In addition to formally announcing their Major League coaching staff, the Los Angeles Dodgers followed suit with their Minor League affiliates. It brought about change, both with new additions to the organization and some reshuffling.
Such is the case for Rookie-level Ogden, as they will be led this season by manager Jeremy Rodriguez. He enters his second season with the Dodgers but first as Raptors manager. Last year he was skipper of Low-A Great Lakes, who are now guided by John Shoemaker.
Pitching coach Dean Stiles and hitting coach Dustin Kelly are among the newcomers to the Dodgers organization. The Raptors staff is rounded out by fourth coach Fumimasa Ishibashi.
Stiles previously spent time at San Jose State as an assistant coach, Florida International University as a pitching coach and three seasons as the University of Oregon’s volunteer assistant coach in charge of pitching.
After the 2015 season, Stiles served as the bullpen coach for Low-A Euegene Emeralds (Chicago Cubs affiliate).
Kelly spent three years as an assistant coach at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Ishibashi rejoins to Ogden for a second stint after being with the Loons for two seasons as the fourth coach. This season is his eighth overall coaching in the organization.
Mark Kertenian was tabbed to manage Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers after spending his first season with the organization guiding the Raptors. Luis Meza will serve as pitching coach, which was a role he held last season for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers.
Jarek Cunningham is entering his second season as AZL hitting coach, and coach Tony Cappuccilli also embarks on a second year with the affiliate. Meanwhile, coaches Jairo Pacheco and Chris Gutierrez are new to their positions.
Pacheco pitched in seven games for for the Loons last season, finishing with a 4.63 ERA. He was signed by the Dodgers out of Venezuela as a non-drafted free agent in January 2013. Gutierrez was a hitting coach in the Cubs organization from 2014-16.
The Dominican Summer League Dodgers (two teams) will be led by managers Keyter Collado and Austin Chubb. Collado is entering his seventh season with the organization and third as manager of DSL Dodgers 1.
Chubb heads into his third season with the team and second year managing DSL Dodgers 2. In 2017, he became the first American manager in the history of Campo Las Palmas. Prior to assuming that role Chubb was Ogden’s hitting coach.
In a surreal situation, Chubb led his team over Collado’s to win the Dominican Summer League title last year.
Roberto Giron is now in his fifth season as pitching coach for the DSL Dodgers. He’s joined by Ramon Troncoso for his first stint as pitching coach. Troncoso spent four of his five Major League seasons with the Dodgers.
Sergio Mendez returns for a third season as hitting coach, while Campo Las Palmas defensive coordinator Pedro Mega and coach Antonio Bautista also return to the staff. Coaches Dunior Zerpa and Eduardo Calzado will assist the DSL clubs in multiple areas.
