Minimal changes to Giants' thriving minor-league staff

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The San Francisco Giants have finalized their minor league coaching staff for the 2012 season, the team announced in a press release Wednesday.

Among the minimal changes are three new coaches to the system. Michael Couchee is the new Arizona League Giants pitching coach. Billy Horton, their hitting coach. And Nestor Rojas will be the Augusta hitting coach.

Below is the text contained in the team's press release:

San Francisco's minor league affiliates put together another successful year in 2011 with its farm system producing the third best record (411-352, .539) in all of organized baseball. In addition, the San Francisco Giants were named as Topps 2011 Organization of the Year for thriving with homegrown players in the minor leagues as well as at the Major League level. The organization also received this accolade in 2009. The Giants organization had four of their seven affiliates make the postseason. The Arizona Rookie League Giants took first place in their league for the second-consecutive season although they lost in the finals. The Augusta GreenJackets also advanced to the Championship game, but dropped a best-of-3 series. The Richmond Flying Squirrels made their first postseason appearance during their two-year franchise as they were eliminated in the Eastern League Championship series. After finishing first overall in the North Division the San Jose Giants advanced to the first round of the playoffs.

There have been minimal changes to the Giants managerial ranks as Dave Machemer (double-A Richmond), Andy Skeels (Class A Advanced San Jose), Lipso Nava (Class A Augusta), Tom Trebelhorn (short-season Salem-Keizer) and Jesus Tavarez (Dominican Summer League Giants) will remain at their managerial posts. Bob Mariano, who was the organizations Coordinator of Minor League Hitting Instruction last season, will be swapping positions with Steve Decker as he takes the helm of Triple-A Fresno and Decker becomes the new Coordinator of Minor League Hitting Instruction with the organization. The only new addition to the Giants minor league managerial ranks is Derin McMains, who will be making his managerial debut with the Arizona Rookie League Giants, after spending the previous two seasons as that teams hitting coach.

Steve Kline has been named as the pitching coach for the San Jose Giants as Mike Caldwell, who was with the Arizona League Giants last season, will replace Kline at Augusta. Hector Borg, who was a coach for the Dominican Summer League Giants last year, will serve in the same role with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in 2012. The three new additions to the Giants coaching ranks are Michael Couchee (Pitching CoachArizona League Giants), Billy Horton (Hitting CoachArizona League Giants) and Nestor Rojas (Hitting CoachAugusta).

Couchee, 54, will be embarking on his first stint within the Giants organization after spending the previous nine seasons with San Diegos minor league chain, one as triple-A Portlands pitching coach and eight as their Minor League Pitching Coordinator. Prior to his time in San Diegos minor league system, Couchee also held the same post as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheims Minor League Pitching Coordinator for 10 seasons from 1993-2002, following several stints as a pitching coach in that organization. The former pitcher was originally selected in the 19th round of the 1980 First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres and pitched briefly for the big league club in 1983.

Horton, 38, will join the Giants coaching ranks for the first time in his career as he has spent considerable time with many organizations. The former infielder and catcher worked professionally for the Arizona Diamondbacks in numerous roles in 2003 and 2006 as well as with a number of Baseball academies in the Phoenix, AZ area. Horton also played in the minor leagues with the Chicago White Sox as well as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Rojas, 28, will be returning to the Augusta GreenJackets for a second season as a hitting coach. The Venezuelan native played in the Giants minor league system from 2003-2010, reaching as high as triple-A. During his career, the former catcher played in 256 games, hitting .222 (164-for-739) after signing with the organization in 2003.

Roving instructors and medical staff for the upcoming season include: Fred Stanley - Director of Player Development; Shane TurnerCoordinator of Instruction; Bert BradleyCoordinator of Minor League Pitching; Steve DeckerCoordinator of Minor League Hitting; Joe AmalfitanoSpecial Assistant; Jim DavenportSpecial Assistant; Lee SmithRoving Pitching Instructor; Jose AlguacilRoving Infield Instructor; Henry CottoRoving Baserunning and Outfield Instructor; Kirt ManwaringRoving Catching Instructor; Shawon Dunston - Instructor; J.T. Snow - Instructor; Jay WilliamsCoordinator of Minor League Trainers; Tony RealeOrganizational Physical Therapist; Geoff HeadCoordinator of Minor League Strength and Conditioning.

San Francisco Giants media services contributed to this report

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