Tampa Bay Rays Revamp Minor League Coaching Staff for 2024 Season
Major Reshuffling Brings New Faces and Promotions
The Tampa Bay Rays have shaken things up in their minor league coaching ranks for the 2024 season, announcing a series of moves that include the promotion of Triple-A Durham manager Michael Johns to the major league staff as first base coach. The reshuffling brings in new faces, elevates deserving coaches, and bids farewell to a respected veteran.
Triple-A Durham Bulls
Taking the reins of the Triple-A Durham Bulls is Morgan Ensberg, a former big leaguer with 11 seasons of MLB experience and five years of minor league managerial experience. Ensberg, 48, previously guided the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits to success, and his promotion is a testament to his leadership skills and baseball acumen.
Double-A Montgomery Biscuits
Stepping into the manager’s role for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits is Kevin Boles, a seasoned coach with over two decades of experience in pro baseball. Boles, 49, joins the Rays’ organization after a successful stint as manager of the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Detroit Tigers’ system. His experience and leadership will be instrumental in developing the next generation of Rays’ prospects.
Florida Complex League Team
In the Florida Complex League, Hector Gimenez takes the helm as manager, replacing Frank Maldonado, who has moved up to a coordinator role. Gimenez, 41, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his previous coaching role with the FCL team, and he’ll look to continue the team’s success in developing young talent.
Other Coaching Changes
The Rays have retained the services of Rafael Valenzuela and Seam Smedley as managers of the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Class-A Charleston RiverDogs, respectively. Both managers have proven their abilities in developing players, and the Rays are confident in their continued success.
Among the new hires at the coordinator/instructor level, the Rays have brought in former big-leaguers Tony Watson as a roving pitching instructor, Buddy Carlyle as a pitching coordinator, and Christian Wonders as a pitching coordinator of performance development. These additions bolster the Rays’ already strong player development staff.
Additional coaching changes include the addition of Tyler Ladendorf as Durham’s assistant hitting coach, Brett Schneider as Charleston’s hitting coach, K.C. Judge as the FCL hitting coach, and Chris Roberson as an FCL coach. These moves reflect the Rays’ commitment to providing their players with top-notch instruction and support.
Internal changes include three new coaches joining the Bowling Green staff: Perry Roth (bench), Jim Paduch (pitching), and Braxton Martinez (hitting). Furthermore, Brett Ebers takes over as Durham’s bullpen coach, Paul Rozzelle becomes Montgomery’s hitting coach, Wuarnner Rincones moves to roving hitting instructor, and longtime hitting coordinator Steve Livesey transitions to hitting research and video coordinator. These moves underscore the Rays’ dedication to developing and promoting from within.
Skeeter Barnes Retires
In a bittersweet development, Skeeter Barnes, a respected coach and coordinator who spent many years in the Rays’ system, has announced his retirement at the age of 66. Barnes’ contributions to the organization are extensive, and he leaves behind a legacy of mentorship and success. The Rays and the baseball community as a whole wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement.
The Tampa Bay Rays’ revamped minor league coaching staff for the 2024 season reflects the organization’s commitment to player development and its pursuit of sustained success. With a mix of experienced and up-and-coming coaches, the Rays are poised to continue their tradition of grooming talented players and contending for championships.