Blue Jays to name Leiper new first base coach

With John Gibbons handling the Jays' split squad facing the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, first base coach Tim Leiper (left) will serve as manager of Toronto's other team Tuesday against the Canadian national juniors in St. Petersburg. (Ricardo Arduengo/AP)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays will name Tim Leiper their first base coach next week, rounding out the coaching staff under manager John Gibbons, multiple sources told sportsnet.ca.

The 47-year-old gets promoted from within after serving as a senior advisor, player development for the club last season.

Leiper, a coach with the Canadian national team from 2004-06 that included stints at the Athens Olympics and inaugural World Baseball Classic, has spent time coaching or managing in the systems of the Mets, Expos, Red Sox, Orioles, Pirates and Marlins, where he worked as an infield co-ordinator before joining the Blue Jays.

He takes over from Dwayne Murphy, who retired at season’s end.

The Blue Jays have also been discussing adding an extra coach, although no firm determinations have been made on that front yet.

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