FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2026
GUARDIANS ANNOUNCE 2026
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAFF ASSIGNMENTS
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Guardians today announced the organizational staff alignment within the Player Development System for the upcoming Minor League season.
The Guardians Player Development system posted the tenth-best cumulative record (366-348, .513) among the 30 Major League organizations in 2025, including a combined mark of 285-258 (.525) among their four full-season affiliates in AAA Columbus (64-81), AA Akron (77-60), High-A Lake County (74-58) and 2025 Carolina League champion Single-A Lynchburg (70-59). The organization recently placed six players on MLB Pipeline’s Top MLB 100 Prospects list, tied for second-most among the 30 organizations. Additionally, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently ranked the Guardians second-best among baseball’s top farm systems.
Among today’s announcements include the elevation of Ilana Mishkin to Director of Player Development, Player Support and Alyssa Nakken to Director of Player Development, Arizona Development, in recognition of their trust and effective leadership within the organization. Mishkin is in her eighth season with the club, leading the Player Support Team and remaining a key leader in global PD processes, resource development, and support for international players and staff. Nakken, who joined the club from the SF Giants Major League staff in November 2024, will assume increased responsibility for people leadership and Player Development processes at the club’s year-round Arizona Complex, helping to align on-field work, off-field resources, and staff collaboration at the hub of the organization’s domestic development operation.
JB Eary has been promoted to Director, Defense, Base Running and Game Strategy following his 2025 promotion to Assistant Director. JB, who is in his seventh season with the organization, will continue leading the defense, base running and game strategy space while taking on additional people management and process leadership responsibilities based out of Goodyear, AZ.
Continuity abounds at the upper-level full-season clubs with Andy Tracy (seventh season) steering the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, Greg DiCenzo (third season at AA; fifth overall) managing at AA Akron and Omir Santos (fourth season; sixth overall) guiding the High-A Lake County Captains. Erlin Cerda (first season) takes the managerial reigns at Single-A Lynchburg after spending 2024-25 as the Hillcats’ Bench Coach. Cerda has been a coach within the PD system since 2022 following a six-year Minor League career in the Cleveland system, 2013-18. Juan De La Cruz (second season) returns as manager of the ACL squad in Goodyear with Dilson Herrera and Justin Devoid guiding the clubs in the Dominican Summer League. Herrera joins the organization after enjoying a 10-year professional playing career that included parts of four seasons in the Majors with the Mets, Reds, and Orioles from 2014-20.
Other notable Player Development coordinator and coaching hires and promotions include:
- Nick Wittgren (Pitching Coach, AAA Columbus): Nick begins his first season in the coaching ranks following an eight-year Major League pitching career (2016-23) that included three reliable seasons with Cleveland from 2019-21, leading the club with 10 holds during the 2020 season.
- Eric Stamets (Bench Coach, H-A Lake County): Returns to the organization following three seasons as a Development Coach in the Houston Astros system, 2023-25. Concluded his 10-year pro career in 2022 and appeared in 15 games with Cleveland during the 2019 season that included an Opening Day start at shortstop on March 28 at Minnesota.
- Angus Adams (Pitching Coach, AA Akron): Adams begins first season in the pro coaching ranks following his tenure as a Performance Coach at Tread Athletics in Charlotte, NC, and a coaching stint at Elmira College (NY).
- Mike Snow (Hitting Coach, ACL Guardians): Snow joins the organization after previously working as a Game Planning Strategist for the Los Angeles Angels in 2024-25 and a stint as a hitting instructor at Driveline in Scottsdale, AZ.
- Cody Buckel (Pitching Coordinator): Promoted to Pitching Coordinator after spending the 2025 season as the Pitching Coach at AAA Columbus and 2024 at AA Akron. Cody joined the organization in 2019.
- Marc Mumper (Infield Coordinator): Promoted to Infield Coordinator in his fourth season in the organization, spending 2025 as the Akron Bench Coach and 2024 in the same role in Lake County.
The 2026 Minor League season is currently slated to begin on March 27 (Triple-A) and April 2 (Double-A; Class-A).
2026 Player Development Staff Alignment
Vice President, PD / Farm Director.............................. Stephen Osterer
Senior Vice President, Hitting....................................... Alex Eckelman
Vice President, Hitting.................................................... Nate Freiman
Director, Player Development - Player Support........ Ilana Mishkin
Director, Player Development - Arizona Development. Alyssa Nakken
Director, Physical Development................................... Andrew Bahnert
Director, Pitching Development................................... Ben Johnson
Director, Defense/Baserunning/Game Strategy....... JB Eary
Director, Minor League Medical Services.................. Jeremy Harris
Director, Administration................................................. Wendy Hoppel
Assistant Director, Player Development.................... Will Huntington
Assistant Director, Hitting Development.................... Conner Watson
Assistant Director, Physical Development................ Lionel Chia
Assistant Director, Physical Development................ Miguel Solis
Assistant Director, PD -- Education & Life Skills...... Anna Bolton
Assistant Director, PD -- Education & Life Skills...... Jennifer Wolf
Assistant Director, PD -- Education & Life Skills...... Allie Eyers
Assistant Director, DR Operations.............................. Ismael Jansen
Assistant Director, Goodyear Operations................. Amiro Santana
Special Assistant to President/GM.............................. Tom Wiedenbauer
Special Assistant to PD.................................................. Travis Fryman
Special Assistant to PD.................................................. Johnny Goryl
Special Assistant to PD/Medical Services................. Teddy Blackwell
Special Assistant to PD/Hitting..................................... Luis Ortiz
Assistant, Player Development & Scouting............... Nilda Taffanelli
Fundamental Coordinators
Field Coordinator.. .......................................................... John McDonald
Assistant Field Coordinator.......................................... Anthony Medrano
Assistant Field Coordinator.......................................... Buck Taylor
Hitting Coordinator .......................................................... Craig Massoni
Pitching Coordinator...................................................... Michael Peoples
Pitching Coordinator...................................................... Cody Buckel
Infield Coordinator. .......................................................... Marc Mumper
Catching Coordinator..................................................... Brian Whatley
Strength & Conditioning Coordinator......................... Matt Eiden
Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, AZ.................. Josh Kesel
Outfield Coordinator....................................................... TJ Rivera
Coord., Hitting Development & Analysis, LA............. Chris Smith
Assistant Coordinator, Outfield/Baserunning (AZ/DR) Dennis Malave
ATC Coordinator……...................................................... Jeremy Heller
Coordinator, PD Resources.......................................... Brad McKenney
Triple-A Columbus
Manager............................................................................. Andy Tracy
Bench Coach/Asst. Baserunning Coordinator......... Daniel Robertson
Pitching Coach................................................................. Andrew Moore
Pitching Coach................................................................. # Nick Wittgren
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Matt Angle
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Ordomar Valdez
Strength & Conditioning Coach................................... Tyler Grisdale
Strength & Conditioning Coach................................... Mo Cuevas
Athletic Trainer................................................................. Jake Legan
Assistant Athletic Trainer.............................................. Frank Sammons
Development Coach ....................................................... Mac Seibert
Double-A Akron
Manager............................................................................. Greg DiCenzo
Bench Coach.................................................................... Yan Rivera
Pitching Coach................................................................. Michael Poole
Pitching Coach................................................................. # Angus Adams
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Jordan Becker
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Cole Nieto
Strength & Conditioning Coach................................... Jack Baldwin
Athletic Trainer................................................................. Derrik Diaz
Assistant Athletic Trainer.............................................. Laura Gutierrez-Sogel
Development Coach ....................................................... Gustavo Nava
Advanced Class A Lake County
Manager............................................................................. Omir Santos
Bench Coach.................................................................... # Eric Stamets
Pitching Coach................................................................. Shane McCarthy
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Bryce Ball
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Ian Forster
Strength & Conditioning Coach................................... Andrew Coleman
Athletic Trainer................................................................. Yuka Ogata
Assistant Athletic Trainer.............................................. Sho Katayama
Development Coach........................................................ Jonathan Lopez
Low-A Lynchburg
Manager............................................................................. Erlin Cerda
Bench Coach.................................................................... Chase Barbary
Pitching Coach................................................................. Kevin Erminio
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Amanda Kamekona
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Il Hor
Strength & Conditioning Coach................................... Avery Nevin
Athletic Trainer................................................................. Karina Gonzalez
Assistant Athletic Trainer.............................................. Patrick Reynolds
Arizona Complex League Staff
Manager............................................................................. Juan De La Cruz
Bench Coach.................................................................... Chaz Verduzco
Pitching Coach................................................................. Brandon League
Pitching Coach................................................................. Ronald Parra
Hitting Coach.................................................................... Jason Rose
Hitting Coach.................................................................... # Mike Snow
Strength & Conditioning Coach................................... Cesar Yepez
Athletic Trainer................................................................. Luis Estala
Assistant Athletic Trainer.............................................. Isabel Portillo
Baseball Operations/Fundamental Support Staff
Minor League Roving Pitching Coach........................ Tony Arnold
Mental Health/Performance
Director, Sport Psychology........................................... Dr. Lindsay Shaw
Senior Advisor, President/GM....................................... Dr. Charles Maher
Mental Performance Coordinator................................ Sean Swallen
Mental Performance Coach........................................... Andie McGregor
Mental Performance Coach........................................... JuanPa Favero
Mental Performance Coach........................................... Martin Rasumoff
Additional Arizona Complex Staff
Pitching Rehab Lead....................................................... # Stephen Hart
Physical Therapist........................................................... Randy Nava
Physical Therapist........................................................... # Lil Padro
Minor League Rehab S&C Coach................................. Garrett Cash
Coach Assistant Fellow.................................................. # Beau Dorman
Assistant Manager, Goodyear Operations................ Madeline Olofson
Manager, Goodyear Clubhouse................................... Mason Wilbanks
Supervisor, Goodyear Clubhouse............................... Nate Sandler
Assistant, Goodyear Clubhouse.................................. Donnie Redhouse
Performance Dietitian..................................................... Alejandra Delgado
Arizona Head Chef........................................................... Katrina Antles
Arizona Sous Chef........................................................... Sergio Gomez
Arizona Lead Line Cook................................................. Andrew Murray
Arizona Line Cook........................................................... Gloria Quiroz
Arizona Prep Cook........................................................... Alex Arvizu
Arizona Prep Cook / Dishwasher................................. Luz Vera
Additional Performance Staff
Assistant Coordinator, Sport Science........................ Josh Morrison
Assistant Coordinator, Sport Science........................ Ryan Faer
Sport Science Analyst.................................................... Trevor Abshire
Strength & Cond. Development Coach....................... Juan Acevedo
Performance Dietitian..................................................... Sean Mohney
Baseball Technology Staff
Coordinator, Baseball Operations-Technology........ Sisco Flores
Assistant, Baseball Technology.................................. Noah Mullens
Fellow, Baseball Technology........................................ Jake Miller
Fellow, Baseball Technology........................................ Ryan Chambliss
Fellow, Baseball Technology........................................ Savannah Dennis
Fellow, Baseball Technology........................................ # Jaden Jones
Fellow, Baseball Technology........................................ # Willie Baker
Fellow, Baseball Technology........................................ # Sara Clokey
Dominican Summer League Staff
DR Academy Coordinator.............................................. Jose Mejia
Manager, DR Operations................................................ Ricardo Garcia
Lead Pitching Coach....................................................... Jesus Sanchez
DSL Manager.................................................................... # Dilson Herrera
DSL Manager.................................................................... Justin Devoid
DSL Pitching Coach........................................................ Carlos Jan
DSL Pitching Coach........................................................ Anderson Polanco
DSL Hitting Coach........................................................... Jonathan Lozada
DSL Hitting Coach....................................................... # Cristobal Rodriguez
DSL Bench Coach............................................................ Carlos Fermin
DSL Bench Coach............................................................ Jesus Tavarez
DSL Bench Coach............................................................ Jose Rincon
DR Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach.......... Andres Ponce
DSL Strength & Conditioning Coach.......................... Fernando Cabral
DSL Strength & Conditioning Coach.......................... Edgar Soto
DR Academy S&C Coach/Sport Scientist.............. Jaime Romeu Casillas
Athletic Trainer.......................................................... Carlos Veguilla-Diaz
Athletic Trainer................................................................. Harrison Faulk
DR Physiotherapist......................................................... Rances Palacio
DR Physiotherapist......................................................... # Pedro Reyes
DR Tech & Video.............................................................. Luis Diaz
DR Tech & Video.............................................................. Eddy Alcantara
DR Tech & Video.......................................................... Jhoan De La Rosa
DR Nutritionist.................................................................. # Ivonne Peralta
DR Chef.............................................................................. Marcos Mieses
DR Admin........................................................................... Cristina Almonte
DR Clubhouse Manager................................................. Natanael Perez
DR Clubhouse Assistant................................................ Ramon Castillo
DR Clubhouse Assistant................................................ Jose Luciano
DR Maintenance Manager............................................. Eduardo Urdaneta
DR Support Service Assistant...................................... Abel Ortiz
(#)Newly hired for 2026
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