Nats revamp MiLB player development staff
WASHINGTON -- The Nationals expanded their Minor League player development staff for 2022, and the group features faces familiar to the Nats organization and Major League Baseball. The personnel, announced on Tuesday, includes 14 new roles and over 20 new staff members.
“This group boasts a wealth of playing and coaching experience at both the Minor League and Major League level,” director of player development De Jon Watson said in a statement. “The expanded resources throughout the system ensure that our players will have everything they need to develop, improve and prepare themselves for the next level.”
Those returning to the organization include former players and coaches. Low-A Fredericksburg pitching coach Joel Hanrahan appeared in 115 games over three seasons (2007-09) with the Nationals. Hitting coordinator Joe Dillon was the Nats’ Major League assistant hitting coach from 2018-19 before becoming the Phillies’ Major League hitting coach for the past two seasons. Florida Complex League hitting coach Ender Chávez played in the Expos/Nationals’ Minor League system from 2004-07. FCL developmental coach Destin Hood was a 2008 second-round Draft pick by the Nats, and he played in their Minors system from ‘08-14. Infield coordinator José Alguacil spent the first five seasons of his coaching career in the Expos/Nationals’ system (2002-06).
The new additions to the coaching staff also include former World Series champions Coco Crisp (outfield/baserunning coordinator) and Bill Mueller (quality control coordinator); former Phillies director of pitching development Rafael Chaves (Triple-A pitching coach); former Red Sox Triple-A manager Billy McMillon (Triple-A developmental coach); former D-backs Minor League hitting coach Micah Franklin (Double-A hitting coach); Oscar Salazar (Double-A developmental coach), who played 19 professional seasons; former Rockies Major League coach Tim Doherty (High-A hitting coach); former Miami Minor League pitching coach Mark DiFelice (High-A Wilmington pitching coach); former State College Spikes manager Delwyn Young (Low-A hitting coach); former Tigers organization coach Carmelo Jamie (Low-A developmental coach); former Phillies Dominican Summer League assistant pitching coach Feliberto Sanchez (DSL assistant pitching coach); Dave Jauss (senior advisor of player development), who began his career managing in the Expos organization and most recently was the Mets bench coach last season; former Padres assistant director of baseball operations David Longley (director of player development technology and strategy); and former Marlins head athletic trainer Gene Basham (medical rehab coordinator).
The Minor League coaching staff updates for 2022 are: Justin Lord (pitching coach) moved from High-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg; Mario Lisson (manager) moved from Low-A Fredericksburg to High-A; Mark Harris moved from Florida Complex League hitting coach to High-A developmental coach; Jake Lowery (manager) moved from Florida Complex League to Low-A; Luis Ordaz moved from High-A hitting coach to FCL manager.
Below is a complete list of the Nationals’ 2022 Minor League Player Development staff (+ new staff member, # added role, ++ coaching staff move_)_:
Triple-A Rochester
Manager, Matt LeCroy; hitting, Brian Daubach; pitching, Rafael Chaves+; athletic trainer, Eric Montague; strength & conditioning: Mike Warren; #developmental coach, Billy McMillon+
Double-A Harrisburg
Manager, Tripp Keister; hitting, Micah Franklin+; pitching, Justin Lord++; athletic trainer, TD Swinford; strength & conditioning, RJ Guyer; #developmental coach, Oscar Salazar+
High-A Wilmington
Manager, Mario Lisson++; hitting, Tim Doherty+; pitching, Mark DiFelice+; athletic trainer, Don Neidig; strength & conditioning, Brandon Pentheny; #developmental coach, Mark Harris++
Low-A Fredericksburg
Manager, Jake Lowery++; hitting, Delwyn Young+; pitching, Joel Hanrahan+; athletic trainer, Kirby Craft; strength & conditioning, Ryan Grose; #developmental coach, Carmelo Jaime+
Florida Complex League
Manager, Luis Ordaz++; hitting, Ender Chávez+; pitching, Franklin Bravo; athletic trainer, Jacob Meyer; strength & conditioning, Shane Hill; #developmental coach, Destin Hood+
Dominican Summer League
Manager and field coordinator, Sandy Martinez; hitting, Freddy Guzman; pitching, Edwin Hurtado; #assistant pitching, Feliberto Sanchez+; infield, Wilson Valdez; outfield, Emiliano Alcantara; athletic trainer, Miguel Cabrera; strength & conditioning, Santo Del Rosario; Latin American training coordinator, Manny Moore; tryout assistant, Anthony Rosario
Staff / coordinators
Director, player development, De Jon Watson; #senior advisor, player development, Dave Jauss+; senior advisor, player development, Spin Williams; director, Minor League and Florida operations, Ryan Thomas; #director, player development technology & strategy, David Longley; assistant director of player development, John Wulf
Assistant director of Minor League operations, JJ Estevez; manager, Florida operations, Dianne Wiebe; player education and cultural development coordinator, Andrew Scarlata; Minor League clubhouse and equipment coordinator, Carlos Felix; Minor League clubhouse operations, Scott Paquin; DSL Academy administrator, Eduardo Castro; DSL clubhouse assistant, Edniel Rouancourt; DSL Academy administrative assistant, Lorena Rosario
Field coordinator, Bob Henley; assistant field coordinator, Jeff Garber; hitting coordinator, Joe Dillon+; #lower level hitting coordinator, Troy Gingrich; pitching coordinator, Sam Narron; #lower level pitching coordinator, Michael Tejera; outfield/baserunning coordinator, Coco Crisp+; infield coordinator, José Alguacil; catching coordinator, Randy Knorr; #quality control coordinator, Bill Mueller+
Rehabilitation pitching coordinator, Mark Grater; medical rehab coordinator, Gene Basham+; assistant medical rehab coordinator, Jeff Allred; strength and conditioning coordinator, Gabe Torres; #athletic trainer, Cesar Roman+; #mental skills coordinator, Dana Sinclair; #nutritionist, Emily Kaley+