Tom Brunansky, a key member of the Twins 1987 World Series championship team, has been hired to be the hitting coach at Class AAA Rochester.

The news was first reported, via Twitter, by Jim Mandelaro of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Brunansky, 51, drew rave reviews this year as the hitting coach at Class AA New Britain. The Twins are still searching for a new manager for Rochester after firing Tom Nieto and hitting coach Floyd Rayford in September.

Radcliff honored

Mike Radcliff, the Twins vice president of player personnel, has been named a 2011 Scout of the Year winner, along with Bob Engle of the Mariners, and Mel Didier of the Blue Jays. These awards were created 28 years ago to honor scouts for their behind-the-scenes contributions to the game.

Radcliff started with the Major League Scouting Bureau in 1982 and has been with the Twins since 1987.