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).

Nats announce new minor league player development staff (updated)

Nats announce new minor league player development staff (updated)
The Nationals announced their 2022 minor league player development staff on Tuesday, with 14 new roles and more than 20 new members. This completes the process this offseason of completely revamping the department as the Nationals focus more on the growth of their minor league players during the first year of what is hoped to be a quick rebuild. General manager Mike Rizzo hinted at these changes coming to the organization during his press conference on the last day of the regular season. "We...

Henley, Knorr won't return to MLB staff, will remain with Nats

Henley, Knorr won't return to MLB staff, will remain with Nats
Longtime Nationals coaches Bob Henley and Randy Knorr will not return to the major league staff next season, though both will remain in the organization in player development roles, a source familiar with the changes confirmed. Henley, the club's third base coach for seven of the last eight seasons, and Knorr, the club's first base coach this season after previous stints as bench coach and bullpen coach, are the only members of manager Davey Martinez's staff who weren't invited to return to...

Soto returns to lineup, coaches return to Nats dugout

Soto returns to lineup, coaches return to Nats dugout
Juan Soto is back in the Nationals lineup, his right knee feeling better five days after he tweaked it running the bases. Soto, who was held out of the lineup for the Nats' entire weekend series in Atlanta, was cleared to return to full-time duties tonight for the opener of a three-game series in New York. "I talked to him; he felt pretty good," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He felt like he could play today. He went through his routine. He's...

Full coaching staff set to return at last tonight in New York

Full coaching staff set to return at last tonight in New York
As much as the Nationals roster has undergone massive changes in the last two weeks, let's not forget what happened to manager Davey Martinez's coaching staff as well. Just one day before the frenzied 36-hour stretch that saw eight veteran players traded away for 12 prospects, the Nats learned five of their big league coaches, plus four other staff members, had tested positive for COVID-19. With pitching coach Jim Hickey, bench coach Tim Bogar, first base coach Randy Knorr, third base coach...

Knorr returns to staff as Nats finalize coaching changes

Knorr returns to staff as Nats finalize coaching changes
The Nationals finalized their 2021 coaching staff today, filling the one vacancy that hadn't yet been publicly announced with one of the longest-tenured members of their organization. Randy Knorr, who has been a player, coach or minor league manager with the Nats franchise since 2001 in Montreal, will join the big league staff for the fourth time in the last decade-plus, serving as first base coach for the first time. Bob Henley, after a one-year stint at first base, will move back to the...

Returning coaches embrace change of roles

Returning coaches embrace change of roles
The Nationals return all but one of the members of their World Series-winning coaching staff this season, with only assistant hitting coach Joe Dillon (who got the lead hitting coach's position in Philadelphia) departing. But there are some significant changes to the roles some of the returning coaches will hold in 2020. Manager Davey Martinez decided to rotate three key members of his staff - Chip Hale, Tim Bogar and Bob Henley - around the diamond and dugout, in an attempt to keep everyone...

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer

Nats shift three coaches into new roles, add one new staffer
SAN DIEGO - The Nationals are shuffling three of their coaches to new positions for the 2020 season, with Tim Bogar taking over as bench coach, Chip Hale moving to third base coach and Bob Henley switching to first base coach. Every member of Davey Martinez's World Series winning staff returns next season, with one exception: Pat Roessler has been hired as assistant hitting coach, replacing Joe Dillon, who accepted the lead hitting coach's job with the Phillies last month. That means three...

Hump day: Martinez opens morning workout with live camels

Hump day: Martinez opens morning workout with live camels
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The daily Circle of Trust meeting began just any other. As players gathered around the Nationals logo at the center of their athletic turf field outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, bench coach Chip Hale went over the good and the bad from yesterday's exhibition game, then detailed the plan for this morning's workout. And then things got a little weird. A recording was played of third base coach Bob Henley, frequently the most boisterous speaker at these...

Final workout features sliding, roof shots and old-school hip-hop

Final workout features sliding, roof shots and old-school hip-hop
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The final day of workouts of spring training featured the familiar (music on the field, pitchers throwing in the bullpen, hitters taking batting practice) and the unfamiliar (sliding practice, Bob Henley showing off his knowledge of old-school hip-hop). We'll get to that last eye-opener in a moment. With teams dealing with a compressed window for getting all workouts in before Friday's Grapefruit League opener against the Astros - the Nationals had only three...

Nationals retain entire coaching staff for 2017

Nationals retain entire coaching staff for 2017
Dusty Baker's entire coaching staff will return in 2017. The Nationals announced today that all seven coaches on Baker's staff - bench coach Chris Speier, pitching coach Mike Maddux, first base coach Davey Lopes, third base coach Bob Henley, hitting coach Rick Schu, assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones and bullpen coach Dan Firova - have been retained for another season. The news doesn't come as much surprise, given how well-liked the staff was by this year's roster, but most of the coaches...

Revisiting all the key decisions in the Nationals' Game 5 loss

Revisiting all the key decisions in the Nationals' Game 5 loss
The sting hasn't worn off yet, and it probably won't for quite some time. The Nationals are dispersing around the country today, going home for the winter instead of going to Chicago for a shot at the pennant. Game 5 of the 2016 National League Division Series was an all-timer, one they'll be talking about for years. Whether the Nationals themselves or their fans will ever be able to appreciate that remains to be seen. Certainly it's not something anyone wants to contemplate today. So much...

Dusty Baker keeps Bob Henley as Nationals' third base coach (with Logan Schafer note)

Dusty Baker keeps Bob Henley as Nationals' third base coach (with Logan Schafer note)
When Matt Williams was fired as Nationals manager, his entire staff was also informed that their contracts were not being renewed. However, shortly after, general manager Mike Rizzo made it clear that some coaches were welcome back if the new manager wanted their services. This morning, the Nationals announced that Bob Henley will coach third base on Dusty Baker's staff in 2016, assuming the same position he has held the previous two seasons in Washington. Last week, Baker chose Rick Schu,...

Top three reasons the Henley hire was a good one

Top three reasons the Henley hire was a good one
I feel like David Letterman right now, rattling off a list of the top reasons Bob Henley was a good choice as the Nationals' new third base coach. But I wanted to add a few nuggets on Henley, and why, based on what I've heard, the former catcher was a smart hire by Nationals manager Matt Williams and general manager Mike Rizzo. Full disclosure: I've never had an extended chat with Henley. I don't know the man all that well on a personal level from my two years covering the Nationals,...

Nats hire Bob Henley as third base coach

Nats hire Bob Henley as third base coach
Needing a new third base coach, the Nationals have decided to promote from within, and have hired Bob Henley for the position. Henley has previously served as the Nationals' minor league field coordinator. The 40-year-old Henley has been with the Nationals/Expos organization for the last 11 years. He managed the Nationals' Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2009 and led that team to the GCL title, and has also managed high Single-A Potomac. Henley has been the Nats' minor league field...