLB catcher, has been a manager in the Tigers’ farm system since the 2018 season, including serving as West Michigan’s manager from 2020 to 2023. In the future, Peña will travel through the minor leagues and coach receivers throughout the organization.
Gabe Alvarez will return as manager of Double-A Erie.
Federowicz, 36, left his Tigers coaching position with Hinch’s staff during the 2023 season. Before joining the Tigers, he worked as manager of Triple-A Tacoma in the Tigers organization. Seattle Mariners in 2022.
Federowicz, an eight-year MLB career veteran, will be influential in the development of top prospect Dillon Dingler. The Tigers added Dingler to the 40-man roster in Novemberbut he will begin the 2024 campaign with the Mud Hens.
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Cappucilli, 43, has been a coach in the Tigers organization since the 2022 season, following more than four years as a minor league coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers and more than three years as an assistant coach at the University of New Mexico.
Cappucilli, who earned his master’s degree in coaching and sports administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2010, served as Triple-A Toledo’s bench coach under managers Lloyd McClendon and Iapoce in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He also worked as the Mud Hens’ third base coach.
Iapoce, the former Mud Hens manager, joins the Tigers coaching staff as a first base coach with a long history as a hitting coach. He previously worked as a hitting coach for the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs, as well as a hitting coordinator for the Boston Red Sox.
The Tigers lost assistant hitting coach James Rowson to the New York Yankees.
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