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Butler's staff will include Pitching Coach Mike Parrott and Hitting Coach Rick Burleson. James Ready will serve as the club's athletic trainer and Brian Melton will handle strength and conditioning duties.

"We're thrilled to have Brett Butler manage our ballclub in its first season," said Stuart Katzoff, managing partner of the Reno Aces. "He brings with him a high-profile name from his playing days, and he is now considered one of the premier up-and-coming managers in professional baseball. That on-field experience, coupled with his passion for community involvement, makes Brett the perfect fit for us in Reno."

A veteran of 17 Major League seasons, Butler was a 1991 National League All-Star as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and helped lead the San Francisco Giants to the NL pennant in 1989. One of the game's premier leadoff hitters, Butler was a career .290 batter and is one of just 26 players in Major League history to achieve 500 career stolen bases and 2,000 career hits.

"I'm excited to come to Reno," Butler said. "The chance to manage in a new stadium and a new beginning in Reno is very exciting for me."

After the 1996 season, Butler earned the Branch Rickey Award for his involvement in the community and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for exceptional character and spirit.

The 2009 campaign will mark Butler's fifth season in the Diamondbacks organization-including his third stint as a manager in the D-backs chain. After spending the 2005 season as the Major League club's first base coach, Butler managed Single-A Lancaster in 2006 and Double-A Mobile a year later. Last season, Butler served as Arizona's Minor League outfield and base running coordinator.

Parrott enters his 13th season in the Diamondbacks organization and eighth as the pitching coach for the franchise's Triple-A affiliate. Parrott's coaching career began in 1988 in the Montreal Expos organization. He joined the D-backs in 1997, serving as a pitching coach for rookie-level Lethbridge. Parrott would go on to lead the pitching staffs at Single-A South Bend in 1998 and Single-A Lancaster from 1999-2001. He then spent seven-straight years in Triple-A Tucson. The 15th overall selection in the 1973 Amateur Draft, Parrott spent five seasons in the Big Leagues with the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners from 1977-81. A right-hander, Parrott won 14 games for the Mariners in 1979, recording a 3.77 ERA.

Burleson begins his second season in the Diamondbacks chain in 2009. In 2008, Burleson served as hitting coach for Single-A Visalia. Prior to joining the D-backs, Burleson was a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization for seven seasons. He won two Pioneer League championships in five seasons as skipper at rookie-level Billings, then later took the helm at Triple-A Louisville. Burleson was a four-time All-Star in 13 Major League seasons with the Boston Red Sox, California Angels and Baltimore Orioles. In 1979, Burleson earned an American League Gold Glove Award at shortstop and two years later picked up a Silver Slugger honor.

Both Ready and Melton spent the 2008 season at Double-A Mobile after previously working in Single-A Visalia.

Bill Plummer, who managed Triple-A Tucson in 2007 and 2008, has been assigned as Arizona's Minor League catching coordinator. Joel Youngblood, Tucson's hitting coach over the last two seasons, will serve as the organization's Minor League outfield and base running coordinator.

The Reno Aces will begin their inaugural season in April 2009 at an all-new stadium in the heart of downtown Reno. Season tickets are on-sale now. Visit renoaces.com or call (775) 334-4700 for more information.

The Reno Aces is northern Nevada's first-ever Triple-A baseball team. The Aces franchise was purchased by SK Baseball, led by managing partner Stuart Katzoff, in 2007. The team will begin play in Reno for the 2009 season in an all-new outdoor stadium in the heart of downtown. In addition to the 10,000-capacity ballpark, SK Baseball has plans to develop an exciting Freight House District that includes retail, dining and nightlife venues. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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