Phillies announce 2015 developmental coaching staffs
On Tuesday, the Phillies released their planned 2015 coaching staffs for their minor league affiliates.
The Triple-A level will maintain the same group with Dave Brundage staying on as manager, Ray Burris and Sal Rende returning as pitching coach and hitting coach respectively along with Mickey Morandini coming back as bench coach.
Reading skipper Dusty Wathan will return for his fourth year with the team. Pitching coach Dave Lundquist will also be back at the Double-A level, while hitting coach Frank Cacciatore, who previously worked with the Reading team from 2008-2013 and with Clearwater in 2014, will make his return to Reading.
Class A Advanced Clearwater will have a new manager, as Greg Legg has been promoted after holding the same position with Class A Lakewood last season. 2014 Reading hitting coach Rob Ducey will work with the Threshers next year, while Steve Schrenk, who previously coached in Clearwater in 2007-2008, will be back as pitching coach after working in the Gulf Coast League last year.
Lakewood’s skipper will be Shawn Williams, who has one season as a pro manager under his belt after being hired for that gig with short-season A level Williamsport last season. Williams is the son of former big league skipper Jimy Williams. Former Phillies hurler Aaron Fultz will return to Lakewood as pitching coach after previously holding that position in 2013 and working in Williamsport last season. Nelson Prada, who managed Clearwater last season, will fill the spot of hitting coach with the BlueClaws next year.
Williamsport will have 1992 World Series MVP Pat Borders leading the way as new manager. Eddie Dennis will take on hitting coach duties while Les Lancaster will be the club’s pitching coach.
With the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies, Roly de Armas will return as manager. Rafael DeLima will serve as hitting coach with former big league hurler Brian Sweeney joining the organization as pitching coach.
Minor league coordinator positions will mostly remain untouched with Doug Mansolino (field), Chris Truby (infield), Andy Tracy (hitting), Andy Abad (outfield/base running) and Ernie Whitt (catching) all returning. Carlos Arroyo is slated to be back in his previous role of roving pitching coach after filling the Phils’ pitching coordinator spot last season. Former big league pitcher Rafael Chaves was hired last month as the Phillies’ new minor league pitching coordinator after holding the same position with the Dodgers in recent years.
