Colorado Rockies announce Low-A Fresno coaching staff
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today the coaching staff for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. Robinson Cancel will return as manager and is joined by Bench Coach Steve Soliz, Pitching Coach Mark Brewer and Hitting Coach Nic Wilson.
Cancel enters his fourth season as the manager of the Rockies’ Low-A affiliate and his sixth season as a coach in the Rockies organization. He was named Low-A West Manager of the Year in 2021 after helping the Grizzlies win the Northern Division with a 74-41 record. Cancel was previously a coach with Short-Season Boise in 2017, his first season with the Rockies, and spent two seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization as the manager of Rookie Level Danville (2016) and the Gulf Coast League Braves (2015). Cancel was originally drafted by Milwaukee in 1994 and played parts of four Major League seasons with Milwaukee (1999), New York-NL (2008-09) and Houston (2011).
Soliz enters his third season in a coaching role in the Rockies system after serving as Fresno’s development supervisor in 2021. He previously served as the manager of Short-Season Boise in 2019. Prior to joining the Rockies, Soliz spent 15 seasons with the Angels organization, most recently with the Major League team, serving as the catching and information coach from 2016-18. He was the Angels bullpen catcher for eight seasons (2003-10) and was originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the 1993 First-Year Player Draft. Soliz played eight professional seasons as a catcher with Cleveland (1993-99) and San Diego (2000-01) and compiled a .236 batting average with 168 runs scored, 62 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 144 RBI in 473 Minor League games.
Brewer enters his third season as the Rockies’ Low-A pitching coach and his eighth with the Rockies overall. Brewer served as the pitching coach with Double-A Hartford in 2018 and Triple-A Albuquerque in 2017 after previously working three seasons as Asheville’s pitching coach from 2014-16. He came to Colorado after serving as the pitching coach for Triple-A Buffalo in the New York Mets organization. His previous experience includes working in the systems for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1993-99, 2001-04), Texas Rangers (1999-2000), Kansas City Royals (2004-05), Pittsburgh Pirates (2008-09) and the Mets (2006-08, 2009-12).
Wilson enters his second season as Fresno’s hitting coach and his third with the Rockies organization after originally being hired prior to the canceled 2020 season as the hitting coach for Short-Season Boise. Prior to joining the Rockies, he served as a volunteer assistant and hitting coach for Eastern Kentucky University in 2019, where he received his master’s in sports science. Wilson was selected in the 24th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays and went on to spend the 2014 season with Rookie Level Princeton and the 2015 season with Short-Season Hudson Valley. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia State University, where he was named a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American after batting .322 with 18 home runs and 52 RBI as a senior in 2014.