The Texas Rangers organization unveiled their 2024 minor league coaching coaching staff for each affiliate for the upcoming season. All of their minor league coordinators and managers return for the 2024 season.
Considering the Rangers just hoisted the World Series trophy in 2023, the old adage “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”, comes to mind.
This sentiment appears to guide the Rangers’ approach, as they prioritize consistency in coaching staffs and philosophy. Time will reveal if this commitment to stability proves beneficial for the farm system’s success.
Triple A Round Rock Express 2024 coaching staff
- Manager: Doug Davis
- Pitching Coach: Dave Borkowski
- Hitting Coach: Matt Lawson
- Bench Coach: Chase Lambin
- Development Coach: Josh Johnson
- Bullpen Coach: Demetre Kokoris
- Athletic Trainer: Will Whitehead
- Strength and Conditioning: Jeff Mathers*
The coaching staff for the Triple-A Round Rock Express for the 2024 season includes returning manager Doug Davis, bench coach Chase Lambin, hitting coach Matt Lawson, pitching coach Dave Borkowski, and development coach Josh Johnson.
Doug Davis, who’s returning for his second season as manager, has an impressive coaching career spanning 11 seasons. With a career record of 755-660, he guided the Express to 89 wins and playoffs in 2023. Davis also oversaw the team’s longest winning streak of 14 games, which is the franchise record.
Chase Lambin, the bench coach, is returning for his fourth season with Round Rock. Prior to coaching, Lambin played 13 seasons at the minor league level and was selected by the New York Mets in the 34th round of the 2002 MLB Draft.
Matt Lawson, the hitting coach, is returning for his third season with Round Rock. Under Lawson’s guidance, Round Rock hitters achieved an impressive average of over six runs per game. Lawson has also played a seven-year career in the minor leagues and was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 14th round of the MLB Draft.
Dave Borkowski, the pitching coach, is returning for his second year with Round Rock. Borkowski helped the pitching staff achieve the second-lowest ERA in the Pacific Coast League. Prior to coaching, Borkowski played 15 professional seasons, including seven in the MLB, and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 11th round of the MLB Draft.
Lastly, Josh Johnson, the development coach, is returning for the 2024 season. A Tampa, Florida native, Johnson took on the role of the Texas Rangers’ first base coach for the final two months of 2022 and managed the High-A Hickory Crawdads in 2021.
Double A Frisco RoughRiders 2024 coaching staff
- Manager: Carlos Cardoza
- Pitching Coach: Jonathan Goebel
- Hitting Coach: Ryan Tuntland
- Development Coach: Kawika Emsley-Pai & Tyler Wolfe
- Athletic Trainer: Neal Ori
- Strength & Conditioning: Brett Platts
The coaching staff of the 2024 Double-A Frisco RoughRiders includes manager Carlos Cardoza, pitching coach Julio Valdez, hitting coach Ryan Tuntland, and development coaches Kawika Emsley-Pai and Tyler Wolfe.
Cardoza, who managed the RoughRiders in 2023, brings a wealth of experience to the team. He led the Surprise Saguaros to an AFL Championship and also coached in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League. With a total record of 376-280 (.573) over his seven seasons as a skipper, Cardoza has proven his ability to lead a team.
Goebel also brings a wealth of experience coaching. He led the RoughRiders pitching staff to a 2nd place finish in strikeouts (1,335) in the Texas League in 2023.
Tuntland, the hitting coach, returns after helping the 2023 RoughRiders set franchise records with 680 walks and a .355 on-base percentage as a team.
Emsley-Pai, a development coach, specializes in working with the Frisco catchers and has previously coached in Hickory.
Wolfe, another development coach, joins the RoughRiders after serving as the hitting coach for the ACL Rangers.
With this experienced coaching staff, the RoughRiders are poised for success in 2024.
High-A Hickory Crawdads 2024 coaching staff
- Manager: Chad Comer
- Pitching Coach: Julio Valdez
- Hitting Coach: Drew Sannes
- Development Coach: Jay Sullenger & Justin Jacobs
- Rehab Athletic Trainer: Alex Silcott
- Strength & Conditioning Coach: Bryce Gist
Chad Comer returns to spearhead the Hickory Crawdads for a second consecutive season. A familiar face, Comer’s journey includes roles as the ‘Dads infield coach during their triumphant 2015 championship season and later as the team’s hitting coach in 2021. His diverse coaching background spans the Dominican Summer League and a developmental stint with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders in 2022. The former Braves draftee in 2011, a catcher by trade, brings a wealth of on-field experience from his two seasons in the Braves’ system.
Adding a fresh touch to the coaching ensemble, Julio Valdez assumes the role of Pitching Coach for the Crawdads, fresh from his tenure with the Low-A Down East Wood Ducks in 2023. Valdez’s coaching roots trace back to the Arizona Complex League Rangers and the Dominican Summer League Rangers, kicking off in 2017 when he started his career with Alabama State. His journey includes a pivotal role as the Director of Pitching at the Texas Pitching Institute before finding his way to the Rangers organization.
Drew Sannes, joined the Texas organization in 2022, steps into the role of Hitting Coach, transitioning from his prior position as a developmental coach for the Arizona League Rangers. Sannes, a former collegiate infielder at the University of North Dakota and Concordia University, St. Paul, brings valuable head coaching experience from his tenure at North Iowa Area Community College.
Jay Sullenger, a seasoned coach with five seasons under his belt in the Texas organization, returns for a third consecutive season as a coach for the Crawdads. Despite the setback of the 2020 season’s cancellation, Sullenger remained active, coaching in the Fall Developmental League and helming the Arizona Rangers in 2021. His coaching pedigree includes a six-season stint leading the Biola University baseball program and prior work with the Tampa Bay Rays.
A familiar face returns to Hickory as Justin Jacobs, a former player for the Crawdads in 2018, assumes the role of a bench coach for the upcoming season. Jacobs, who debuted as a full-season developmental coach for the Class-A Down East Wood Ducks in 2022, showcases a diverse coaching background, including his time as an assistant coach at George Washington University.
In the critical role of Athletic Trainer, Alex Silcott steps in, bringing with him two years of rehab experience with the Rangers. Silcott’s resume includes serving as the athletic trainer for the AZL Rangers and previous roles with the Orem Owlz, a former Rookie-level affiliate of the Angels, and the GCL Orioles.
Completing the coaching lineup, Bryce Gist takes the reins as the Strength and Conditioning Coach, making the transition from his previous role as a Strength and Conditioning graduate assistant at Clemson from August 2022 – 2023.
These coaches bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the High-A Hickory Crawdads, and are poised to guide the team to further success in the 2024 season.
Low A Down East Wood Ducks 2024 coaching staff
- Manager: Carlos Maldonado
- Pitching Coach: Thomas St. Clair
- Hitting Coach: Brian Pozos
- Development Coach: West Hunt* & Jorge Cortes*
- Athletic Trainer: Michael Theile
- Strength & Conditioning Coach: Danny Mendoza
In his sophomore season at the helm, 45-year-old Carlos Maldonado returns as the Wood Ducks skipper, building on a successful 66-61 (.520) regular season finish and a notable appearance in the Carolina League Championship Series in 2023. They were the winner of the first half in the Carolina League.
Joining Maldonado is Thomas St. clair, Thomas St. Clair steps into the role of Pitching Coach, having spent the last two seasons guiding pitchers for the Rookie-level ACL Rangers.
Hitting Coach Brian Pozos returns for his second season with Down East and his third overall with the organization.
With Development Coach Wes Hunt, the Rangers gain a valuable addition with Hunt’s coaching experience from stints at Tarleton State (2023), Campbell (2021-22), and Texas-Permian Basin (2019-20).
New to the organization, Development Coach Jorge Cortes arrives with a coaching background in the Arizona Diamondbacks system from 2017 to 2023.
In a well-deserved promotion, Michael Theile steps up to the role of Athletic Trainer, transitioning from his previous position as a trainer with the ACL Rangers.
Development coaches are West Hunt and Jorge Cortes who are both new to the organization.
Completing the coaching staff is Danny Mendoza, who’ll be the Strength and Conditioning coach for the Wood Ducks.
With this new coaching staff, the Low A Down East Wood Ducks are ready to fly to new heights this 2024 season.
2024 AZL Rangers (Rookie) coaching staff
The coaching staff for the 2024 AZL Rangers (Rookie) has been announced for the upcoming season.
Manager: Guilder Rodriguez
Pitching Coach: Jose James, Mason Milkey
Hitting Coach: Dan Padilla, Eli Orona
Development Coaches: Kevin Torres, Elevys Gonzalez, Kayla Baptista, Hector Ortiz, JT Heenan*
Athletic Trainers: Margarita Corrizalez & Kylie Brown
Strength & Conditioning: Mauro Castillo & Andru Cardenas
DSL Rangers (Rookie) 2024 coaching staff
Manager: Nick Janssen
Development/2nd Manager: Ruben Sosa
Pitching Coaches: Zach Woodard, Matthew Rabe & Carlisle Koestler*
Hitting Coaches: Wiltton Veras & Carlos Rivera*
Development Coaches: Alexis Infante, Jesus Ovalles, Francisco Santiesteban & Eugene Kingsale
Athletic Trainer: Kota Nakano, Wilquin Ortega & Ozzy Velasquez
Strength & Conditioning Coaches: Anastacio Salas & Jose Rosa
In conclusion, the Texas Rangers’ announcement of their 2024 minor league coaching staff brings great excitement to the organization and its fans. Collectively as a farm, the teams had a 361-343 Win-Loss record.
From the Triple A Round Rock Express to the AZL Rangers, each level of the minor league system will benefit from the expertise and knowledge of this exceptional coaching staff.
Coordinators
- Field/Infield: Kenny Holmberg
- Pitching: Jordan Tiegs
- Director, Hitting: Cody Atkinson
- Hitting: Eric Dorton
- Asst. Field/Catching: Garrett Kennedy
- AZ/DR Roving Hitting Coach: Sharnol Adriana
- Video Coordinator: Hunter Schneider
Kenny Holmberg resumes his position as the club’s Field Coordinator, marking his third year in this role, while also continuing as Infield Coordinator for the ninth consecutive year.
As always, stay tuned here at The Prospect Times for the latest in regards to the Texas Rangers farm system. Until next time, keep swinging for the fences.
