(VOYAGERS MEDIA RELEASE)
GREAT FALLS — The Voyagers are excited to announce the coaching staff for the 2018 season. There will be a lot of familiar faces in 2018 as Tim Esmay returns for his second season as the Manager of the Voyagers. Also, John Ely returns as the pitching coach, Eric Richardson as the hitting coach and Tyler Gniadek as the strength and conditioning coach. The one new face in 2018 will be athletic trainer Hyeon Kim.
Esmay will be entering his fourth season in the Chicago White Sox organization. His first was as a manager for the Winston-Salem Dash in 2015. Prior to working for the Chicago White Sox, Esmay managed at Utah and Arizona State.
Ely is entering his second season in the White Sox organization in 2018 and second with the Voyagers. Ely started his baseball career in Great Falls in 2007 after being selected in the third round of that year’s draft. He pitched in 13 games and held a 6-1 record with a 3.86 ERA. He made his major league debut on April 28, 2010 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His final year in the minors was in 2015.
Richardson will also be entering his second season with the White Sox organization and second with the Voyagers. He played for the White Sox in their minor league system from 1991-1995. He played all positions in the outfield during his time as a minor league player.
The following is a full list of all coaching changes for the 2018 season.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTORS
Director of Player Development: Chris Getz
Field Coordinator: Doug Sisson
Director of Minor League Pitching Instruction: Kirk Champion
Hitting Coordinator: Mike Gellinger
Infield Coordinator: Vance Law
Catching Coordinator: John Orton
Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator: Aaron Rowand
Camp Coordinator: Tommy Thompson
Quality Control Coach: Everett Teaford
Leadership Development Coordinator: Ben Broussard
Assistant, Player Development: Rafael Santana
Pitching Assistant: J.R. Perdew
Rehab Pitching Coach: Brian Drahman
Education Coordinator: Erin Santana
Conditioning Coordinator: Dale Torborg
Minor League Medical/Rehabilitation Coordinator: Scott Takao
Physical Therapist: Derrik Garris
Latin/Cultural Development Coordinator: Anthony Santiago
CLASS AAA CHARLOTTE
Manager: Mark Grudzielanek
Pitching Coach: Steve McCatty
Hitting Coach: Andy Tomberlin
Coach: Garey Ingram
Trainer: James Kruk
Conditioning: Shawn Powell
CLASS AA BIRMINGHAM
Manager: Julio Viñas
Pitching Coach: Richard Dotson
Hitting Coach: Cole Armstrong
Trainer: Corey Barton
Conditioning: Tim Rodmaker
CLASS A WINSTON-SALEM
Manager: Omar Vizquel
Pitching Coach: Matt Zaleski
Hitting Coach: Charlie Poe
Coach: Guillermo Quiroz
Trainer: Josh Fallin
Conditioning: George Timke
CLASS A KANNAPOLIS
Manager: Justin Jirschele
Pitching Coach: José Bautista
Hitting Coach: Jamie Dismuke
Trainer: Joe Geck
Conditioning: Goldy Simmons
ADVANCED ROOKIE GREAT FALLS
Manager: Tim Esmay
Pitching Coach: John Ely
Hitting Coach: Eric Richardson
Trainer: Hyeon Kim
Conditioning: Tyler Gniadek
ARIZONA ROOKIE LEAGUE
Manager: Ryan Newman
Pitching Coach: Felipe Lira
Hitting Coach: Gary Ward
Trainer: Scott Johnson
Conditioning: Daniel Cobian
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ACADEMY
Academy Supervisor: Ever Magallanes
Complex Operations Coordinator: Manuel Santana
Field Coordinator: Guillermo Reyes
Manager: Julio Valdez
Pitching Coach: Leo Hernández
Hitting Coach: Ángel González
Assistant Pitching Coach: José Brito
Catching Coach: Ángel Rosario
Outfield Coach: Julio Ramírez
Trainer: TBD
Conditioning Coach: Pedro Gómez
xxx
