Phillies Announce 2018 Player Development Field Staffs
The Phillies have finalized their player development field staff for the 2018 season, Joe Jordan, Director, Player Development, announced today. The club has also announced the promotion of Steve Noworyta to Special Assistant, Player Development and the formation of a second Gulf Coast League affiliate. As mentioned in a previous release, Dana Parks has joined the department as Coordinator, Player Development.
At triple-A Lehigh Valley, Gary Jones will take the helm as manager following a four-year stint as third base coach for the Chicago Cubs. Jones, who has 28 years of experience as a professional manager and coach, has won four minor league manager of the year awards and more than 1,000 games as a skipper in the Oakland, Boston and San Diego systems. Also joining Lehigh Valley as a coach is Wes Helms, who spent 13 years in the majors, including one season (2007) with Philadelphia. Helms served as a guest instructor in spring training for the Phillies in 2017. Sal Rende returns for his 12th year coaching with the Phillies' triple-A affiliate and Dave Lundquist remains as pitching coach for his third.
Greg Legg enters his second consecutive year as Reading's manager, a position he also held from 2002-04. Former Phillies first baseman Rico Brogna has been added to the staff as a coach after working most recently as a pro scout for the Angels. Brogna spent parts of four of his nine major league seasons in Philadelphia, compiling three straight years with at least 20 home runs from 1997-99. Kevin Riggs begins his first year as the Fightins hitting coach after serving in the same capacity with the Altoona Curve in Pittsburgh's farm system from 2015-17. Steve Schrenk returns for his 15th season as a minor league pitching coach with the Phillies, and fourth with Reading.
At single-A Clearwater, Shawn Williams returns for his second year as Threshers manager. In four seasons managing in the Phillies minor leagues, Williams has a record of 247-244 (.503). After a 17-year professional career in affiliated, foreign and independent league baseball, Rubén Gotay will serve as a coach for the Threshers. Returning to the Clearwater staff is pitching coach Aaron Fultz, who will begin his third season in the position. John Mizerock, who spent 2017 as a coach with Reading, joins the staff as hitting coach.
Lakewood will see the return of manager Marty Malloy in 2018, and will also feature three new coaches. Former Phillies farmhand Tyler Henson, who coached for Williamsport in 2017, has been named hitting coach, while Milver Reyes, formerly a manager and coach in the Pirates organization, will hold the coach position with the BlueClaws. Former major league pitcher Brad Bergesen joins the staff as the pitching coach.
Pat Borders returns to Williamsport for his fourth season as manager, while pitching coach Héctor Berrios enters his third year in that role and 21st overall as a minor league pitching coach. Joining the Crosscutters are hitting coach Christian Marrero, who batted .277 in 12 minor league seasons from 2006-2017, and coach Greg Brodzinski, an 18th-round selection by Philadelphia in the June 2015 draft.
The GCL Phillies East club will be comprised of the same coaching staff from the single GCL team in 2017, which included manager Roly DeArmas, coach Charlie Hayes, hitting coach Rafael DeLima, and pitching coach Héctor Mercado.
Nelson Prada, a coach with Lakewood in 2017, will take the reins as manager of the GCL Phillies West. Matt Hockenberry, a pitcher in the Phillies farm system from 2014-17, will serve as pitching coach. Chris Heintz, a former infielder who played 12 professional seasons, has been brought on as hitting coach.
The Dominican Summer League Phillies Red club will again be led by manager Waner Santana and will include Cristino Henriquez (coach), Samuel Hiciano (hitting coach), Alex Concepción (pitching coach) and Feliberto Sánchez (pitching coach) on the staff. The DSL Phillies White club will feature Orlando Muñoz (manager), Silverio Navas (coach), Homy Ovalles (hitting coach) and Les Straker (pitching coach). Jesús Tiamo, who spent the last nine seasons as Phillies bullpen catcher, and Felix Castillo have been added as coaches.
In addition to the changes to the team staffs, former Clearwater coach Rob Ducey has been promoted to the position of baserunning and bunting coordinator. Ducey joined the Phillies player development staff in 2014. Andy Abad (outfield coordinator), Manny Amador (field coordinator, Dominican academy), Carlos Arroyo (roving pitching coach), Ray Burris (rehab pitching coach), Frank Cacciatore (assistant hitting coordinator), Rafael Chaves (pitching coordinator), Furey Leva (strength and conditioning coordinator), Doug Mansolino (field coordinator), Justin Newman (assistant rehabilitation coordinator), Joe Rauch (athletic training & rehabilitation coordinator), Andy Tracy (hitting/assistant field coordinator), Chris Truby (infield coordinator) and Ernie Whitt (catching coordinator) will all return for the 2018 season. Ben Werthan, hired by the club in November, will serve as the minor league information coordinator while Josh Lipman will serve as minor league video coordinator.