** Carolina Mudcats Announce 2007 Field Staff **

Zebulon, NC --- The Florida Marlins announced Brandon Hyde as the manager of the 2007 Carolina Mudcats, becoming the 15th manager in the team's history.

Hyde, who spent the previous two seasons as the manager of the Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers (SAL), guided Greensboro to a 135-140 record during his time, and replaces Luis Dorante, who will manage at Jupiter (FSL) this upcoming season.  Hyde also spent two seasons as the hitting coach for Greensboro, and was formerly a coach at his alma mater Long Beach State.  Hyde was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1997, spending a portion of 1999 with the Birmingham Barons, and completing his playing career in 2001 with Winston-Salem (A) and Charlotte (AAA).  Hyde is being succeeded in Greensboro by former Mudcats' hitting coach Edwin Rodriguez.

Scott Mitchell makes his return to the Mudcats as the 2007 pitching coach, the same position he held with Carolina in 2005 under manager Gary Allenson.  Mitchell spent the 2006 season in the same capacity for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. 

The lone returnee from the 2006 coaching staff will be Paul Sanagorski, who checks back into Zebulon for his second season. 

Ben Heimos will be the new trainer for Carolina, replacing Steve Moreno.  Heimos, a native of Waterloo, Illinois, graduated from Evansville University in 2002, and spent two seasons with the Grasshoppers.

Rich Gale, Carolina's pitching coach in 2006, will fill that role for Triple-A Albuquerque.

The Mudcats' season begins on April 5th at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium against the Birmingham Barons, with the team returning for its home opener on Monday, April 16th against the Mobile BayBears.

For season tickets, group tickets, mini-plan ticket or marketing information, contact the Mudcats box office at (919) 269-2287.