Brevard Manatees Announce New Field Staff, Front Office Additions For 2016

By  //  February 1, 2016

AYRAULT RETURNS FOR FIFTH SEASON AS MANAGER

The Brevard County Manatees are excited to announce the additions of Joey Capistran and Kyle Thweatt to the 2016 front office staff. Capistran and Thweatt will serve as the Sales Manager and Promotions Manager, respectively. (Brevard Manatees image)
The Brevard County Manatees are excited to announce the additions of Joey Capistran and Kyle Thweatt to the 2016 front office staff. Capistran and Thweatt will serve as the Sales Manager and Promotions Manager, respectively. (Brevard Manatees image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Manatees are excited to announce the additions of Joey Capistran and Kyle Thweatt to the 2016 front office staff. Capistran and Thweatt will serve as the Sales Manager and Promotions Manager, respectively.

“We’re very excited to have two talented young gentleman like Joey and Kyle join the Sea Cows.”

Manatees General Manager Kyle Smith said, “I look forward to great things from both of them not only in 2016, but throughout their careers.”

Capistran graduated from Colorado Mesa University in 2015, where he earned both his MBA and Bachelor’s of Science in Sport Management. Originally from Centennial, Colorado, Capistran played on the baseball team at CMU, where he pitched for the Mavericks.

Originally from Vermont, Thweatt received a Bachelor’s of Science in Sport Management from Syracuse University in 2015. Most recently Thweatt served as the Media Relations and Sports Event intern with the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational basketball tournament, while having also worked in Minor League Baseball for the Vermont Lake Monsters.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced Wednesday the field staffs for its minor league affiliates. Returning to Brevard County for 2016 will be manager Joe Ayrault, coach Ned Yost IV, pitching coach Dave Chavarria, athletic trainer Tommy Craig and strength and conditioning specialist Jonah Mergen. The new addition to the staff will be coach Edwin Maysonet. (Brevard Manatees image)
The Milwaukee Brewers announced Wednesday the field staffs for its minor league affiliates. Returning to Brevard County for 2016 will be manager Joe Ayrault, above, coach Ned Yost IV, pitching coach Dave Chavarria, athletic trainer Tommy Craig and strength and conditioning specialist Jonah Mergen. The new addition to the staff will be coach Edwin Maysonet. (Brevard Manatees image)

AYRAULT RETURNS FOR FIFTH SEASON AS MANAGER

The Milwaukee Brewers announced Wednesday the field staffs for its minor league affiliates. Returning to Brevard County for 2016 will be manager Joe Ayrault, coach Ned Yost IV, pitching coach Dave Chavarria, athletic trainer Tommy Craig and strength and conditioning specialist Jonah Mergen. The new addition to the staff will be coach Edwin Maysonet.

2016 will be Ayrault’s fifth season managing the Manatees and seventh season overall as a manager in the Brewers’ organization. Previously, Ayrault served as skipper for Milwaukee’s Rookie-League affiliate, Helena from 2010-11 and led the team to the Pioneer League Title in ’10.

During his playing career, Ayrault spent eight seasons as a catcher in the Atlanta Braves organization. After making his Major League debut for the Braves on September 1, 1996, Ayrault was included on Atlanta’s postseason roster during the team’s run to the World Series.

Ned Yost IV
Ned Yost IV

New to the staff is Edwin Maysonet, who joins the coaching ranks after a 12-year professional playing career that included stints in the Cubs, Astros and Brewers systems.

He reached the Majors in 2008 and ’09 with the Astros, and he played 30 games for the Brewers in ’12.

Yost returns for his fifth season as a coach for the Manatees and eighth as a coach in the Brewers organization. From 2009-2011 he served as a coach with the Helena Brewers.

As a player, Yost spent three seasons as an infielder in Milwaukee’s farm system from 2005-07, playing two seasons in Brevard County. Yost is also the son of former Brewers manager and current Kansas City Royals manager, Ned Yost III.

Chavarria will be in his third season as Manatees pitching coach, having previously spent two seasons in the same role with Class-A Wisconsin. Before joining the Brewers organization, Chavarria spent 11 seasons coaching in the Texas Rangers organization with three of their minor league teams.

Chavarria pitched in the minor leagues for nine seasons, which included stints in the Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants organizations.

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Craig will be back in Brevard County for his tenth season as the team’s athletic trainer. Craig has had an illustrious career in baseball headlined by his 25-year tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he held the positions of head athletic trainer and rehab coordinator, among other roles.

In addition, Craig has also served as athletic trainer for Team Canada during each of the last three World Baseball Classics.

Mergen will be returning for his fifth season as the Manatees strength and conditioning specialist.

He previously worked with the Houston Astros organization and outside of baseball at North Carolina State University, the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse and the National Strength and Conditioning Association World Headquarters.

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