News on minor league staff changes had been trickling out since before Christmas, but the Pirates on Wednesday made official what many had been reading about for weeks.
The staff changes include new managers at three of their four affiliates, although two of those on the move were already in the system. Low-A Bradenton manager Jonathan Johnston is the lone holdover.
Switching back to baseball, here are some Pirates player development staff assignments they just announced: pic.twitter.com/qRI7Xa3lYD
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) January 12, 2022
Here are capsules on the most notable names, plus some quick hits on others:
Miguel Perez, manager, Class AAA Indianapolis
Notable: Managed Class AA Altoona in 2021. Curve went 58-59 to finish fourth. … Former catcher signed with the Reds as a non-drafted free agent in 2000. … Managed what was then Low-A Greensboro in 2019, leading Grasshoppers to a 79-59 record.
Kieran Mattison, manager, Class AA Altoona
Notable: Managed High-A Greensboro in 2021. Grasshoppers went 74-46 to finish second. … Had “staff of the year” in the Pirates organization. … Has played or coached in more than 10 countries, including managing in France.
Callix Crabbe, manager, High-A Greensboro
Notable: Had been an assistant hitting coach with Texas Rangers since December 2018. … Will also be an assistant hitting coordinator in the Pirates’ minor league system. … Spent six years as a coach/instructor at IMG Academy. … Born in the Virgin Islands but grew up in Stone Mountain, Ga.
Chad Noble, catching coordinator
Notable: Had been the Cubs’ bullpen catcher for the past eight seasons. … A 37th-round pick of the Cubs out of Northwestern in 2010. Played four seasons in the organization before going right to coaching in 2013.
Eric Munson, hitting coach, Class AAA Indianapolis
Notable: First MLB or MiLB job; has owned/operated Gold Standard Athletics in Dubuque, Iowa for the past eight years. … Third overall pick in 1999. … Played 361 MLB games with Tigers, Rays, Astros and Athletics. … Was on the coaching staffs at USC and the University of Dubuque.
Caitlyn Callahan, minor league development coach
Notable: Was minor league video and technology intern with Cincinnati Reds. … Becomes the first uniformed female coach in franchise history. … Played college softball at St. Mary’s and Boston University.
Dewey Robinson, special advisor for pitching development, coaching and player development
Notable: Was director of pitching development for the Tampa Bay Rays. … Well-regarded pitching instructor recently completed his 41st season in pro ball. … Worked for the Astros from 1997-2009.
Dan Meyer, pitching coach Class AAA Indianapolis
Notable: Was most recently pitching coach with Class AA Mississippi in Atlanta’s system and became interim manager. … Pitched in majors in 2004 and from 2007-10 for the Braves, Athletics and Marlins. … Began his coaching career as a minor league pitching rehabilitation coordinator with Atlanta in 2015.
Chris Truby, minor league infield coordinator
Notable: Had been Phillies’ minor league infield coordinator since November 2018. … Played for Astros, Expos, Tigers and Devil Rays from 2000-03, hitting .231 over 263 games. … Coached in Pittsburgh’s system in 2008. … Had been with the Phillies for the past 13 years.
Others of note
Quentin Brown, Florida Complex League hitting coach: Was most recently Vice President of Finch Creek Fieldhouse, a multimillion-dollar indoor facility in Noblesville, Ind. Won a state title coaching high school ball in Indiana.
Blake Butler, Altoona integrated baseball performance coach: A title that pops up at all four affiliates, as those coaching staffs expanded from four to give. Butler last year was a development coach with High-A Greensboro.
Brady Conlan, Indianapolis integrated baseball performance coach: Was a development coach with Bradenton in 2021. Spent first year coaching in 2020 with Dodgers’ affiliate in the Dominican Republic.
Gary Green, Indianapolis bench coach: In his 17th year with the Pirates, shifts from Altoona’s bench coach to Class AAA.
Casey Harms, Bradenton integrated baseball performance coach: Was hitting coach in the Florida Complex League in 2021 but moves into a new role with Marauders.
Jim Horner, assistant field coordinator: Bradenton’s bench coach in 2021 takes wider-lens role. Coached at Washington State before and spent nine seasons as a catcher in Mariners organization.
Justin Orton, Greensboro integrated baseball performance coach: Moves up from serving as hitting coach in the Dominican Republic in 2021 and as a development coach there the year before.
Jon Nunnally, Altoona hitting coach: Moves back Class AA after serving as hitting coach with Indianapolis last year.
Fernando Nieve, Greensboro pitching coach: Big part of Low-A Bradenton’s success in 2021. Will stay with that group.
Stephen Morales, Altoona development coach: Managed Pirates’ FCL Black team in 2021 and managed in the DSL (Pirates 1) in 2019.
Mendy Lopez, Bradenton hitting coach: Moves into new role after serving as Latin American field coordinator in 2021 and 2017-19. Also managed the DSL Pirates for three seasons (2014-16).
Jonathan Johnson, Low-A Bradenton manager: Returns for second season as manager of the Marauders after winning league championship in 2021 and being named manager of the year.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: January 12, 2022, 4:52 p.m.