Joplin, Mo. — Gabriel Suarez has been announced as the new manager of the Joplin Blasters. The Denver native previously played 13 seasons professionally as part of six different organizations, reaching as high as Double-A. Originally a 26th-round choice by Montreal in the 2004 draft, Suarez also played internationally in Mexico and Australia. He represented Team Spain in the 2012 and 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers and the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Suarez has also managed for two years in the California Winter League.
Joining Suarez on the coaching staff:
- Pitching coach Winston Abreu, a former major-leaguer with Baltimore, Washington, Tampa Bay and Cleveland, and a 17-year professional veteran. Abreu finished second in the American Association with 23 saves for Joplin in 2015.
- Hitting coach Joe Brown, who has spent the last three seasons in the American Association as a hitting coach for Amarillo and Laredo, and played for Lincoln in the AA in 2007.
- Coach Cie Arell, who was also on the Blasters’ coaching staff in 2015.
- Coach Dennis Vilela, also an assistant coach at Missouri Southern State University.
