Dodgers Announce 2019 Minor League Coaching Staff

The off-season is filled with transactions, trades, and coaching changes. Spring Training is just a month away. Now that each spot on the coaching staff is filled for the big league club, it’s about time we take a look at the minor league level.

The Dodgers successful farm system is filled with young talent from top to bottom, and that includes the coaching staff as well. Each minor league team announced their full coaching staff Wednesday afternoon. Let’s take a look.

OKC Dodgers (Triple-A)

Manager – Travis Barbary

Hitting Coach – Scott Coolbaugh

Pitching Coach – Bill Simas

Coach – Jeremy Rodriguez

Scott Coolbaugh and Jeremy Rodriguez are each in their first season as a part of this OKC staff. Travis Barbary, 47, is in his first season as manager following 25 years as both a player and coach in the Dodgers organization.

The OKC Dodgers finished their 2018 campaign with a 75-65 that included a trip to the PCL playoffs. Some familiar faces as well as some new faces look to have a successful 2019 season in OKC. The team will kickoff their season on April 4th at home against San Antonio.

Tulsa Drillers (Double-A)

Manager – Scott Hennessey

Hitting Coach – Adam Melhuse

Pitching Coach – Dave Borkowski

Coach – Pedro Montero

Scott Hennessey will be returning as the manager for his third consecutive season. Hennessey led the Drillers to the teams first Texas League Championship in 20 years. Adam Melhuse and Pedro Montero will be joining the Drillers staff for their first time.

Prior to his coaching career, Dave Borkowski spent 7 major league seasons with the Tigers, Orioles, and Astros (1999-01, 2004, 2006-08).

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Single-A)

Manager – Mark Kertenian

Hitting Coach – Dustin Kelly

Pitching Coach – Connor McGuinness

Coach – Elian Herrera

At the age of 39, first Quakes manager Mark Kertenian will continue to coach in the Dodgers organization for his 3rd consecutive season, The Burbank-born Kertenian also spend time as a collegiate coach for CSU Northridge, Nevada, and Florida International University.

One familiar face you might recognize is first year coach Elian Herrera. Herrera spent four seasons at the big league level, including two with the Dodgers in 2012-2013.

Great Lakes Loons (Single-A)

Manager – John Shoemaker

Hitting Coach – Justin Viele

Pitching Coach – Luis Meza

Coach – Jason Bourgeois

John Shoemaker will make his return as the Loons manager for his 4th straight year. Shoemaker is one of the most familiar faces in the Dodgers organization, as he heads in to his 43rd season in the organization.

Shoemaker will welcome Justin Viele, Luis Meza, and Jason Bourgeois to the Loons staff. All three are in the first year with the ball club.

Ogden Raptors (Rookie Advanced)

Manager – Austin Chubb

Hitting Coach – Seth Conner

Pitching Coach – Dean Stiles

Coach – Cordell Hipolito

The 29 year-old Chubb is entering his 4th season in the Dodgers organization, including 2019 as his first season as the manager of the Raptors.

Stiles and Conner are both in their second seasons with the organization. First year coach Cordell Hipolito will join the Dodgers for the 2019 season.

Chubb (Nationals & Dodgers) and Conner (Blue Jays) spent time as professional ball players at the minor league level.

AZL Dodgers (Rookie)

Manager – Jair Fernandez

Hitting Coach – Jarek Cunningham

Pitching Coach – Stephanos Stroop

Coach – Chris Gutierrez

Fernandez will begin his first season as manager for the AZL Dodgers. The 32 year-old former minor leaguer spent ten seasons as a player. His first coaching position was hitting coach for the Loons for two seasons.

Stroop will enter his first minor league coaching season following pitching coach stints with Southern University and A&M College.

Cunningham, the Spokane native, was drafted by the Pirates in the 18th round of the 2018 MLB draft. He spent a total of 8 seasons at both the minor league level and Independent League. This will be his 3rd season as the AZL Dodgers hitting coach.

Dominican Summer League Dodgers

Managers – Keyter Collado & Fumi Ishibashi

Hitting Coaches – Johermyn Chaves & Sergio Mendez

Pitching Coaches – Ramon Troncoso & Roberto Giron

Coaches – Pedro Mega, Antonio Bautista, & Dunior Zerpa

Collado (7th season) and Ishibashi (9th season) are both managers for the Dominican Dodgers.

Roberto Giron will be work alongside former Dodger Ramon Troncoso. Trancoso spent five seasons in the big leagues (2008-11, 2013), including four of those seasons as a Dodger. Both Giron and Trancoso will serve as pitching coaches. It’s always good to see former Dodgers stay involved in the organization.

Mega, Zerpa, and Bautista will all be returning as coaches for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers.

Per a press release from the Dodger:

In 2018, Dodger affiliates posted a .547 (452-374) combined winning percentage, which was the best among MLB clubs, with the club’s top six affiliates advancing to the postseason. Double-A Tulsa (Texas League), Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (California League) and the Arizona League Dodgers all won their league championships.

Here’s to continued success for the organization in 2019.