CLEVELAND -- The Guardians announced their 2026 player development staff on Wednesday, which included the elevation of assistant directors of player development Ilana Mishkin and Alyssa Nakken to prominent leadership roles within the organization.
Mishkin has been promoted to director of player development, player support, while Nakken has been promoted to director of player development, Arizona development.
Mishkin is entering her eighth season with the Guardians and is a key leader in the organization's global player development processes, resource development and support for international players and staff.
Nakken joined the Guardians’ player development staff in November 2024 following her five-season stint on the Giants’ coaching staff in which she became the first full-time female coach in Major League history. She made history on April 12, 2022, when she became the first woman to coach on the field in a Major League game -- filling in as San Francisco’s first-base coach in a game against San Diego.
In her new role, Nakken will take on increased leadership responsibility at the Guardians’ complex in Goodyear, Ariz., and within the organization's player development processes, helping align on-field work and staff collaboration.
The Guardians also finalized the coaching staffs of each of their Minor League affiliates as part of Wednesday’s announcement.
Triple-A Columbus
Andy Tracy returns for his seventh season as the Clippers’ manager. New to his staff is pitching coach Nick Wittgren -- who pitched three seasons with Cleveland (2019-21) as part of his eight-year career in the Majors from ‘16-23.
Double-A Akron
Greg DiCenzo returns for his third season as the RubberDucks manager. New to his staff is pitching coach Angus Adams, who’s entering his first season with the Guardians’ organization. He previously was a performance coach at Tread Athletics in Charlotte, N.C., and had a coaching stint at Elmira College in New York.
High-A Lake County
Omir Santos is entering his fourth season as the Captains’ skipper. He’ll be joined by new bench coach Eric Stamets, who was Cleveland's Opening Day shortstop in 2019 as part of a 15-game stint in his big league career. Stamets spent the past three seasons as a development coach in the Astros’ organization.
Single-A Lynchburg
Erlin Cerda is the Hillcats’ new manager, following his stint as Lynchburg’s bench coach from 2024-25. He joined Cleveland’s player development staff in ‘22 after a six-year Minor League career with the organization from ‘13-18.
Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Guardians
Juan De La Cruz is entering his second season as manager of the Arizona Complex League Guardians, and Mike Snow is joining the staff as hitting coach. Snow served as a game planning strategist in the Angels’ organization from 2024-25 and was an instructor at Driveline in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Guardians
Dilson Herrera and Justin Devoid will manage the Guardians’ Dominican Summer League teams. Herrera is entering his first season in the organization. He played pro ball for 10 seasons, including parts of four campaigns in the Majors from 2014-20 with the Mets, Reds and Orioles.
Other highlights
The Guardians promoted Cody Buckel to pitching coordinator. He was previously pitching coach for Akron (2024) and Columbus (‘25). Cleveland also promoted Marc Mumper to infield coordinator. He’s entering his fourth season with the organization and was previously the bench coach with Lake County (‘24) and Akron (‘25).