The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) finalized their 2018 Major League coaching staff under second-year manager Torey Lovullo. The coaching staff will return Mike Butcher as pitching coach (third season), Mike Fetters as bullpen coach (second season, sixth overall), Robby Hammock as quality control/catching coach (second season), Tim Laker as assistant hitting coach (second season), Dave Magadan as hitting coach (third season), Dave McKay as first base coach (fifth season) and Tony Perezchica as third base coach (second season), while promoting Jerry Narron to bench coach (first season, second overall) and adding Luis "Pipé" Urueta as Major League coach (first season). The team promoted Ken Crenshaw to Director, Sports Medicine & Performance to oversee the new department and also promoted Ryan DiPanfilo to head trainer. The club returns Nate Shaw as strength & conditioning coordinator and Ben Hagar as physical therapist, and added Matt Tenney as assistant strength & conditioning coach. The team did not renew the contract of Ariel Prieto as coach and interpreter.
Narron, 61, enters his first season as bench coach and second year in the organization. In 2017, he was originally tabbed as Triple-A Reno's manager but served as the interim bench coach for Ron Gardenhire, during his absence for prostate cancer, and remained with the Major League club for the season. Narron has 21 seasons of Major League managerial/coaching experience, including 5 years of managerial experience with the Rangers (2001-02) and Reds (2005-07) and 8 seasons as a bench coach with the Brewers (2011-15), Reds (2004-05) and Red Sox (2003).
Urueta, 36, enters his first season as Major League coach and 17th in the D-backs' organization. Last season was his first as Minor League field coordinator. He also served as manager for Team Colombia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. His other roles in the organization have included manager of the Rookie-Level AZL D-backs (2013-14), Short-Season field coordinator (2008-12) and manager of the Rookie-Level DSL D-backs (2007). He has also served as manager of Monteria of the Colombian Winter League (2010-16) and bench coach and interim manager for Licey of the Dominican Winter League (2016/17) and will serve as manager this offseason. He signed with the D-backs in 1998 as the organization's first Colombian player and played 4 seasons in the Minors (1999-2002).
Butcher, 52, enters his third season as pitching coach, 13th overall in that capacity and 33rd in professional baseball. He also served as pitching coach for the Rays (2006) and Angels (2007-15). He played parts of 4 Major League seasons for the Angels.
Fetters, 52, enters his second season as bullpen coach, sixth season on the D-backs' coaching staff and ninth in the organization, including his time in a front office capacity. He spent 4 seasons as Arizona's quality control coach (2013-16). He served as an advisor to baseball operations in 2012, and worked as a part-time analyst on the D-backs' radio broadcasts from 2010-12. He pitched 16 Major League seasons, including 2 seasons with the D-backs (2002, '04).
Hammock, 40, enters his second season as quality control and catching coach, seventh in a managerial/coaching capacity, and 19th overall in the D-backs' organization. Hammock, who was tabbed Baseball America's 2016 Southern League Best Manager, managed 4 seasons with Double-A Mobile (2015-16), Single-A Advanced Visalia (2014) and Rookie-Level Missoula (2013). He began his coaching career as the hitting coach with the AZL D-backs in 2012. He played for the D-backs over parts of 6 Major League seasons (2003-04, '06-08, '11), and caught Randy Johnson's perfect game on May 18, 2004 @ Braves.
Laker, 47, enters his second season as assistant hitting coach and 12th in a manager/coach role. He spent 2016 as the hitting coach with Double-A Akron (Indians) and 5 seasons in the White Sox' system (2011-15) as a Minor League hitting instructor (2015), hitting coordinator (2012-14) and Triple-A Charlotte hitting coach (2011). He was the manager of Double-A West Tennessee (Mariners) in 2010 after beginning his career in Cleveland's system (2007-09) as the catching coordinator (2008-09) and manager of Short-Season A Mahoning Valley (2007). Laker played parts of 11 seasons in the Majors with Montreal (1992-95), Baltimore (1997), Tampa Bay (1998, 2005), Pittsburgh (1998-1999) and Cleveland (2001-06).
Magadan, 55, enters his third season as hitting coach and his 16th overall season in that position, with the Rangers (2013-15), Red Sox (2007-12) and Padres (2003-06). He played 16 seasons in the Majors from 1986-2001.
McKay, 67, enters his fifth season as first base coach, his 23rd straight in that role, and 35th on a Major League coaching staff, the most years among active Major League coaches. He previously served as the Cubs' first base/outfield coach (2012-13), Cardinals' first base coach (1996-2011) and A's first base coach (1989-95) and bench/bullpen coach (1984-88). He has been part of 3 World Series championship clubs (1989 A's, 2006 and '11 Cardinals). He played part of 8 Major League seasons.
Perezchica, 51, enters his second season as third base coach, 16th season in the D-backs' organization and 33rd season in professional baseball. He was Arizona's field/infield coordinator for 3 seasons (2014-16) and infield coordinator for 8 seasons (2006-13). The Mexicali, Mexico, native spent 3 seasons as manager in the D-backs' Minor League system with Double-A Tennessee (2005), Single-A South Bend (2004) and Rookie-Level Missoula (2003).
Crenshaw will oversee the newly-created Sports Medicine & Performance department in his 13th season in the organization and 30th overall in a training staff capacity. He served as the D-backs' head athletic trainer for 12 seasons (2006-17). He spent 10 seasons with the Rays (1996-2005) as their medical staff was named the 2005 Major League Training Staff of the Year by the Professional Athletic Trainers Association (PBATS) and 2004 Medical Staff of the Year by Baseball Prospectus. While in the Rays' organization, he served as the Major League head athletic trainer (2003-05), assistant athletic trainer (1998-2002) and Minor League medical/strength and conditioning coordinator (1996-97). He also gained experience as the Braves' strength and conditioning coordinator (1992-95) and as an athletic trainer in the Pirates' system (1989-2001). He graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in sports medicine and is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
DiPanfilo enters his sixth season on the Major League training staff, including 5 as the assistant athletic trainer (2013-17), and 12th in the organization. Shaw enters his 13th season on the Major League staff. Hagar enters his third season in his role. Tenney enters his eighth season in the organization.