MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins added three coaches to their major league staff on Monday. The team announced that Tom Brunansky will take over as hitting coach, Bobby Cuellar will be the new bullpen coach and Terry Steinbach will serve as the bench coach and catching instructor.
In addition, former bench coach Scott Ullger will now be the first base coach while former hitting coach Joe Vavra will be the Twins' third base coach. As was previously announced, Ullger will also be the outfield instructor while Vavra will instruct the infielders.
Brunansky spent 14 years as a player in the major leagues, including seven years with the Twins from 1982-88. He was a career .245 hitter with 271 home runs and 919 RBI with five different teams. Brunansky joins the Twins after spending two years as the hitting coach for the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings.
Cuellar has been in the Twins' organization for nine years, including the last four as the Red Wings' pitching coach. He was also the manager of Double-A New Britain in 2008. Cuellar has major league coaching experience, as he was the bullpen coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006-07 and a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers (2001), Montreal Expos (1997-2000) and Seattle Mariners (1995-96).
Steinbach grew up in New Ulm, Minn., and played college baseball for the Golden Gophers. He spent 14 years as a catcher in the majors, including the last three with the Twins. He also played 11 seasons for the Oakland Athletics. Steinbach was a career .271 hitter with 162 home runs and 745 RBI. He was a three-time All-Star while with Oakland. Since retiring in 1999, Steinbach has been an assistant with the Twins' spring training staff.
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