Leo: Clippers seek new hitting coach

The Cleveland Indians are getting closer to completing the minor league coaching staff, but they’re still searching for a Triple-A hitting coach.

Lee May Jr. left the organization to become the Seattle Mariners minor league hitting coordinator last week. Alan Zinter was recently hired to fill that same role for Cleveland. The hitting coordinator oversees all the hitting coaches and travels around to visit each affiliate during the season, working with players on an individual basis.

May, 43, spent the last two seasons as the Clippers hitting coach. Columbus finished first (.285) and third (.264) in International League batting, respectively.

He spent 2007-2009 with Double-A Akron, managed Lake County in 2006, and split the 2005 season as hitting coach and manager with Class-A Burlington.

As a player, May was the 21^st overall selection of the 1986 draft by the New York Mets. He played eight seasons, advancing as high as Triple-A.

The new hitting coach will be the first for Mike Sarbaugh since 2007, his opening season in Akron.

In other coaching news…

• Edwin Rodriguez was named the Carolina Mudcats skipper. Rodriguez, 51, was previously the Florida Marlins manager from June 2010 to June 2011. He compiled a 78-85 record. Carolina is the Tribe’s new Class-A affiliate, replacing Kinston.
• Joel Skinner will be the Charlotte Knights new manager. Skinner managed six seasons in the Cleveland minor league system and nine years on the big league staff. Skinner was the Indians’ interim manager in 2002. Rich Dotson will remain the pitching coach and Andy Tomberlin takes over as Charlotte’s hitting coach.
• Wally Backman is Buffalo’s new manager. Backman enters his 10^th season in the Mets organization. Last season, he managed Double-A Binghamton to a 65-76 finish. He was a member of the Mets’ 1986 World Championship team.

Are you following the Clippers on Twitter? If not, you’re missing out on the most informative and entertaining Twitter feed in minor league baseball!

Enjoy the weekend!