Washington Nationals announce Minor League Player Development staff
The Washington Nationals announced their 2022 Minor League Player Development staff on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of Player Development De Jon Watson made the joint announcement.
“We are incredibly excited to announce our expanded player development staff,” said Watson. “We added 14 new roles and brought in more than 20 new staff members to the system. This group boasts a wealth of playing and coaching experience at both the Minor League and Major League level. The expanded resources throughout the system ensure that our players will have everything they need to develop, improve and prepare themselves for the next level.”
New Staff Members
Rafael Chaves joins the Nationals after most recently having served as the director of pitching development for the Philadelphia Phillies for three seasons (2019-21). He joined the Phillies as a pitching coordinator in 2015 and held that role until his promotion in 2019. He spent six seasons (2009-14) in player development roles for the Los Angeles Dodgers and one season (2008) as the pitching coach for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the New York Yankees organization. Chaves was the Major League pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2006 and 2007 and prior to that, spent eight seasons (1998-2005) as a pitching coach in Seattle’s Minor League system.
Billy McMillon spent the previous three seasons (2019-21) as manager of Triple-A Worcester in Boston’s Minor League system. From 2016-18, he served as Boston’s outfielder and base running coordinator and prior to that, held manager roles with Double-A Portland (2014), Single-A Salem (2012-13) and Single-A Greenville (2010-11). McMillon spent parts of six Major League seasons with the Florida Marlins (1996-97), Philadelphia Phillies (1997), Detroit Tigers (2000-01), and Oakland Athletics (2001-04).
Micah Franklin joins the Nationals after five seasons (2017-21) as a hitting coach in Arizona’s Minor League system. He spent the 2021 season with Low-A Visalia. Franklin transitioned into a coaching role after spending three seasons (2014-16) as a scout with Seattle and five (2009-13) as a scout with the Diamondbacks. Franklin appeared in 17 games with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1997.
Oscar Salazar spent the 2021 season as the hitting coach for Triple-A El Paso in San Diego’s Minor League system, and from 2017-19, served as the hitting coach for San Diego’s Rookie-level Northwest League affiliate. He played 19 professional seasons, including parts of four Major League seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2002), Baltimore Orioles (2008-09) and San Diego Padres (2009-10).
Tim Doherty joins the Nationals after spending the 2021 season as a Major League coach with the Colorado Rockies. He was the hitting coach for Triple-A Albuquerque from 2018-2020, hitting coach for Double-A Hartford in 2017 and hitting coach at Rookie Level Grand Junction in 2016. He also spent three seasons (2013-15) in Minnesota’s organization and was Boston’s Major League assistant hitting coach in 2012.
Mark DiFelice joins the Nationals after most recently serving as a pitching coach in Miami’s Minor League system for four seasons (2017-20). He spent 2021 working as a private pitching instructor. He began his coaching career with Pittsburgh’s Minor League system, working as the pitching coach for West Virginia (2015-16) and Jamestown (2014). DiFelice spent parts of three professional seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (2008-10).
Delwyn Young spent the 2021 season as manager of the State College Spikes of the MLB Draft League. Prior to that, he served as a hitting coach for Rookie-level Kingsport (2018) and short-season Single-A Brooklyn (2019) in New York’s (NL) Minor League system. Young spent parts of five Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-08) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-10).
Joel Hanrahan spent the previous five seasons (2017-21) as a pitching coach in Pittsburgh’s Minor League system, most recently as the pitching coach for Triple-A Indianapolis. Hanrahan made his Major League debut with the Nationals in 2007 and went on to appear in 115 games across three seasons (2007-09) in Washington. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 and was named a National League All-Star in 2011 and 2012 before concluding his Major League career in 2013 with the Boston Red Sox. He recorded 100 saves in his Major League career, including 40 in 2011 and 36 in 2012.
Carmelo Jaime joins the Nationals after serving as coach in the Detroit Tigers organization since 2012. He played three seasons (2008-10) in Detroit’s Minor League system after being selected in the 24th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.
Ender Chávez joins the Nationals after most recently serving as a bench coach for New York’s (NL) Florida Complex League club 2021. He joined the Mets Minor League system in 2011 as hitting coach and served in that role at different levels (2011-15, 2018-19) before going on to become a coach for Double-A Binghamton (2019) and Major League batting practice pitcher (2020). Chávez played in the Minor Leagues for Colorado (1998-01), New York (NL) (2002-03, 2008) and Montreal/Washington (2004-2007).
Destin Hood begins his full-time professional coaching career after spending the 2021 season as an instructor for the Florida Complex League Nationals in 2021. A second-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Hood played 12 professional seasons in the Washington (2008-14), Cleveland (2014-15), Philadelphia (2015), Miami (2015-17) and Texas (2018) Minor League systems. He appeared in 13 games with the Miami Marlins in 2016.
Feliberto Sanchez spent the previous five seasons (2017-21) as part of Philadelphia’s player development staff, most recently as an assistant pitching coach for the Dominican Summer League Phillies. A native of Sabana Grande, Dominican Republic, Sanchez spent four seasons (2012-15) a pitcher in the Phillies Minor League system.
Dave Jauss spent the 2021 season as the bench coach for the New York Mets. He was a scout for the New York Yankees in 2020 and spent seven seasons (2013-19) as a member of Pittsburgh’s Major League staff. He spent one season (2016) as Pittsburgh’s bench coach. Jauss spent the 2010 (bench coach) and 2011 (coordinator of staff development) seasons on New York’s (NL) Major League staff and held bench coach jobs with the Baltimore Orioles (2008-09) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-07). He worked for 10 seasons (1996-2005) as a coach, scout and administrator for the Boston Red Sox, including a stint as first base coach on the Major League staff from 1997-1999. He began his professional career managing in Montreal’s organization (1988-92, 94).
Longley joins the Nationals after six seasons with the San Diego Padres, most recently as their assistant director of baseball operations (2018-21). From 2016-18, he served as their coordinator of Major League translation and baseball operations. He worked as an assistant in player development and scouting for the New York Yankees in 2015 and in 2014, worked as a Spanish interpreter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Longley graduated from Wheaton (MA) College in 2012 where he was also a captain of the baseball team. In 2021, he received his master of arts in Latin American studies from the University of California – San Diego.
Joe Dillon returns to the Nationals organization after spending the previous two seasons (2020-21) as Philadelphia’s Major League hitting coach. He was Washington’s Major League assistant hitting coach in 2018 and 2019 and served as the hitting coach for Triple-A Syracuse from 2014 to 2015. Between those stints, he spent two seasons (2016-17) as the Miami Marlins’ Minor League hitting coordinator. Dillon enjoyed a 12-year professional career as a utility infielder, spending time in the Tampa Bay (2009-10), Milwaukee (2007-08), Florida (2004-05), Minnesota (2002) and Kansas City (1997-01) organizations.
Coco Crisp joins the Nationals organization after serving as the manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League in 2021. He led the club to a 27-28 record and a third-place finish. He spent the previous two seasons (2019-20) as the bench coach for Cerritos (CA) Community College. Crisp spent 15 Major League seasons with Cleveland (2002-05, 2016), Oakland (2010-15), Kansas City (2009) and Boston (2006-08). A veteran of 43 Postseason games, Crisp won a World Series with the 2007 Boston Red Sox.
José Alguacil joins the Nationals after 15 seasons (2007-21]) with San Francisco’s system. He spent the 2021 season as manager of Double-A Richmond and worked three seasons (2017-19) as San Francisco’s first base coach. He also managed Richmond in 2015 and Triple-A Sacramento in 2016. Alguacil began his coaching career with five seasons (2002-06) in Montreal/Washington’s organization. He played nine professional seasons with San Francisco and Chicago (AL), reaching as high as Triple-A.
Bill Mueller embarks on his first season with the Nationals in 2022. He has served on the Major League coaching staffs of the St. Louis Cardinals (assistant hitting coach, 2017-18; first base coach, 2016), Chicago Cubs (hitting coach, 2014) and Los Angeles Dodgers (hitting coach, 2007). Mueller was named the hitting coach at Arizona State University in 2021 after working as an assistant baseball coach at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz. in 2020-21. A veteran of 11 Major League seasons, Mueller won the 2003 American League Batting Title (.326) and Silver Slugger, and was a member of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Gene Basham joins the Nationals after 21 seasons with the Miami Marlins including the last six seasons on their Major League training staff. He was their head athletic trainer for two seasons (2020-21) after spending four seasons (2016-19) as their assistant athletic trainer. He spent 13 seasons (2003-15) as their athletic training and rehabilitation coordinator. In 2012, he was named the Marlins Player Development Person of the Year, and in 2003, was named the Marlins’ Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year. Basham served as the head athletic trainer for Venezuela’s Pastora de los Luanos Baseball Club in 2001 and 2002. Prior to holding that post, he spent two seasons (2000-01) as an athletic trainer in the Montreal Expos’ system and five seasons (1995-99) in the Texas Rangers’ system.
Minor League Coaching Staff Moves
Justin Lord moves to Double-A Harrisburg after spending the 2021 season with High-A Wilmington. Lord joined the Nationals in 2020 after seven seasons (2013-19) as a pitching coach in the Baltimore Orioles Minor League system.
Mario Lisson will manage High-A Wilmington after leading Low-A Fredericksburg in 2021. Lisson joined the organization in 2018 as manager of the Gulf Coast League Nationals where he managed two seasons (2018-19).
Mark Harris joins High-A Wilmington as a developmental coach after spending the 2021 season as the Florida Complex League Nationals hitting coach. Harris joined the Nationals organization in 2011 and has served as a hitting coach at nearly every level of the Minor League system.
Jake Lowery will manage Low-A Fredericksburg after leading the Florida Complex League Nationals in 2021, his first season in that role. A former catcher, Lowery spent parts of nine professional season in the Washington (2016-19) and Cleveland (2011-15) Minor League systems.
Luis Ordaz embarks on his first season as a manager in 2022 after serving as High-A Wilmington’s hitting coach in 2021. He was Single-A Potomac’s hitting coach from 2016-19 and also spent time as the hitting coach of Single-A Hagerstown (2014-15) and short-season Single-A Auburn (2011-13). Ordaz enjoyed a seven-year Major League playing career with St. Louis (1997-99), Kansas City (2000-02) and Tampa Bay (2006).