KODAK, Tenn. (Smokiesbaseball.com) – The Tennessee Smokies, along with the Southern League of Professional Baseball, proudly announced today that Smokies manager Buddy Bailey and his staff will lead the North Division in the 2012 U.S. Cellular Southern League All-Star Game scheduled for Tuesday, June 19 at Smokies Park. Joining Bailey will be Smokies hitting coach Mariano Duncan, pitching coach Jeff Fassero, athletic trainer Aaron Larson, strength and conditioning coach Tyler Evans and coach Nate Maldonado.

Bailey is in his second season with the Smokies and 24th as a minor league manager. After four years (1979-1982) as a catcher in the Atlanta Braves’ minor league system, Bailey began his managerial career in 1983 at the Braves’ rookie level Pulaski. He then managed at Sumter (A, 1985, 1987), Durham (A, 1986, 1988) and Greenville (AA, 1988-1990). Bailey left the Braves’ organization to manage in the Red Sox organization for Lynchburg (A, 1991-1992), Pawtucket (AAA, 1993-1996, 2002-2004) then went on to serve as the Red Sox’ minor league catching instructor, minor league field coordinator, roving catching instructor and advanced scout. Bailey then left for the Cubs’ organization in 2006 to manage Daytona, Iowa (AAA, 2007), Tennessee (AA, 2008) and then spent the last three seasons back in Daytona, where led the D-Cubs to the Florida State League Championship in 2011. It was the first Minor League Baseball title for Bailey, who also has skippered the Tigres de Aragua to six Venezuelan Winter League title in the last nine years.

2012 marks Duncan’s second season with the Smokies. Prior to his stint with the Cubs’ organization he was in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for eight years, most recently as the team’s first base coach from 2006-2010. He also coached at AAA-Las Vegas (2005), AA-Jacksonville (2004) and for the team’s rookie league team in the Gulf Coast League in 2003. Duncan is a 12-year major league veteran infielder (1985-97) and was a member of two World Series championship teams, the 1990 Cincinnati Reds and 1996 New York Yankees.

Fassero is in his first season as pitching coach with the Smokies. Prior to this season, he served as the pitching coach at Single-A Peoria in 2011 and Single-A Boise in 2010. Fassero is a 16-year major league veteran pitcher (1991-2006) who has a career MLB record of 121-124 with a 4.11 ERA.

Larson is also in his first season with the Smokies, his third overall in the Cubs’ minor league system, spending last season with the Peoria Chiefs and 2010 with the Boise Hawks.

The South Division All-Stars will be led by Mobile BayBears skipper Turner Ward. Accompanying Ward will be BayBears hitting coach Jay Bell, pitching coach Dan Carlson and athletic trainer Ben Fraser.

2012 Southern League All-Star Game Release Schedule:

June 6 – North Division All-Stars Named
June 7 – South Division All-Stars Named
June 14 – North Division Starting Lineup and Pitcher
June 15 – South Division Starting Lineup and Pitcher