Teufel To Manage Gnats

Posted Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Tim Teufel will manage the Sand Gnats in 2007, the New York Mets announced today. Teufel, a member of the 1986 World Series Champion Mets, has spent five of the last six years coaching in the Mets minor league system.

In 2004 and 2005 he managed the Mets Florida State League affiliate in St. Lucie, Fla. before taking last season off. In 2003 Teufel led the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets New York-Penn League affiliate, to a division championship with a 47-28 record. Prior to managing he spent two seasons as the Mets roving infield instructor. In three seasons as a minor league manager, he has compiled an overall record of 177-161.

The 48-year-old former infielder played 11 years in the Majors, six of them with the Mets. He started at second base in Game 1 of the 1986 World Series and went 4-for-9 overall in the series including a home run in Game 5.

While in Brooklyn and St. Lucie, the former Clemson Tiger coached many top prospects including current Major League All-Stars Scott Kazmir and Jose Reyes.

Opening Day for the Sand Gnats is scheduled for Thursday, April 5 as the Gnats take on the Asheville Tourists at 7:05 p.m. at Historic Grayson Stadium.