With minor league spring training set to open in Scottsdale, Ariz. March 5, the Giants announced their player development instructors and affiliate staffs.
Notable changes in the organization come mostly below the Triple-A Sacramento level — where Dave Brundage will return for his sixth season as manager.
Dennis Pelfrey, the former Eugene Emeralds, will take over as the Double-A Richmond skipper. Pelfrey managed the Emeralds to the High-A West title in 2021. José Alguacil, the former Richmond manager, told KNBR’s Kerry Crowley that he’s accepted a position in the Washington Nationals’ organization.
Carlos Valderrama will now manage the Emeralds. Valderrama was promoted after managing the Arizona Giants Black rookie level team in 2021.
Lipso Nava, last year’s fundamentals coach for Eugene, is taking over the managerial post for the San Jose Giants in Low-A. He’s succeeding Lenn Sakata, who was the winningest manager in San Jose Giants history.
Former Giants reliever Dan Runzler is joining San Jose as a pitching coach. He most recently served as pitching coach for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Another former Giant, Travis Ishikawa, has been promoted from rookie ball to San Jose.
Pat Burrell and Ryan Vogelsong also return as roving hitting and roving pitching coaches, respectively.
Below is the full press release from the Giants.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Giants have announced their player development instructors and assignments for the 2022 season under Kyle Haines, Senior Director, Player Development.
Dave Brundage (Triple-A Sacramento), Dennis Pelfrey (Double-A Richmond), Carlos Valderrama (High-A Eugene), Lipso Nava (Low-A San Jose), Jose Montilla (Arizona Giants Black), Greg Tagert (Arizona Giants Orange), Juan Ciriaco (Dominican Summer League) and Drew Martinez (Dominican Summer League) will serve as the organization’s managers in 2022. Brundage and Ciriaco return to their clubs following the 2021 season while Pelfrey, Valderrama, Nava and Montilla were promoted. Tagert and Martinez are in their first season with the Giants organization. Tagert had spent the previous 16 seasons as the manager of the Gary SouthShore Railcats, while Martinez worked for the Florence Y’alls last year.
Coordinators returning to the organization include Tony Diggs (Field), Jason Wood (Field/Infield), Justin Lehr (Pitching), Clay Rapada (Pitching), Matt Yourkin (Rehab Pitching), Ed Lucas (Hitting), Tim Leiper(Outfield/Baserunning), Hector Borg (Latin American Development) and Matt Daniels (Pitching Sciences). Lance Burkhart, who managed the Arizona Giants Orange team last year, moves into a catching coordinator role and Jacob Cruz will begin his first year on the player development staff as a hitting coordinator after spending last year as an assistant hitting coach on the Major League staff of the Milwaukee Brewers. Pat Burrell (Roving Hitting) and Ryan Vogelsong (Roving Pitching) also return in 2022.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTORS/ROVERS:
Minor League Field Coordinator……………………………………………………………… Tony Diggs
Assistant, Field & Infield Coordinator………………………………………………………. Jason Wood
Pitching Coordinator……………………………………………………………………………. Justin Lehr
Assistant, Pitching Coordinator………………………………………………………………. Clayton Rapada
Rehab Pitching Coordinator…………………………………………………………………… Matt Yourkin
Hitting Coordinator……………………………………………………………………………… Ed Lucas
Assistant, Hitting Coordinator………………………………………………………………… Jacob Cruz
Coordinator, Outfield & Baserunning………………………………………………………. Tim Leiper
Catching Coordinator…………………………………………………………………………… Lance Burkhart
Coordinator, Pitching Sciences……………………………………………………………….. Matt Daniels
Coordinator, Latin American Development……………………………………………….. Hector Borg
Roving Hitting Instructor………………………………………………………………………. Pat Burrell
Roving Pitching Instructor……………………………………………………………………… Ryan Vogelsong
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MEDICAL STAFF:
Director, Minor League Medical …………………………………………………………….. Dustin Luepker
Coordinator, Minor League Medical………………………………………………………… Ryo Watanabe
Coordinator, Minor League Strength & Conditioning…………………………………… Andy King
Assistant Coordinator, Minor League Strength & Conditioning……………………… Andy Lyon
Coordinator, Latin American Medical/DSL ATC…………………………………………… Aquiles Torrealba
Coordinator, Latin American Strength & Conditioning…………………………………. Sergio Rojas
Assistant Coordinator, Latin American Strength & Conditioning…………………….. Andrea Núñez
Physical Therapist……………………………………………………………………………….. Frank Perez
Physical Therapist……………………………………………………………………………….. Kyle Belski
Physical Therapist……………………………………………………………………………….. Thomas Battaglia
A breakdown of the coaching staffs for each affiliate can be found below. For coaches who have changed positions within the organization, the position held in 2021 is in parentheses.
SAN FRANCISCO’S 2022 AFFILIATE STAFFS:
SACRAMENTO (AAA)
Manager……………………………………………. Dave Brundage
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Garvin Alston
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Damon Minor
Fundamentals Coach……………………………. Jolbert Cabrera
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… David Getsoff
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Brian Reinker (new hire)
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Eric Wood (new hire)
RICHMOND (AA)
Manager……………………………………………. Dennis Pelfrey (Eugene Manager)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Paul Oseguera (San Jose Pitching Coach)
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Danny Santin (San Jose Hitting Coach)
Fundamentals Coach……………………………. Gary Davenport
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Chris Walsh (new hire)
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Matt Jordan (San Jose S&C Coach)
EUGENE EMERALDS (A Advanced)
Manager……………………………………………. Carlos Valderrama (Arizona Giants Black Manager)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Alain Quijano
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Cory Elasik
Fundamentals Coach …………………………… Eliezer Zambrano (San Jose Fundamentals Coach)
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Tim Vigue
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Nick Fajardo
SAN JOSE (A)
Manager……………………………………………. Lipso Nava (Eugene Fundamentals Coach)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Dan Runzler (new hire)
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Travis Ishikawa (Arizona Giants Black Hitting Coach)
Fundamentals Coach …………………………… Jeremiah Knackstedt (Arizona Giants Black Fundamentals Coach)
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… TBD
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Chris Harms (DSL Giants 1 S&C Coach)
ARIZONA GIANTS BLACK (Rookie)
Manager……………………………………………. Jose Montilla (DSL Giants 1 Manager)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Michael Couchee (Arizona Giants Orange Pitching Coach)
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Mike McCormack (Arizona Giants Orange Hitting Coach)
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Josh Guterman (Richmond Trainer)
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Joe Palazzolo (Richmond S&C Coach)
ARIZONA GIANTS ORANGE (Rookie)
Manager……………………………………………. Greg Tagert (new hire)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Mario Rodriguez (Arizona Giants Black Pitching Coach)
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Craig Maddox (DSL Giants 2 Hitting Coach)
Fundamentals Coach……………………………. Ydwin Villegas
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Chris Gorosics
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Michelle Kuda (new hire)
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE GIANTS 1 (Rookie)
Manager……………………………………………. Juan Ciriaco (DSL Giants 2 Manager)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Osiris Matos (DSL Giants 2 Pitching Coach)
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Rob Riggins (new hire)
Fundamentals Coach …………………………… Hector Ortiz (DSL Giants 2 Coach)
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Christian Fosler (Arizona Giants Black Trainer)
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Alfonso Tusent
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE GIANTS 2 (Rookie)
Manager……………………………………………. Drew Martinez (new hire)
Pitching Coach……………………………………. Luis Pino (DSL 1 Giants Pitching Coach)
Hitting Coach……………………………………… Juan Parra (DSL 1 Giants Hitting Coach)
Fundamentals Coach……………………………. Lisandro King (DSL 1 Giants Fundamentals Coach)
Fundamentals Coach……………………………. Jose Medina (DSL 1 Giants Fundamental Coach)
Athletic Trainer…………………………………… Pedro Wilson
Strength and Conditioning Coach……………. Chris Collins (new hire)