The Minnesota Twins today named Gene Glynn manager of the Rochester Red Wings. The 55-year old Glynn was a professional scout for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011.
Glynn will enter his sixth season as a minor league manager, his first in the Twins organization and his first season in Triple-A. The 2011 season will mark his 27th year as a Major League coach, or minor league manager/instructor. Glynn, a second baseman, put together a seven-year minor league career (1979-1985), all with the Montreal Expos organization. Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Expos in 1979, Glynn had a career minor league batting average of .230 with seven home runs and 101 RBI in 525 games.
"The Minnesota Twins are very excited to have Gene Glynn join our organization. Gene's Major League coaching background, exceptional knowledge of the game, and his outstanding work ethic make him a tremendous fit to manage the Rochester Red Wings" said Minnesota Twins Senior Director of Minor Leagues Jim Rantz.
"We are very pleased with the Minnesota Twins selection of Gene Glynn as our new field manager. Gene's long career in baseball, and his reputation for being a solid baseball coach and teacher will bode well for him in this organization. We are truly looking forward to benefitting from what he brings to the Red Wings," said Red Wings President/CEO/COO Naomi Silver.
Glynn, a Waseca, MN resident, has 13-years of experience as a coach at the Major League level. Glynn began his Major League coaching career with the Colorado Rockies in 1994. Gene was the Rockies first base coach for two seasons (1994-95) before moving over to coach third base for Colorado for three seasons (1996-98). Glynn would spend the 1999 season as the Montreal Expos first base coach before being hired by the Chicago Cubs as their third base coach from 2000-2002. Glynn would leave the Cubs after the 2002 season and become the San Francisco Giants third base coach from 2003-06.
Glynn was a Major League coach for Red Wings Hall-of Famer Don Baylor for eight seasons.
"I couldn't be happier for the fans of Rochester because you couldn't have found a better man for the job than Gene Glynn. He's loyal, fan and media friendly, a great instructor, and a complete baseball package with experience as an infield, outfield, and base running instructor. He was my third base coach in Colorado, Chicago, and is currently my third base coach in Venezuela and his style is smart but aggressive," said Red Wings Hall of Famer and former Major League manager Don Baylor.
"I couldn't be more excited about joining the Minnesota Twins organization and having the opportunity to manage the 2012 Rochester Red Wings. I've heard so much about the strong baseball history in Rochester from past players and staff and felt this was an opportunity my family and I couldn't pass up," said new Red Wings manager Gene Glynn.
Glynn has spent the last five seasons (2007-11) as a professional scout for the Tampa Bay Rays.
