Braves announce minor league coaching staffs for 2019

The Atlanta Braves today announced the organization's minor league coaching staffs and roving staffs for the 2019 season.

January 2nd, 2019

The Atlanta Braves today announced the organization's minor league coaching staffs and roving staffs for the 2019 season. 
Damon Berryhill will return for his third consecutive season as Triple-A Gwinnett's manager, and he will be joined on the bench by pitching coach Mike Maroth, hitting coach Bobby Magallanes and coach Einar Díaz. Maroth served in the same role with Single-A Florida last season, while Magallanes was a coach for Cleveland's Triple-A club in Columbus during 2018. Díaz spent last season on Baltimore's major league coaching staff. Trainer Nick Jensen returns for his second season with the Stripers. 
Double-A Mississippi will return manager Chris Maloney for 2019, who is in his second season on the M-Braves' bench. Pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn, hitting coach Carlos Mendez and 2018 Southern League Athletic Trainer of the Year T.J. Saunders all will return in the same roles. Coach Alfredo Amezaga will make his coaching debut after a 19-year playing career that included time at the major league level in parts of nine different seasons. 
 
Single-A Florida will feature a new manager this season, as Barrett Kleinknect will take over after serving as rookie-level Danville's skipper last season. Kleinknect started his managerial career in 2017 with the rookie-level GCL Braves before moving to the D-Braves last season. Dan Meyer will serve as the FireFrogs' pitching coach after working in the same capacity with Rome last season, while Doug DeVore, who appeared in 50 games with Arizona in 2004, will make his coaching debut as the club's hitting coach. Coach Porky López reprises his role on the bench and trainer Dave Comeau will work his third consecutive season with the FireFrogs. 
 
Former major league outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo will make his coaching debut as Single-A Rome's manager after retiring from playing following last season. Tuiasosopo, who played three games with Atlanta in 2016, will be joined on the bench by pitching coach Kanekoa Texeira, hitting coach Bobby Moore, and coach Wigberto Nevarez. Eric Hrycko will work as the club's trainer.   
Anthony Nuñez will make his managerial debut with Single-A Danville, after working as a coach on Rome's staff last season. Former Cleveland Indians left-handed pitcher Jason Stanford will serve as the club's pitching coach, while Danny Santiesteban will be the club's hitting coach after working in the same role for the DSL Braves in 2018. Coach Connor Narron is set for his coaching debut after retiring from his playing career following 2016. Trainer Koji Kanemura joins the staff as the trainer in his first year in the organization. 
The rookie-level GCL Braves will return manager Nestor Pérez, pitching coach Elvin Nina and hitting coach Rick Albert from their 2018 staff, along with adding Barbaro Garbey as a second hitting coach and coach Angel Flores. Austin Smith will be the club's new trainer.
Jefferson Romero will serve as the DSL Braves' manager for the second consecutive season, and he will be joined on the bench by pitching coach José Rodríguez, hitting coaches Omar Rosario and Elvis De La Cruz Peña. Hector Astacio will work as the assistant pitching coach and Jesus Aviles will serve as the team's trainer.   
Doug Mansolino will serve as the organization's new field coordinator, after he spent the last five seasons in the same position with the Philadelphia Phillies. Dave Wallace (director of pitching), Derrick Lewis (pitching coordinator), Mike Brumley (hitting coordinator), Jeff Datz (catching coordinator), Adam Everett (infield coordinator), John "T-Bone" Shelby (outfielder/baserunning coordinator) and Mike Schofield (minor league strength and conditioning coordinator) all will reprise their 2018 roles next season, while Ryan Driscoll will work as the club's assistant minor league strength and conditioning coordinator.