The Cincinnati Reds announced their minor league coaching staff assignments for the upcoming 2016 campaign on Wednesday. On the heels of leading the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to their first playoff berth, Pat Kelly returns as manager for a second season. Kelly is joined by major league veteran Danny Darwin as Alex Pelaez returns for his third year as the team's hitting coach.
Kelly led the Blue Wahoos to their first playoff appearance in 2015 with a 38-32 record in the second half to win the division. This will mark his 10^th season in the Reds organization as he brings over 20 years of managerial experience. In 2012, he was named the Pioneer League Manager of the Year with the Billings Mustangs. Kelly is currently in Puerto Rico managing the Indios de Mayaguez in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League where the team is currently 27-14.
"We are very pleased with Pat Kelly returning to Pensacola," said team CEO Bruce Baldwin. "Pat really turned around the team last season to win the second half and take Pensacola to the playoffs for the first time. He's quickly become a fan favorite and we can't wait to see what he brings to the field in 2016."
Darwin, who pitched for 21 years in the major leagues, begins his first season with Pensacola. He amassed 171 wins and 182 losses over his career for eight different Major League teams with a 3.84 earned run average. Darwin is no stranger to the Southern League having served as the pitching coach for the Jacksonville Suns (2006-07) and Chattanooga Lookouts (2010). He coached for the Great Lakes Loons from 2008-09.
Pelaez returns to Pensacola for his third season and his eighth season with the Reds organization. From 2011-2013, he served as the hitting coach at Class A Dayton and for Billings in 2010. In 2009, his first season as a professional coach, he was the hitting instructor for the Rookie GCL Reds.
Tyler Moos joins the staff as the squad's athletic trainer while Nate Tamargo joins as the Strength and Conditioning coach. Moos previously worked in the Seattle Mariners organization with the Tacoma Rainiers (2015) and the Desert Mavericks (2013-14). Tamargo is entering his third season with the Reds organization previously with Dayton (2015) and Billings (2014).
Jeff Fassero, who served as the Blue Wahoos pitching coach the past two seasons, is now the Roving Pitching Instructor primarily working with the Reds full-season affiliates. Charles Leddon, who served as Pensacola's Athletic Trainer for four years, is now serving as Manager of Sports Science in Goodyear while former Strength and Conditioning coach Matt Hall has been promoted to Cincinnati.
2016 Field Staff
Pat Kelly - Manager (2^nd season)
Danny Darwin -Pitching Coach (1^st season)
Alex Pelaez -Hitting Coach (2^nd season)
Tyler Moos - Athletic Trainer (1^st season)
Nate Tamargo - Strength & Conditioning Coach (1^st season)
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos begin the 2016 season April 7 on the road at Mississippi and open the season at home on April 12 against Jacksonville. Follow the Blue Wahoos at bluewahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.
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