Torey Lovullo, a veteran of eight major-league seasons as a player and eight more as a manager in the Cleveland Indians’ system, will be the new manager of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010.

Lovullo, 44, spent the last several years as the manager of the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate, meaning he’s no stranger to McCoy Stadium or the Red Sox’ personnel.

“I just know from coming in there as a visiting player and a visiting manager that the fans are outstanding, the support, the quality of player on the field — it’s just a great place to come and play,” Lovullo said. “The fact that I get to be the manager of this ballclub really excites me.”

Lovullo has been on Boston’s radar screen for some time. Many of the Boston front-office staffers and on-field management came up through the Cleveland organization, where they got to see Lovullo firsthand. He was known for his ability to build relationships, and for his rapport with his players.

“We feel like he’s the type of leader that that club’s really going to thrive under. We think he’s a great fit for the Boston Red Sox with all the attributes he brings as a manager — communication, leadership skills,” said Boston’s director of player development, Mike Hazen, who was Lovullo’s boss in Cleveland in the early 2000s. “At the same time, he’s a very good baseball guy. He’s been around the game a long time. He’s a very smart teacher and coach.”

Lovullo replaces the charismatic and popular Ron Johnson, who has moved up to Boston to be first-base coach for Terry Francona in Boston. “RJ” was known for his effusive personality, his relentless optimism and his good relationships with players and staff. Hazen expects much the same from Lovullo.

“Obviously, tough shoes to fill with RJ, but he’s very positive, very much believes in communicating with players, and I think develops tremendous relationships on a day-to-day basis,” Hazen said.

Lovullo was in the running to replace Eric Wedge as manager of the Cleveland Indians before Manny Acta got the job. He leaves Cleveland on good terms, though after eight years breaking the ties is not easy.

“Certainly, when there’s a change, there is some sadness,” Lovullo said, “but I’ll quickly move on and get over that because of the excitement of the environment that the Boston Red Sox create.”

Lovullo has long relationships with many in the Boston front office and staff, from their time in the Cleveland organization. Hazen, Francona, pitching coach John Farrell and assistant general manager Ben Cherington are some of the current Sox who have come through the Cleveland organization.

Lovullo played for the Yankees, Angels, Tigers, Athletics, Phillies, Mariners and Indians from his 1988 debut until his retirement in 1999. Primarily a second baseman, he hit .224 (165-for-737), with 15 home runs and 60 RBI in 303 career major-league games.

In his final season, with Philadelphia, he played under Francona, who he has said was a great influence — and another reason he wanted to come to Boston. In many ways, he’s modeled his own managerial persona after the example Francona set with Philadelphia.

“I learned a lot playing for Tito. The opportunity to be a part of the organization he’s managing really excited me. I learned a lot of great things, especially the art of communication. A lot of those little qualities I picked up playing for him, I brought along as a manager,” Lovullo said. “Being able to pick his brain and continue to learn from somebody as special as he is was something I couldn’t pass up.”

After retiring as a player in 1999, he moved through the Cleveland minor-league system, eventually rising to manage the club’s Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo and Columbus affiliates.

One reason Lovullo was hired was because he understands that minor-league baseball is not about wins and losses. Wins are nice, but the minor-league game is about player development. Lovullo was able to strike that balance well in his years with small-market Cleveland.

“Player development, first and foremost, is about getting the younger players out, and playing, and helping them improve and learn and get ready for the big leagues. Player development, first and foremost, is getting guys ready to help at the big-league level; it’s not about winning baseball games. The fans in Pawtucket have realized that, and they’ve had great success there in Boston,” Lovullo said.

Lovullo is a California native who currently lives in Westlake Village, Calif. His father, Sam Lovullo, was a producer on the television show “Hee Haw.”

The Red Sox have also hired former Chicago Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry to replace Russ Morman as hitting coach for the PawSox. Perry has impressive credentials, having spent the last 10 years as a major-league hitting coach with the Cubs, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Oakland. Morman got the boot after Pawtucket’s offense spent 2009 at the bottom of the International League in nearly every category.

“We want to bring in as many good coaches as we can, and certainly Perry’s experience at the major-league level, his reputation as a hitting coach were things that we were very attracted to. His reputation as a coach, his reputation as a hard worker were things that really attracted us to him,” Hazen said.

It is Perry’s second tour of duty with Pawtucket. In 1998, he was hitting coach for the PawSox, and was Boston’s minor-league hitting coordinator in 1999.

dbarbari@projo.com