Pirates name Minor League managers and coaches
The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced their minor league managerial and coaching assignments for 2017. The announcement was made by Director of Minor League Operations, Larry Broadway.
Andy Barkett will take over managerial duties at Indianapolis after serving as the Minor League Assistant Hitting Coordinator in 2016. He has eight years of mangerial experience; four seasons in the Miami farm system (2011-2014) and four in the Detroit organization (2007-2010).
Michael Ryan will manage Altoona after leading Bradenton to the Florida State League championship in 2016.
Gera Alvarez will serve as manager at Bradenton after spending the last three seasons as the Dominican Republic Academy Coordinator. He also managed in the Domincan Summer League from 2012-2014.
Wyatt Toregas will manage the West Virginia Power after serving as manager with the WV Black Bears the last two seasons. His team captured the New York-Penn League championship in 2015.
Brian Esposito enters his fifth season in the organization, his first as manager with the West Virginia Black Bears. He led the WV Power to a 71-68 record last year and a club-record 87 wins in 2015. In addition to his managerial duties, Esposito will serve the organization as its minor league catching coordinator.
Kory DeHaan will return to manage the Bristol Pirates for a second straight season.
Bob Herold joins the Pirates organization as manager of the Gulf Coast League Pirates. Herold, who is the winningest coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (527 wins), also managed five seasons (1994-1998) in the Kansas City Royals farm system, posting an overall record of 261-208 (.557 winning pct.).
Kieran Mattison will manage Pittsburgh's team at the Dominican Academy. He was the Hitting Coach with the GCL Pirates in 2016.
INDIANAPOLIS (AAA)
Manager: Andy Barkett
Hitting Coach: Butch Wynegar
Pitching Coach: Stan Kyles
ALTOONA (AA)
Manager: Michael Ryan
Hitting Coach: Kevin Riggs
Pitching Coach: Bryan Hickerson
BRADENTON (A)
Manager: Gera Alvarez
Hitting Coach: Keoni De Renne
Pitching Coach: Matt Ford
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (A)
Manager: Wyatt Toregas
Hitting Coach: Ryan Long
Pitching Coach: TBA
WEST VIRGINIA BLACK BEARS (SHORT-A)
Manager: Brian Esposito
Hitting Coach: Jonathan Prieto
Pitching Coach: Tom Filer
BRISTOL (Advanced Rookie)
Manager: Kory DeHaan
Hitting Coach: TBA
Pitching Coach: TBA
GCL PIRATES (Rookie)
Manager: Bob Herold
Hitting Coach: Austin McClune
Pitching Coach: Elvin Nina
DSL Pirates (Rookie)
Manager: Kieran Mattison
Hitting Coach: Bernie Castro
Pitching Coach: Dan Urbina
Coaches: Cecilio Beltre, Gavi Nivar