PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates announced their 2016 performance team on Tuesday, making several notable promotions and filling out the group to replace a few recent departures from their big league training staff.
After leaving the NBA's Golden State Warriors last year, Dr. Chris Johnson will return to Pittsburgh for his second season as the organization's director of performance. Bernie Holliday is entering his seventh season as the director of mental conditioning.
Brendon Huttmann, who served as the Pirates' strength and conditioning coach the past four years, has been promoted to the position of sports science coordinator. Last year, the Pirates ramped up their efforts in the strength-and-conditioning department, making a concerted effort to analyze players' workouts, rest and the effects of both on their performance. Given Huttmann's new job title, it's likely those efforts will continue and perhaps expand in 2016.
Head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk and assistant athletic trainer Ben Potenziano will lead the Major League club's training staff. Joining them are Kevin "Otis" Fitzgerald, the club's new physical therapist, and strength coach Ricky White, who most recently worked with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Fitzgerald will essentially replace Jeremiah Randall, who left the Pirates in December and joined the Astros as their head athletic trainer, while White will help fill the void left by Huttmann's promotion and the departure of Kiyoshi Momose, who became the Red Sox strength and conditioning coach in November.