The Detroit Tigers have shifted gears.
Triple-A Toledo manager Gary Jones, hired in early December to lead the Mud Hens, received a promotion Thursday when Tigers manager AJ Hinch added the 61-year-old to his MLB coaching staff as the team's first base coach, filling Kimera Bartee's role.
Bartee, at age 49, died suddenly from a brain tumor in December.
To replace Jones at the Triple-A level, the Tigers brought Lloyd McClendon back to the organization as the Mud Hens' manager. The 63-year-old has MLB managerial experience for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2001-05), Seattle Mariners (2014-15) and Tigers (interim in 2020).