Gulf Coast League Preview

The last of the minor leagues gets underway tonight.

There are sixteen teams in the GCL.  They are divided into four divisions, East, Northeast, Northwest, and South.  Games are played at the teams' spring training complexes.  The teams play a sixty-game season.  The four division winners go into the playoffs.  The first round is a single-game elimination, with the finals a best-of-three.  Teams may have thirty-five players on the roster, at least ten of whom must be pitchers.

The Twins roster on milb.com is not complete at this writing.  Some names you might (or might not) remember from last year are Damian Defrank, Josh Guyer, Leonel Zazueta, Reyson Zoquiel, Joel Polanco, Amaurys Minier, and Adonis Pacheco.

EAST DIVISION

Cardinals:  Manager Steve Turco, Coaches Kleininger Teran and Darwin Marrero

Marlins:  Manager Julio Garcia, Coaches Bobby Bell and Lenny Harris

Mets:  Manager Jose Carreno, Coaches Ender Chavez and Royce Ring

Nationals:  Manager Michael Barrett, Coaches Jorge Mejia, Michael Tejera, and Jerad Head

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Astros:  Manager Marty Malloy, Coaches Vinny Lopez, Hector Mercado, Gordon Mackenzie

Braves:  Manager Rocket Wheeler, Coaches Rick Albert, Willie Martinez

Tigers:  Manager Basilio Cabrera, Coaches Ed Alfonzo, Jorge Cordova

Yankees2:  Coaches Jose Rosado and Travis Chapman

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Blue Jays:  Manager Kenny Graham, Coaches Paul Elliott, Willie Collazo, and Danny Solano

Phillies:  Manager Roly de Armas, Coaches Steve Schrenk, Rafael Delima

Pirates:  Manager Milver Reyes, Coaches Mike Lum, Scott Elarton, Woody Huyke

Yankees1:  Manager Tom Nieto, Coach Drew Henson

SOUTH DIVISION

Orioles:  Manager Orlando Gomez, Coaches Milt May, Wilson Alvarez, Ramon Sambo

Rays:  Manager Jim Morrison, Coaches Wuarnner Rincones, Marty DeMerritt, and Hector Torres

Red Sox:  Manager Tom Kotchman, Coaches Raul Gonzalez, Dick Such, and Dave Tomlin

Twins:  Manager Ramon Borrego, Coaches Rudy Hernandez, Luis Ramirez, Ehren Wassermann, Riccardo Ingram