MADISON, AL – The Los Angeles Angels announced Tuesday that Rocket City Trash Pandas Pitching Coach Tim Leveque has been named the club's Interim Pitching Coach as part of a series of changes to the organization's Major League pitching staff. Former Trash Pandas Pitching Coach Michael Wuertz will serve as Interim Bullpen Coach, while Doug Henry, Rocket City's Assistant Pitching Coach, will take over pitching coach duties for the Trash Pandas.
The Angels relieved Pitching Coach Mike Maddux, Bullpen Coach Dom Chiti and Assistant Pitching Coach Darryl Scott of their duties. The changes were announced by Angels Baseball Operations Consultant John Mozeliak.
Leveque moves to the Major League staff during his first season in the Angels organization after spending the previous 20 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He served as a Pitching Analyst in the Cardinals' scouting department in 2025 following nine seasons as Senior Minor League Pitching Coordinator, overseeing pitcher development throughout the organization. Earlier in his career, Leveque served as pitching coach at multiple Cardinals affiliates.
In his season with Rocket City, Leveque has overseen a pitching staff that has developed into one of the best in Double-A. Over the last 81 games dating back to May 3, the Trash Pandas have posted a 4.01 ERA, tied for the best mark in Double-A and third-best among all full-season Minor League clubs. For the season, Rocket City ranks second in the Southern League with a 4.43 ERA while leading the circuit with 34 saves and 43 holds.
The bullpen has undergone an especially strong turnaround under Leveque and Henry. After posting a 5.38 ERA with six blown saves over the first 26 games, Trash Pandas relievers own a 3.68 ERA since May 3, best in Double-A and fifth among all full-season Minor League teams. During that span, the bullpen's 29.6 percent strikeout rate leads all of Minor League Baseball.
That success has also translated into advancement through the Angels organization. RHP Luke Murphy and LHP Blake Weiman were each promoted directly from Rocket City to the Angels this season. Murphy posted a 0.71 ERA and led Minor League Baseball with 18 saves over 34 appearances before making his Major League debut on July 31. Weiman followed by making his Angels debut on August 7 after pitching for Rocket City.
Several other Trash Pandas pitchers have ranked among the Southern League's best this season. RHP Joel Hurtado led the league with 101.2 innings and ranked second in ERA at the time of his promotion to Triple-A Salt Lake. RHP Austin Gordon enters Tuesday ranked fifth in ERA (4.75) and strikeouts (99), second in starts (21), seventh in innings (96.2) and sixth in both opponent batting average (.250) and WHIP (1.32).
In the bullpen, RHP Kenyon Yovan ranks second in the Southern League with 11 saves and tied for first with 38 appearances, while RHPs Chris Cortez, Lucas Mahlstedt and Camden Minacci are tied for fifth with seven holds. Rocket City relievers also own four of the five longest streaks in the Southern League this season without allowing an earned run, including Mahlstedt's active streak of 14 appearances and 20.2 innings.
Wuertz, now in his 11th season in the Angels organization, had been serving as the Angels' Minor League Assistant Pitching Coordinator. He spent the previous five seasons as Rocket City's inaugural Pitching Coach and previously coached at High-A Inland Empire and Rookie-Level Orem. Wuertz pitched eight Major League seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, appearing in 426 games.
Leveque and Wuertz will join another familiar Rocket City face on the Angels' Major League coaching staff in Andy Schatzley, who managed the Trash Pandas for four seasons from 2022-25 before joining the Angels' staff this season.
Henry takes over the Rocket City pitching staff in his second season with the Trash Pandas and sixth in the Angels organization. The former 11-year Major League reliever previously served as Kansas City's Major League Bullpen Coach from 2013-17, helping the Royals reach consecutive World Series and win the 2015 championship. Henry has worked primarily with Rocket City's relievers during his time with the Trash Pandas.
The coaching changes come as the first-place Trash Pandas open a pivotal six-game road series against the Knoxville Smokies on Tuesday night at Covenant Health Park. Rocket City (21-18, 56-51) enters the series one game ahead of Knoxville atop the Southern League North Division second-half standings after winning back-to-back series and seven of its last nine games.
First pitch for Tuesday's series opener is scheduled for 6:00 pm CT, with Gordon (5-6, 4.75) starting for Rocket City against RHP Edward Cabrera, who is scheduled to make an MLB rehab appearance for Knoxville. Fans can watch on MiLB.TV and Bally Live and listen on ESPN 97.7 The Zone (WZZN-FM) and Talk Radio 97.7 FM HD-2.
**ABOUT THE ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS
**Owned and operated by BallCorps, LLC, the Rocket City Trash Pandas are the proud Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Southern League. The Trash Pandas play at state-of-the-art TOYOTA Field in Madison, Alabama. The organization's mission is to unite our communities by creating positive and lasting memories one experience at a time.