Lance Parrish to be named manager of the Erie Seawolves

The Detroit News is reporting former Tiger great Lance Parrish will be named manager of the Erie Seawolves, the team's Double-A affiliate. Parrish will take over from Chris Cron, who left the organization to become the minor league hitting instructor for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The News claims the team turned to Parrish after Bruce Fields and Gene Roof, the Tigers' minor league hitting coordinator and base running coordinator, turned down the job. The Tigers have yet to confirm any of the reports.

An eight-time All-Star in 19 MLB seasons, Parrish was a core member of the World Series winning 1984 Tigers, spending 10 seasons as Detroit's starting catcher. During his Tigers heyday (1977-1986). Parrish won five Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves and was named to six AL All-Star teams. Parrish left as a free agent, signing with the Philadelphia Philles before the 1987 season, a move he is on record regretting. After leaving the Tigers, Parrish played for six different teams before retiring in 1995.

Parrish would return to Detroit, spending two stints as a coach with the Tigers. He worked with ultimately ill-fated tenures of Larry Parrish and Phil Garner from 1999-2001 and Alan Trammell from 2003-2005.

Parrish began his coaching career with the Kansas City Royals, spending 1996 as their roving catching instructor. Parrish also has minor league  managing experience, spending two seasons running teams in Los Angeles Dodgers organization. In 2006 Parrish helmed the Ogden Raptors, the Dodgers' rookie-league affiliate. The following season, Parrish managed the Single-A Great Lakes Loons.

The News also reports Gerald Perry will return as hitting coach and Jaime Garcia as pitching coach.