SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres today announced the staffs for their minor league affiliates for the 2017 season.
 
In El Paso, Rod Barajas returns for his fourth season in the Padres' organization and his second as the manager of the Chihuahuas after helping guide the club to its first Pacific Coast League Championship last season. Returning to the Chihuahuas' coaching staff will be Pitching Coach Bronswell Patrick for his 10th season in the organization. He will be joined by Hitting Coach Morgan Burkhart, who returns for his fifth season in the organization and second with the Triple-A squad. Keith Werman will join the staff in 2017 as a coach for El Paso. The Chihuahuas' training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer Nate Stewart, Assistant Athletic Trainer Daniel Turner and Strength Coach A.J. Russell.
 
In San Antonio, Phillip Wellman returns for his second season managing the Padres' Double-A affiliate. The 2017 season will be Wellman's 29th season as a coach and 18th as a minor league manager. Joining the Missions will be Hitting Coach Lance Burkhart for his first season with San Antonio and third in the Padres' organization. Burkhart took over as manager for Lake Elsinore in May of 2016 and previously served as hitting coach for Fort Wayne in 2015 and the start of 2016. Returning to San Antonio will be Pitching Coach Jimmy Jones, entering his ninth season in the Padres' organization. Jonathan Meyer will join the staff in 2017 as a coach for the Missions after serving as a coach in Tri-City in 2016. San Antonio's training staff will be led by Strength Coach Scott Cline and the Missions will hire an athletic trainer prior to the start of 2017.
               
In Lake Elsinore, the Storm will be managed by Edwin Rodriguez, who previously served as manager of the Florida Marlins for parts of the 2010-11 seasons, and spent the last three seasons in the Cleveland Indians' organization, most recently as the manger for Short-Season Mahoning Valley. Joining the Storm will be Hitting Coach Raul Padron for his first season with Lake Elsinore and second in the Padres' organization, previously serving as a coach for Fort Wayne in 2016. Returning to the Storm's coaching staff as pitching coach will be Glendon Rusch, entering his third season after joining Lake Elsinore in 2015. Freddy Flores will also join the staff in 2017 as a coach for Lake Elsinore. The Storm's training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer Ricky Huerta and Strength Coach Drew Heithoff.
 
In 2017, the Fort Wayne TinCaps will be managed by Anthony Contreras, who returns for his fourth full season of managing in the Padres' organization and second as the manager for the TinCaps after managing in Tri-City in 2015, and making his managerial debut midway through the 2014 season for the Rookie-Level Arizona League Padres. Joining the TinCaps' coaching staff will be Hitting Coach Doug Banks for his first season with Fort Wayne and second in the Padres' organization, serving in 2016 as hitting coach for the AZL Padres as well as an amateur scout for the club, covering the areas of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. Also returning will be Pitching Coach Burt Hooton for his fifth season with Fort Wayne and his 42nd overall in professional baseball. Jhonny Carvajal will join the staff in 2017 as a coach for Fort Wayne after serving as a coach for the Dominican Summer League Padres in 2016. The TinCaps' training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer Allyse Kramer and Strength Coach Jay Young.
 
Ben Fritz will return for his third season in the Padres' organization and second as the manager for Tri-City in 2017. Joining the Dust Devils and Padres' organization in 2017 will be Hitting Coach Hunter Mense. Pitching Coach Josh Spence returns for his second season with the Padres and first as Pitching Coach for Tri-City after serving as rehab pitching coach in Peoria in 2016. Spence made his Major League debut for San Diego in 2011 and pitched in parts of two seasons (2011-12) for the Padres. Oscar Salazar will join the staff in 2017 as a coach for Tri-City. The Dust Devils' training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer Isak Yoon and Strength Coach Sam Hoffman.
 
The Padres will field two teams in the Rookie-Level Arizona League in 2017 in Peoria, Ariz. Shaun Cole will return for his second season in the Padres' organization and make his managerial debut for AZL Padres 1. Pete Zamora returns for his second season with the Padres as the pitching coach for AZL 1. Raul Gonzalez joins the Padres' organization and will serve as the hitting coach for AZL 1. Mike McCoy will join the staff in 2017 as a coach for AZL 1 after serving as a coach for Lake Elsinore in 2016. The AZL 1 training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer Maritza Castro and Strength Coach Corey Measner.
 
Michael Collins will manage the AZL Padres 2 squad and return for his sixth season in the Padres' organization and third managing the club's Rookie-Level affiliate. Collins previously managed Lake Elsinore in 2015, the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2014, the AZL Padres in 2013 and the organization's Dominican Summer League affiliate in 2012, which was his managerial debut. Jackson Quezada returns for his sixth season in the Padres' organization and first as pitching coach for AZL 2 after serving as a coach with the DSL Padres since 2012. Joining the AZL 2 staff will be Hitting Coach Vinny Lopez after serving as hitting coach for Fort Wayne in 2016. The AZL 2 training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer David Bryan. Also returning to Peoria will be Rehab Hitting Coach Damion Easley for his sixth season with the Padres, all with Peoria. Garvin Alston joins the Padres' organization as rehab pitching coach. Eric Wood returns to the Padres and Peoria as assistant strength and conditioning coordinator and will oversee both AZL teams.
 
Aaron Levin will join the Padres' organization in 2017 and serve as manager for the club's Dominican Summer League affiliate after spending the last four seasons with the Texas Rangers. Levin served as a coach for High-A High Desert, in 2016 after previously managing the DSL Rangers from 2013-15 and leading the club to three straight DSL Championship appearances, including DSL titles in both 2014 and 2015. Returning to the staff will be Pitching Coach Nelson Cruz as well as coaches Jhonaldo Pozo and Edinson Rincon. The DSL Padres' training staff will be led by Athletic Trainer Oscar Orengo, Assistant Athletic Trainer Juan Cabrera and Strength Coach Dan Hayes.
TRIPLE-A EL PASO (Pacific Coast League)    
Manager                                                                 Rod Barajas
Pitching Coach                                                Bronswell Patrick           
Hitting Coach                                                   Morgan Burkhart
Coach                                                                   Keith Werman
Athletic Trainer                                                       Nate Stewart
Athletic Trainer                                                          Dan Turner
Strength Coach                                                        A.J. Russell
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (Texas League)
Manager                                                             Phillip Wellman
Pitching Coach                                                       Jimmy Jones
Hitting Coach                                                      Lance Burkhart
Coach                                                                Jonathan Meyer
Athletic Trainer                                                                     TBA
Strength Coach                                                          Scott Cline
SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (California League)        
Manager                                                           Edwin Rodriguez                
Pitching Coach                                                   Glendon Rusch
Hitting Coach                                                           Raul Padron
Coach                                                                    Freddy Flores
Athletic Trainer                                                        Ricky Huerta
Strength Coach                                                     Drew Heithoff
SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (Midwest League)
Manager                                                       Anthony Contreras
Pitching Coach                                                         Burt Hooton
Hitting Coach                                                           Doug Banks
Coach                                                             Jhonny Carvajal
Athletic Trainer                                                     Allyse Kramer
Strength Coach                                                          Jay Young
SHORT-A TRI-CITY (Northwest League)                                             
Manager                                                                       Ben Fritz  
Pitching Coach                                                      Josh Spence           
Hitting Coach                                                       Hunter Mense
Coach                                                                  Oscar Salazar
Athletic Trainer                                                           Isak Yoon
Strength Coach                                                     Sam Hoffman                             
ROOKIE-LEVEL PEORIA (Arizona Rookie League)
Manager Peoria AZL 1                                             Shaun Cole
Pitching Coach AZL 1                                            Pete Zamora
Hitting Coach AZL 1                                            Raul Gonzalez
Coach AZL 1                                                           Mike McCoy
Athletic Trainer AZL 1                                          Maritza Castro
Strength Coach AZL 1                                        Corey Measner
Manager AZL 2                                                   Michael Collins
Pitching Coach AZL 2                                    Jackson Quezada
Hitting Coach AZL 2                                                Vinny Lopez
Athletic Trainer AZL 2                                             David Bryan
Rehab Pitching Coach                                          Garvin Alston
Rehab Hitting Coach                                          Damion Easley
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator       Eric Wood
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE PADRES                                          
Manager                                                                 Aaron Levin
Pitching Coach                                                        Nelson Cruz  
Coach                                                                 Jhonaldo Pozo    
Coach                                                                Edinson Rincon    
Athletic Trainer                                                     Oscar Orengo      
Assistant Athletic Trainer                                      Juan Cabrera     
Strength Coach                                                         Dan Hayes