Lee Tunnell

Byron Lee Tunnell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
• School Baylor University
• High School Anderson High School (Austin)
• Debut September 4, 1982
• Final Game June 22, 1989
• Born October 30, 1960 in Tyler, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Lee Tunnell spent three seasons in Japan (1991-1993), then returned to the States and spent two years in the minors, including part of 1995 in Mexico. In the majors, he pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1982 to 1985, the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987, including two games in the 1987 World Series, and the Minnesota Twins in 1989. His best season was in 1983, when he went 11-6, 3.65 in 35 games, including 25 starts and pitched 177 2/3 innings.

Tunnell was the pitching coach for the Pulaski Rangers in 1997, Charlotte Rangers in 1998, Tulsa Drillers in 1999, and Oklahoma RedHawks in 2000-2002. He was the Texas Rangers' minor league pitching coordinator in 2003-2004, and returned to Oklahoma City in 2005.

Tunnell was slated to be the Louisville Bats pitching coach in 2006, but was named Cincinnati Reds interim bullpen coach for the season to fill in for Tom Hume, who was interim pitching coach in place of Vern Ruhle, who was ill.

In 2011, Tunnell was the Milwaukee Brewers' roving pitching coordinator. In 2013, he was named the team's bullpen coach, succeeding Stan Kyles. He was let go after the 2018 season. He moved back to the Cincinnati Reds as bullpen coach in 2019, staying until the end of the 2022 season.

His son, James Tunnell, was selected in the 2008 amateur draft.