Padres announce minor league coaching staffs
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres today announced the staffs for their minor league affiliates, as well as the club's roving instructors, for the 2014 season.
As previously announced by the El Paso Chihuahuas, Pat Murphy returns for his fifth season with the Padres organization and second-straight managing the club's Triple-A affiliate. In 2013, Murphy guided the Tucson Padres to a 77-67 (.535) record and a third-place finish in the Pacific Coast League's Southern division. Also joining the El Paso coaching staff will be Mike Cather as pitching coach and Jacque Jones as hitting coach. Cather enters his third season with the Padres organization and his first as pitching coach after serving the previous two as the organization's pitching coordinator. Jones also returns for his third season with the Padres and first with the club's Triple-A affiliate, previously serving as hitting coach for Double-A San Antonio in 2013 and Single-A Fort Wayne in 2012. Among the club's training staff, Nathan Stewart and Isak Yoon will both be returning along with strength coach A.J. Russell.
In San Antonio, Rich Dauer returns for his second season with the Class AA Missions and second in the Padres organization after guiding the franchise to its 13th Texas League Championship in 2013. Following the year, Dauer was named the 2013 Texas League Manager of the Year. Returning with Dauer for 2014 will be pitching coach Jimmy Jones for his sixth season as a pitching coach in the organization, along with athletic trainer Daniel Turner. Francisco Morales joins the organization as hitting coach for the Missions after serving the previous three seasons on the Major League coaching staff of the Cleveland Indians. Also joining the staff in San Antonio will be strength coach Eric Wood.
Jamie Quirk joins the Padres organization as manager of the club's Single-A affiliate in Lake Elsinore after serving the previous two seasons as bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. The 2014 campaign will mark the former big league catcher's 42nd season in professional baseball. Returning to Lake Elsinore will be Bronswell Patrick for his seventh season with the Padres organization after spending 2013 as pitching coach for the club's Triple-A affiliate. Patrick spent the 2011 and 2012 campaigns with the Storm. Joining the Storm's staff will be former Major League catcher Jody Davis for his first year with the Padres organization. Davis had previously served as a minor league manager in the Chicago Cubs' organization as well as in the Canadian Baseball League and the Venezuelan Winter League. Athletic trainer Will Sinon returns to the Storm and is joined by strength coach Pat Trainor.
In Fort Wayne, replacing manager José Valentin, who joined the Padres as first base coach, will be Michael Collins, who spent the previous two seasons managing the club's Rookie-Level affiliate in 2013 and Dominican Summer League affiliate in 2012. Returning for their second seasons with the Single-A TinCaps and second with the Padres organization will be Burt Hooton as pitching coach and Morgan Burkhart as hitting coach. Athletic trainer Ricky Huerta also returns to Fort Wayne for his second season and fifth with the Padres organization and will be joined by strength coach Dan Byrne.
Robbie Wine joins the Padres organization as manager of the club's Short-Season affiliate in Eugene after serving the previous nine seasons as the head baseball coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Returning to the Emeralds will be pitching coach Nelson Cruz for his fourth season with the Padres organization and third with Eugene after spending the 2013 campaign with the club's Rookie-Level affiliate in Peoria. Joining the Emeralds staff and the Padres organization will be hitting coach Homer Bush, a former Padres draft pick who played in parts of seven Major League seasons. Athletic trainer Mitch Matoon also returns to Eugene and is joined by strength coach Gabe Lazzaro.
Rod Barajas joins the Padres organization and makes his managerial debut with the club's Rookie-Level affiliate in Peoria, Ariz., after a 17-year playing career as a catcher, including parts of 14 Major League seasons. Barajas is joined by pitching coach Dave Rajscih, who returns for his 15th year with the Padres organization, and hitting coach Carlos Sosa, who enters his second season with the Padres organization, and second with the club's Rookie-Level affiliate. Also returning to Peoria are rehab pitching coach Tim Worrell, rehab hitting coach Damion Easley, and athletic trainer Wade Yamasaki, who will be joined by strength coach Scott Cline.
For the Padres' Dominican Summer League affiliate, Evaristo Lantigua returns as coordinator of instruction in what will be his eighth season with the Padres organization. Also returning to the staff will be pitching coaches Mel Rojas and Jackson Quezada, infield coach Jose Guillen and outfield coach Julio Ramirez as well as strength coach Jorge Gonzalez, assistant athletic trainer Juan Cabrera, assistant strength coach Jonathan Borges and catching coach Jhonaldo Pozo. A new athletic trainer for the club's Dominican Summer League affiliate has yet to be announced.
Returning to San Diego's staff of minor league roving instructors for 2014 will be Field Coordinator Randy Johnson, Hitting Coordinator Sean Berry, Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator Glen Barker, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Jordan Wolf, Rehab Coordinator Ryan Bitzel and Medical Coordinator Joseph Tarantino. Joining the club's staff of instructors will be Upper Level Pitching Coordinator Trevor Hoffman, Pitching Coordinator Gorman Heimueller and Infield Coordinator Eddie Rodriguez.