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By Will Bredderman
Brooklyn Daily
It’s one, two, three seasons he’s in, for old Rich Donnelly.
Donnelly will return as skipper of the Brooklyn Cyclones for his third year, the Mets single-A ball club announced, and will be going for a triple in bringing the team to the playoffs.
The former Minnesota Twins catcher and third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers will become the first manager to helm the team three consecutive seasons, and the only one to lead them to two playoff berths in a row. Edgar Alfonzo served as manager in 2001, then again in 2007 and 2008, and the Clones won the NY-Penn League’s McNamara Division title in his first and third year.
Donnelly won’t be the only familiar face in the Mini-Mets dugout. Former Cyclones player Bobby Malek will return for his third season as hitting coach, and Marc Valdes will be back for his second year as Coney pitching coach. The Mets organization cheered the veteran staff’s return to the People’s Playground.
“Rich, Bobby and Marc helped lead us to a fourth straight playoff berth in 2012,” said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen, “and we are excited to have them back again this season as we continue our quest for a New York-Penn League Championship.”
Last year’s players reported to Port St. Lucie in Florida at the end of January to begin spring training, and the Mini-Mets will announce this year’s roster in June. Opening day is June 17, as the Pride of Coney Island takes on reviled cross-Narrows rivals the Staten Island Yankees on the Rock.
Reach reporter Will Bredderman at wbredderman@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4507. Follow him at twitter.com/WillBredderman.