SAN DIEGO -- The Padres unveiled their Minor League coaching staffs for the 2017 season on Friday, bringing former Marlins skipper Edwin Rodriguez on board to helm Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore.
Rodriguez managed the Marlins in 2010 and '11, and he has spent the past three seasons in the Indians' organization. He's set to take over a Lake Elsinore team with no shortage of top prospects.
El Paso manager Rod Barajas, who led the Padres' Triple-A affiliate to a Pacific Coast League title last season, is back for his second season at the helm (and his fourth in the organization). Hitting coach Morgan Burkhart and pitching coach Bronswell Patrick also return.
Aside from Rodriguez -- who takes over for Francisco Morales, who resigned midseason -- the only other managerial changes in the organization come at the lower levels. The Padres will field two teams in the Rookie-level Arizona League, and Shaun Cole will make his managerial debut with one of them. Meanwhile, Aaron Levin takes over the Dominican Summer League team after spending the past four seasons with the Rangers -- three as their DSL manager.
Across the rest of the organization: Phillip Wellman returns at Double-A San Antonio for his second season, Anthony Contreras is back with Class A Fort Wayne for his fourth season, Ben Fritz enters his second season as manager at Class A Short-Season Tri-City and Michael Collins stays on board as the team's other manager in the Rookie-level Arizona League. It will be his third season there.