American Association’s Stan Cliburn Returns for The 2012 CWL

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Stan Cliburn, the Manager of the Souix City Explorers of the American Association and the manager of the 2011 California Winter League Championship Canada A’s, will be returning as an instructor for the California Winter League for the 2012 season.

Cliburn has over twenty years of managing experience and was hired in January to serve as the new manager of the Sioux City Explorers in the American Association. At the conclusion of the 2011 CWL season, Cliburn took back five CWL players with him to Souix City: pitchers Taylor King and Bryan Wilde; and position players Matt Rossignol, Chad Bisnette, and Andrew Martirano.

During the season Cliburn added 2011 CWL players Brett Flowers and Brian Bistagne. Flowers is second on the team in hitting and third in slugging. Bistagne is also in the top five on the team in batting average, hitting .309 this summer.

Cliburn (the right of the two coaches) with the 2011 CWL Championship Canada A's

Stan Cliburn played baseball at the University of Southern Mississippi and went on to have a four year MLB career. Cliburn was drafted in the fifth round by the California Angels in 1974 and made his MLB debut on May 6, 1980. During his MLB career, he was a part of the Angels, Pirates and Braves organizations.

After his MLB career he became a manger and hitting coach, and has helped developed some of the top players in the game today. Over his twenty year span of instructing, Cliburn has worked with American League MVP’s Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau as well as many other MLB All-Stars.

The California Winter League is excited to have Cliburn back as an instructor for the 2012 season!

Tags: American Association, Angels, MLB, Souix City Explorers, Stan Cliburn