Angels add Hillman, Carpenter to Minors staff

ANAHEIM -- The Angels announced their player development staff for the 2022 season on Friday, which featured a few Minor League managerial changes and the additions of Trey Hillman as player development staff coach and former Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter as a pitching consultant.

Lou Marson returns as Triple-A Salt Lake's manager, but Andy Schatzley is set to take over as manager at Double-A Rocket City after the departure of Jay Bell. Jack Howell is also moving up to manage High-A Tri-City after serving as the skipper for Low-A Inland Empire in 2021. Ever Magallanes is returning to the organization after a stint managing in the White Sox farm system and was hired to be the skipper at Inland Empire. Dave Stapleton remains the manager for the Arizona Complex League Angels, as does Hector De La Cruz for the Dominican Summer League Angels.

Joey Prebynski remains in his role as director of player development, but the Angels saw field coordinator Chad Tracy leave to become the skipper of Triple-A Worchester in the Red Sox's organization. The Angels hired longtime Cardinals Minor League coach Joe Kruzel to replace Tracy. The Halos also promoted former Rangers outfielder Jayson Nix to assistant field coordinator, hired Tony Ferreira as assistant director of player development and Luis Barranco as a player development assistant.

Notably, the Angels hired Hillman and Carpenter, who both bring plenty of experience to the organization. Hillman formerly managed the Royals from 2008-10, and he has been a Major League coach for the Dodgers, Astros and Marlins. He’s also managed in both Japan and Korea. Hillman is expected to mentor Minor League coaches and help with player development.

Carpenter, meanwhile, left the Cardinals' organization to join the Angels and is set to help as a mental skills coach for the pitchers. Carpenter pitched 15 years in the Majors with the Blue Jays and Cardinals, winning a National League Cy Young in 2005 and World Series titles in 2006 and '11.

The Angels are also bringing back Buddy Carlyle as pitching coordinator and Dylan Axelrod as pitching performance coordinator. But they added former Reds assistant hitting coach Tony Jaramillo as their new hitting coordinator. Damon Mashore was previously in that role, but he is now the club's outfield and baserunning coordinator.

Jaramillo's father, Rudy, a longtime hitting coach for the Rangers, was also brought in as an assistant hitting coordinator along with Jobel Jimenez. Longtime big league catcher Rod Barajas was hired in a new role as catching coordinator, while Hainley Statia remains the infield coordinator.

The Angels also made a change with their strength and conditioning coordinator position, as Dylan Cintula replaced Danny Escobar. Alexandria Woody is also the new Minor League video coordinator, replacing Ryan Dundee.