Red Sox announce 2014 Minor League field staffs
BOSTON, MA - The Boston Red Sox today announced the 2014 field staffs for their minor league affiliates, including managers, coaches, and athletic trainers.
Director of Player Development Ben Crockett made the announcement.
The manager for Short-A Lowell is the only position remaining to be filled for next season. The rest of the 2014 staffs are listed below:
Pawtucket (Triple-A, International League)
Taking over as manager of the PawSox in 2014 will be Kevin Boles. Boles, who served as skipper of the Double-A Portland club for each of the last three seasons (2011-13), is entering his seventh year in the Red Sox organization. He also managed High-A Salem from 2008 through 2010. Pitching coach Rich Sauveur will return in the same capacity in 2014, marking his seventh year in the organization, all in that role. Also returning to the PawSox in 2014 is hitting coach Dave Joppie. He will enter his eighth year with the Red Sox, and second as hitting coach at the Triple-A level. An addition to the Pawtucket staff for this year is coach Bruce Crabbe, who managed Short-A Lowell last season. 2014 marks his 10th season in the Red Sox organization. Athletic trainer Jon Jochim will return to the PawSox in 2014 as well. This will mark his 11th year with the Red Sox, and fifth in his current role.
Portland (Double-A, Eastern League)
With the promotion of Boles, Billy McMillon will jump a level to serve as Portland's manager in 2014. He spent the past two seasons as manager of High-A Salem where he led the club to the 2013 Mills Cup Championship. This year will mark his seventh year in the Red Sox organization, and his fifth as manager, as he also managed Single-A Greenville from 2010-11. The rest of the Sea Dogs staff will remain intact for 2014. Bob Kipper will serve as pitching coach for Portland for the fifth consecutive year, and his seventh year overall (also in 2003-04). 2014 will mark his 15th season in the Red Sox organization. Hitting coach Rich Gedman is back for his second year at hitting coach. The Worcester, MA native is in his fourth season in the Red Sox system as a coach. Brandon Henry, the team's athletic trainer, will return for his third season with the Sea Dogs, and his eighth overall with the Red Sox.
Salem (Single-A, Carolina League)
Moving up to the High-A level is Carlos Febles who will be at the helm as manager for Salem in 2014. Febles, who spent the last two years as the manager at Single-A Greenville, is in his eighth year in the Red Sox system as a coach, and his fourth year as manager. Kevin Walker will return for his fourth season on the Salem staff as pitching coach. 2014 will mark his sixth year in the Red Sox organization. Also shifting from Greenville to Salem is hitting coach U.L. Washington. This season will mark Washington's 13th year in the Red Sox minor league system, and 11th as a hitting coach. Athletic trainer David Herrera will return to Salem for his third season in that capacity, and his seventh year overall with the organization.
Greenville (Single-A, South Atlantic League)
Darren Fenster, who made his managerial debut with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox last year, will serve as Greenville's skipper this season. 2014 will mark the third year for Fenster in the Red Sox organization, and his second year in Greenville, as he was hitting coach for the Drive in 2012. Pitching coach Paul Abbott will return to the Drive for his second year in that role. This year will mark his fourth season within the Red Sox system. Serving as hitting coach for Greenville will be Nelson Paulino. Paulino, who was the hitting coach at Salem last season, is entering his 17th consecutive year with the Red Sox. Satoshi Kajiyama will move up from Short-A Lowell to serve as athletic trainer for Greenville in 2014. He is in his second stint with the Red Sox, and fourth year overall in the organization.
Lowell (Short-A, New York-Penn League)
A manager for Short-A Lowell in 2014 has not been selected yet. Walter Miranda will return as Lowell's pitching coach for the second straight year, and his fifth year overall, as he also held that position in 2005, 2006, and 2008. He has been a member of the Red Sox organization since 1999. Also returning to the Spinners' staff is hitting coach Noah Hall. Last year was his first in that role at Lowell, and 2014 will mark his third year in the Red Sox system. New to the Red Sox organization in 2014 is Nick Faciana, who will serve as Lowell's athletic trainer. The Ohio native who obtained both a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Akron, has served as an graduate assistant and interim athletic trainer for his alma mater's varsity football team (2011-13), a rehabilitation intern with the Philadelphia Phillies (2013), and athletic trainer for Double-A Akron in the Cleveland Indians organization (2010-12).
Gulf Coast League Red Sox (Rookie, Gulf Coast League)
Tom Kotchman, who has 20-plus years of experience as a minor league manager, and 30-plus years of service overall in baseball, will be the GCL skipper in 2014. The father of MLB veteran, Casey Kotchman, Tom is in his second stint with the Red Sox, as he managed Single-A Winter Haven in 1982 and 1983. He returned to the Red Sox organization last year, where he served as a GCL coach. The remainder of the GCL staff remains unchanged from 2013. Pitching coach Dick Such will return for his second year in that role, and his sixth year overall in the system. Dave Tomlin is back for his fourth straight year as a coach for the GCL Red Sox. 2014 will be his ninth straight year, and 13th overall in Boston's farm system. Tomlin also managed the GCL club from 2006 through 2010. Hitting coach Raul Gonzalez will also return to the GCL staff. It will be his second year in that role, and with the organization. Mauricio Elizondo will enter his second straight year as the GCL Red Sox athletic trainer. This year will mark his seventh season in the Red Sox organization.
Dominican Summer League Red Sox (Rookie, Dominican Summer League)
The Domincan Summer League Red Sox will return its entire staff for the 2014 season. Jose Zapata will again serve as both manager for the DSL Red Sox, and as the Red Sox' Latin American Field Coordinator, his eighth straight year in those roles. Amaury Telemaco will be back with the DSL club in 2014 as a pitching coach. This will mark his fifth straight year in that role. Oscar Lira will also return in 2014 as a pitching coach. It will be his third year in that capacity, and fourth year with the Red Sox. Junior Zamora, the DSL Sox bench coach, will be back for his seventh straight year in that role, and in the Red Sox system. Wilton Veras, and Aly Gonzalez will also return as coaches on the DSL Red Sox staff. Veras is entering his third year with the Red Sox, and Gonzalez is back for his second year. Claudio Sanchez is back for his ninth year as a coaching assistant. Antonio Diaz also returns for his seventh season as strength and conditioning coach, and his 19th year in the Red Sox organization. Finally, athletic trainer Guillermo Hinojosa will return for his fifth year in that role for the DSL Red Sox.