Detroit Tigers promote Gary Jones to first base coach; Lloyd McClendon returns to Toledo

Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
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The Detroit Tigers have shifted gears.

Triple-A Toledo manager Gary Jones, hired in early December to lead the Mud Hens, received a promotion Thursday when Tigers manager AJ Hinch added the 61-year-old to his MLB coaching staff as the team's first base coach, filling Kimera Bartee's role.

Bartee, at age 49, died suddenly from a brain tumor in December.

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Chicago Cubs third base coach Gary Jones (1) looks on before the game May 9, 2017 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Jones was hired in December 2021 as the manager of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.
Chicago Cubs third base coach Gary Jones (1) looks on before the game May 9, 2017 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Jones was hired in December 2021 as the manager of the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

To replace Jones at the Triple-A level, the Tigers brought Lloyd McClendon back to the organization as the Mud Hens' manager. The 63-year-old has MLB managerial experience for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2001-05), Seattle Mariners (2014-15) and Tigers (interim in 2020).

McClendon has a 501-613 record in his MLB managerial career. He also played eight years in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds (1987-88), Chicago Cubs (1989-90) and Pirates (1990-94), hitting .244 with 35 home runs, 143 walks and 165 strikeouts in 570 games.

In Pittsburgh, Jim Leyland was McClendon's manager. He brought McClendon with him to the Tigers' organization as an assistant coach in 2006.

"I am looking forward to returning to Toledo and working with the Tigers in a developmental role," McClendon said in a statement. "Fifth Third Field is a tremendous ballpark and Toledo has some of the most passionate baseball fans in all of minor league baseball. It is something that I really enjoyed being around in 2016 and am looking forward to that once again."

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Detroit Tigers coach Lloyd McClendon on the field for the first full team practice Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.
Detroit Tigers coach Lloyd McClendon on the field for the first full team practice Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

The last time McClendon showed face in Triple-A Toledo was 2016, when he managed the Mud Hens to a 68-76 record in his lone season as a manager in the minor leagues.

In September 2020, McClendon was named interim manager for the Tigers after Ron Gardenhire announced his retirement. One month later, Hinch was named the Tigers' manager and did not keep McClendon on the coaching staff.

"It is great to welcome Lloyd McClendon back to the Mud Hens,” Mud Hens general manager Erik Ibsen said in a statement. "He brings a wealth of knowledge with him from the major league level and knows what the city of Toledo is all about from his time back in 2016. This is another reason to get us excited about baseball coming back to Fifth Third Field in April."

This story will be updated.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers promote Gary Jones from Triple-A Toledo to MLB coach