Veteran professional baseball coach and pitching coordinator joins staff
(Central Islip, N.Y., June 25, 2019) – The Long Island Ducks today announced Rick Tomlin will be joining the team as pitching coach, replacing Ed Lynch, who has resigned from the club in order to spend more time with his family. Tomlin will join the Ducks in time for Tuesday’s series opener against the New Britain Bees.
“I really appreciated Ed being part of our staff here,” said Ducks manager Wally Backman. “At the same time, I am excited to add Rick as pitching coach for the remainder of the 2019 season, and I’m confident he’s going to help us accomplish our goal of bringing the Atlantic League championship back to Long Island.”
Tomlin brings over 20 years of experience as a coach in professional baseball to the Ducks. He has previous experience as a pitching coach in the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and New York Mets organizations. Additionally, he has served as a Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Yankees, Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers. The 66-year-old previously served on the coaching staff of Wally Backman in 2010 with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League, helping the club reach the league finals.
During his time as a pitching coach, he helped lead Elizabethton Twins to the Appalachian League championship in 1989 and the Tampa Yankees to a Florida State League Co-Championship in 2001. As Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Yankees, the MLB club reached the postseason in all three seasons and won the American League championship in 2003. Prior to coaching professionally, the Richmond, Va. native served as the pitching coach for the University of Alabama and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the 1972 amateur draft.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 900 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 40 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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