Rangers' Minor League staffs take shape

By T.R. Sullivan

December 3, 2015

ARLINGTON -- Corey Ragsdale, who led the Rangers' Class A Hickory affiliate to the South Atlantic League championship in 2015, has been promoted to Minor League field coordinator.

Ragsdale has spent five seasons in the organization as a coach and manager. Jeff Andrews has been promoted to assistant pitching coordinator after seven seasons as the pitching coach at Double-A Frisco. Former Arizona Rookie League manager Kenny Holmberg has been promoted to a roving instructor role as the club's infield coordinator.

The Rangers have also added several new coaches at the club's Minor League affiliates. At Triple-A Round Rock, Jim Presley will be the club's hitting coach, and Greg Hibbard has been hired as pitching coach under manager Jason Wood. Presley has been a hitting coach at the Major League level with the D-backs (1998-2000), Marlins (2006-10), and Orioles (2011-14). The former big league infielder batted .247 with 135 home runs and 495 RBIs in parts of eight seasons with Seattle, Atlanta and San Diego, and was an All-Star with the Mariners in 1986.

Hibbard will serve as the Express pitching coach after working as a pitching instructor at various levels of the Cleveland farm system for the last 15 seasons. Hibbard pitched professionally for 12 seasons, including six at the Major League level with the White Sox, Cubs and Mariners.

After guiding Class A Advanced High Desert to the California League postseason in his first season as a manager, Spike Owen will take over Hickory. Matt Siegel joins the Rangers from the University of Arizona and will manage the Arizona Rangers. The Rangers are still looking for a manager at High Desert.

Joe Mikulik returns as Double-A Frisco manager, and Tim Hulett will enter his 10th season as Class A Spokane's manager.

Brandon Boyd has been named the Rangers' home clubhouse and equipment manager. He will be assisted by David Bailes. Boyd replaces Richard Price, who is transitioning into a role as assistant vice-president of business operations.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger and listen to his podcast.