Story by
Detroit Tigers stay internal for new managers at Triple-A Toledo, High-A West Michigan
- Story by
- Detroit Tigers stay internal for new managers at Triple-A Toledo, High-A West Michigan
The Detroit Tigers have two new managers in the minor leagues: Tim Federowicz at Triple-A Toledo and Tony Cappuccilli at High-A West Michigan.
Both managers were internal hires. Hiring internally was a product of consistent messaging among coaches throughout the organization, as well as having strong in-house candidates.
Advertisement
The most noteworthy change: Anthony Iapoce , who 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 newcomer on manager A.J. Hinch's coaching staff .
Federowicz, who replaces Iapoce, published his first book — "The Modern Day Catcher" — at the beginning of October. The book leans into personal experiences and details pitch framing, blocking, pitch calling and building rapport with pitchers, among other topics.
HIRING CORA: Tigers hire former Mets third base coach Joey Cora to coaching staff
Detroit Tigers coach Tim Federowicz poses for a photo during media day Feb. 24, 2023 in Lakeland, Fla.
As Cappucilli leads the Whitecaps, Brayan Peña has transitioned to catching coordinator.
Advertisement
Peña, a former 12-year MLB catcher, has been a manager in the Tigers' farm system since the 2018 season, including as West Michigan's manager from 2020-23. Moving forward, Peña will rove around the minor leagues and train catchers throughout the organization.
Gabe Alvarez will return as the Double-A Erie manager.
Federowicz, 36, severed as the Tigers' catching coach on Hinch's staff in the 2023 season. Before joining the Tigers, he worked as the manager for Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle Mariners ' organization in 2022.
Federowicz, a former eight-year MLB career, will be influential in the development of top catching prospect Dillon Dingler . The Tigers added Dingler to the 40-man roster in November , but he will begin the 2024 campaign with the Mud Hens.
Advertisement
PROSPECT: Tigers prospect Jace Jung, an ice cream emoji and his first taste of World Series
Triple-A Toledo bench coach Tony Cappuccilli watches the Mud Hens on April 26, 2023, at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.
Cappucilli, 43, has coached 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 University of New Mexico.
Cappucilli, who earned his master's degree in coaching and athletic administration at Concordia University Irvine in 2010, served as the Triple-A Toledo bench coach under managers Lloyd McClendon and Iapoce in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He also worked as the Mud Hens' third base coach.
Advertisement
Iapoce, the former Mud Hens' manager, joins the Tigers' coaching staff as the first base coach with a long history of coaching hitters. He previously worked as the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers and the Chicago Cubs , as well as the hitting coordinator for the Boston Red Sox .
The Tigers lost assistant hitting coach James Rowson to the New York Yankees .
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers stay internal for new managers for minor league teams
