Astros complete 2014 Major League coaching staff

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have completed their 2014 Major League coaching staff by naming Brent Strom as pitching coach, Pat Listach as first base coach, Craig Bjornson as bullpen coach and Ralph Dickenson as assistant hitting coach. The club also announced that Dave Trembley will return as the club's new bench coach, Eduardo Perez will return as the new third base coach and Dan Radison has been named a special assignment coach. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow.
 
Strom, 64, spent the last six seasons (2008-13) with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, serving as the Cardinals minor league pitching coordinator (2012-13) and minor league pitching instructor (2008-11). This will be Strom's third stint as a Major League pitching coach and his second with Houston, having been in the same position for the Astros in 1996 and for Kansas City from 2000-01.
 
Strom began his coaching career in Houston's organization in 1989, serving as a minor league pitching instructor for seven seasons (1989-95) before being elevated to the Major League pitching coach position in 1996. He also has experience as a minor league coach and instructor with the San Diego (1997) and Montreal/Washington organizations (1998-99, 2002-06). His coaching career followed a playing career that spanned from 1970-81, which included parts of five Major League seasons with New York-NL (1972), Cleveland (1973) and San Diego (1975-77). He played two minor league seasons in the Astros system from 1979-80.
 
Listach, 46, joins the Astros from the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he served as the organization's minor league infield coordinator in 2013. Prior to last season, Listach coached on the Major League staffs for the Chicago Cubs (2011-12) and Washington Nationals (2009-10) for two years apiece. He also has nine years of minor league coaching experience in the Cubs system from 2000-08. Listach played in six Major League seasons, which included time with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-96) and the Astros (1997), and was named the 1992 American League Rookie of the Year. He is a resident of nearby Spring, TX.
 
Bjornson, 44, returns as the club's bullpen coach, the same position he held for the Astros in 2012. He spent last season working as the organization's roving pitching instructor. Bjornson, who is bilingual, has 15 years of coaching experience in professional baseball, mostly spent as a pitching coach. He also played three seasons of minor league baseball (1991-93), all in the Astros system.
 
Dickenson, 65, will take over as the assistant hitting coach after spending the 2013 season as the club's minor league hitting coordinator. Dickenson has been a minor league hitting coordinator for 20 seasons (1990-92, 1995-2009, 2013) for seven different organizations. The 2014 season will be his 36th season as an instructor at the professional or collegiate level and his first on a Major League staff.
 
Trembley, 61, will serve as Bo Porter's bench coach in 2014, which will be Trembley's 30th season in professional baseball and his second consecutive with the Astros. Trembley has a wealth of experience as a manager at the Major League and minor league levels. He was the manager of the Baltimore Orioles for parts of four seasons (2007-2010), and also spent 20 seasons as a minor league skipper, which included managing Porter at three different levels while with the Cubs organization (1995-98).
 
Perez, 44, who is the son of Hall of Famer Tony Perez, will be the third base coach in 2014, a year after serving as the club's bench coach. Prior to joining the Astros, Perez served as the Miami Marlins hitting coach for nearly two seasons (2011-12). He has also worked as a special assistant to the baseball operations department for the Cleveland Indians, a role which included considerable time in uniform providing instruction at the Major League and minor league levels. Perez played parts of 13 seasons (1993-2006) in the Major Leagues with the Angels, Reds, Cardinals, Rays, Indians and Mariners. Following his playing career, he spent several seasons as a baseball analyst for ESPN, working the postseason and for Baseball Tonight.
 
Radison, 63, will be a special assignment coach next season, after spending the 2013 season as the Astros assistant hitting coach. In his role, Radison will assist with coaching duties at the Major League level and will also provide support to the minor league staff. Radison has over 30 years of professional experience as a player, Major League coach, minor league manager and coordinator. He originally joined the organization as a special assistant to the GM in January of 2012.
 
Astros hitting coach John Mallee is returning in the same capacity as the 2013 season.