Norwich — Gerald Laird will return as manager of the Connecticut Tigers, the franchise announced Thursday in conjunction with its parent club, the Detroit Tigers.

Laird, a former Major League catcher, led Connecticut to a 37-35 record in the New York-Penn League last season, his first season as a professional manager. The Tigers missed the playoffs, finishing 3.5 games behind first-place Vermont in the Stedler Division.

Laird played 13 Major League seasons and was part of the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 and the American League champion Tigers in 2012.

In addition, the Tigers announced that pitching coach Ace Adams will return for his third season in Norwich and hitting coach Rafael Martinez will return for his second season with the Tigers, as will strength and conditioning coach Edwin Ortiz. The only new member of the staff will be athletic trainer Sean McFarland, who served in the same capacity with the Gulf Coast League Tigers in 2017.

Connecticut, a Single-A short-season affiliate on Detroit, opens its season in Friday, June 15, at Dodd Stadium against the Lowell Spinners, the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Red Sox.