Nats bring back entire minor league staff, with few role changes

The Nationals’ minor league coaching staff is mostly staying put for 2025, with a couple of notable affiliate and role changes.

The Nats unveiled their entire player development staff for the upcoming season Wednesday, and it features plenty of familiar names who have been with the organization for some time.

Triple-A manager Matt LeCroy and Double-A manager Delino DeShields both return, with LeCroy about to enter his fifth season in Rochester and DeShields entering his third season in Harrisburg.

LeCroy, who played 39 games for the Nationals in 2006, has been a coach or manager within the organization continuously since 2008 and has managed every affiliate from low Single-A through Triple-A. He also served on the big league staff from 2014-15 as bullpen coach. He’s the first Rochester manager to hold the job for five seasons since Joe Altobelli from 1971-76.

DeShields joined the Nats in 2023 after a long stint with the Reds. The former Expos second baseman has become a mainstay in Harrisburg, helping top prospects James Wood, Dylan Crews and Brady House navigate their way toward Washington.

Nats keep most minor league staff, change several hitting coaches

The Nationals’ minor-league coaching staffs are mostly unchanged for the 2024 season, with one notable exception: They’ve overhauled much of their hitting staff.

The organization announced its full player development staff this afternoon, five days before pitchers and catchers officially report for spring training. Though there was a change at the top of the depth chart – former director of scouting operations Eddie Longosz replaced De Jon Watson, who was let go after two seasons leading the department – most of the coaches and trainers are returning to their same roles.

That includes the managers of all six minor league affiliates: Matt LeCroy (Triple-A Rochester), Delino DeShields (Double-A Harrisburg), Mario Lisson (High-A Wilmington), Jake Lowery (Single-A Fredericksburg), Luis Ordaz (Florida Complex League) and Sandy Martinez (Dominican Summer League).

Most of the pitching coaches return, as well: Rafael Chaves (Triple-A), Mark DeFelice (High-A), Justin Lord (Single-A) and Franklin Bravo (FCL). Rigo Beltran, formerly the Guardians’ bullpen coach, replaces Joel Hanrahan as Double-A pitching coach (though Hanrahan is staying with the Nats as rehab pitching coordinator). Feliberto Sanchez is the new pitching coach in the Dominican Summer League.

All development coaches also return this season: Billy McMillon (Triple-A), Oscar Salazar (Double-A), Mark Harris (High-A), Carmelo Jaime (Single-A) and Destin Hood (FCL).

Nationals set minor league coaching staffs

Nationals set minor league coaching staffs
Now that Major League Baseball has announced minor league affiliations and schedules for the 2021 season, the Nationals took care of one remaining piece of unfinished business Friday afternoon, announcing their minor league coaching staffs for the upcoming campaign. Matt LeCroy will move up a level to manage Triple-A Rochester after spending the 2016-19 seasons as the skipper at Double-A Harrisburg. In his 13th season in the Nationals organization, LeCroy served as minor league quality control...

Report: Nats finalize minor league managerial appointments

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