WASHINGTON -- Valuing stability throughout the organization, especially as their top prospects rise through the system, the Nationals retained their Minor League managers and their entire coaching staffs for the 2017 season.
Billy Gardner will continue to manage Triple-A Syracuse, Matt LeCroy will return with Double-A Harrisburg, Tripp Keister is back with Class A Advanced Potomac and Patrick Anderson continues to lead Class A Hagerstown. Spin Williams will return as senior advisor of player development, and Randy Knorr will return as special advisor for player development.
Their Minor League coordinators remain the same as well, with pitching coordinator Paul Menhart, hitting coordinator Troy Gingrich and field coordinators Jeff Garber and Tommy Shields all returning.
The Nats did make some adjustments to the strength and conditioning staffs. Brett Henry, who was the strength and conditioning coach at Triple-A, has been promoted to the Major League staff. Mike Warren has been promoted to take Henry's place at Syracuse after previously holding the same title with Potomac. Gabe Torres will come from Class A Short-Season Auburn to replace Warren.
Tony Rogowski has been promoted from Harrisburg to the role of Latin American strength and conditioning supervisor and the Gulf Coast League strength and conditioning coach. RJ Guyer replaces Rogowski in Harrisburg after filling the same role in Hagerstown.
The Nationals also made two additions to the organization. Jorge Vasquez, who had spent time in the Marlins' system after stops at St. Leo University and the University of South Florida, will join Hagerstown to replace Guyer. And Shane Hill will join Auburn as the strength and conditioning coach after receiving his master's degree in 2016 from the University of Florida.