Detroit – The Detroit Tigers have hired former big-league catcher Gerald Laird to manage their Single-A short-season affiliate in Connecticut.
For Laird, whose 12-year career included two stints with the Tigers (2009-2010, 2012), it will be his first professional coaching job. He retired as a player in 2015.
Laird replaces another former Tigers catcher, Mike Rabelo, who takes over managerial duties for Single-A West Michigan. On Rabelo's staff will be pitching coach Jorge Cordova and hitting coach Mike Hessman.
The Tigers also made official the hiring of Mike Rojas as the manager at Triple-A Toledo, replacing Lloyd McClendon, who is now the Tigers’ hitting coach.