The Durham Bulls today announced Charlie Montoyo will return to manage Durham for a third season after leading the Bulls to back-to-back International League South Division Titles and Governors' Cup Finals. Montoyo will be joined by his longtime pitching coach Xavier Hernandez, but has a new hitting coach in former Buffalo Bisons coach Dave Myers and trainer Rodger Fleming.“We have really been blessed with very successful managers in Durham,” Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said, “It’s such a pleasure to work with Charlie. He understands what the Bulls mean to the Triangle Community while continuing to produce winning teams.”
Montoyo is also happy to be returning to the Bull City. “It feels great to be going back to Durham,” Montoyo said, “I love the ownership, love the front office and love the community. It has been a great first two years and I am looking forward to another good year.”
Montoyo’s return is his 13th year as a manager in the Rays organization and third with the Durham Bulls. In 2008, he took the Bulls to their second consecutive Governor’s Cup Finals, losing in four games to the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. In 2007, his Durham team made up a 10-game deficit to win the South Division and came within a game of winning the Governors' Cup Championship. He has a career winning percentage of .504 (780-767) with five postseason appearances (1998-Hudson Valley, 2001-Bakersfield, 2006-Montgomery). Montoyo spent 10 years as an infielder in the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies organizations, reaching the major leagues for 27 games in 1993 with the Expos. He and his wife, Samantha live in Arizona with their two children, Tyson and Alex.
Xavier Hernandez will mark his eighth season as a pitching coach in the Rays organization in his third season in Durham. Several of his pitchers went on to help the Tampa Bay Rays make their run to the World Series, including Andy Sonnanstine, J.P. Howell, Grant Balfour and David Price. He played 10 seasons in the major leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers compiling a career 40-35 record with a 3.90 ERA. Hernandez and his wife, Deborah reside in Sugar Land, Texas with their four children: Danielle, Michael, Sarah, and Stephen.
New Bulls hitting coach Dave Myers joins the Durham Bulls after spending the last two seasons as hitting coach of the Buffalo Bisons (Cleveland Indians). Prior to joining the Bisons in 2007, Myers spent 18 seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization. As a minor league manager, he compiled an overall mark of 732-645 (.532) in 12 seasons, including four division titles and a league championship. He spent five seasons (1996-2000) as manager of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainers, one season with Double-A Port City (1995), two seasons with Class-A Riverside (1993-94), two with Class-A Bellingham (1991-1992) and two years with Tempe in the Arizona League (1989-90). He began his coaching career as a player/coach for the Mariners Double-A Vermont affiliate in 1988. Myers signed as the Mariners 13th round selection in the 1981 June Draft and spent eight seasons in their farm system. He graduated from Temple University in 1981 with a degree in physical education, is married (Christine) with two children (D.J. and Chelsea).
Fleming is in his second season in the Rays organization spending last season as trainer for the Vero Beach Devil Rays. Prior to 2008, he spent seven seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In 2004, he was named Texas League Trainer of the Year and Minor League Trainer of the Year while serving with the El Paso Diablos (AA). He also served as head trainer for the Arizona Fall League champion Phoenix Desert Dogs in 2005 and the Venezuelan Winter League in 2006-07. Fleming graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in interdisciplinary studies/athletic training. He lives in Kodak, Tennessee with his girlfriend, Amy, and son, Chandler.
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