The Pirates' near-total overhaul of managers for their minor league affiliates was capped yesterday with the selection of Frank Kremblas for Class AAA Indianapolis.
Kremblas, 42, managed the Milwaukee Brewers' Class AAA Nashville affiliate the past four seasons and won three consecutive division titles in 2005-07 while advancing a talented class of players that included Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy. "Adding Frank gives us a talented teacher at the upper levels who brings not only his own strengths but also played a vital role in a system that thrived by graduating its own core players to the majors," Pirates director of player development Kyle Stark said. "His knowledge, passion, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment makes him a great fit with what we're doing in Pittsburgh."
Kremblas will fill the vacancy left when the Pirates dismissed Trent Jewett after three seasons as Indianapolis' manager.
Milwaukee dismissed Kremblas two weeks after this past season, during which Nashville was 59-81, with management telling him that, because he was not being considered for the Brewers' major league coaching staff, he was free to look elsewhere.
In 11 seasons as a minor league manager, Kremblas is 647-613.
The Pirates also named Matt Walbeck, previously the third base coach for the Texas Rangers, the manager at Class AA Altoona. P.J. Forbes, who spent the past five seasons managing in the Philadelphia Phillies' system, will be the manager at high Class A Lynchburg, and Gary Robinson, the head coach at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte from 1981-90, was named the manager at short-season Class A State College.
