SPORTS

Blue Jays finalize coaching staff for 2015 regular season

The Canadian Press Published Friday, January 2, 2015 5:54PM EST

The Canadian national anthem is played as the Toronto Blue Jays get ready to take on the New York Yankees on Friday, April 4, 2014. (Nathan Denette/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays finalized their coaching staff for the 2015 season on Friday.

Dane Johnson was named bullpen coach and Eric Owens will serve as assistant hitting coach, the team said in a release.

In addition, Sal Fasano was named minor league pitching co-ordinator, Darold Knowles was named rehabilitation pitching coach and Rick Langford was named senior pitching adviser. Heather Connolly was named major league administration manager and Joe Sheehan was named baseball research and development manager.

The Blue Jays previously announced that bench coach DeMarlo Hale, pitching coach Pete Walker, first base coach Tim Leiper and third base coach Luis Rivera would all return to John Gibbons's staff next season. Brook Jacoby was hired last November to replace Kevin Seitzer as hitting coach.

The Blue Jays will begin the 2015 regular season April 6 at New York.