Astros announce 2019 minor league managers and coaches

The Houston Astros have named the coordinators, managers and coaches for the seven minor league teams for the 2019 season.

The pitching and hitting coordinators for the entire Astros‘ minor league system are Bill Murphy and Jeremy Barnes respectively.  Murphy has been rising through the system as a pitching coach for minor league teams the past three years. Barnes spent the last two years as the hitting coach at Tri-City.

Jason Bell will be the system’s fundamentals coordinator after managing the Tri-City and Quad City teams in 2016-17. Mark Bailey will enter his fourth year as the catching coordinator. Bailey, a former Astros catcher, has been in their minor league system for 22 years.

AAA  Round Rock Express

Mike Storey was named as manager after managing Quad Cities last season. Storey pitched for the Astros for one season out of his nine-year professional career. Drew French was promoted to the AAA club as their hitting coach, after winning championships for the Carolina and the Midwest League teams. Ben Rosenthal will be the hitting coach in his third year with the system.

AA  Corpus Christi Hooks

Omar Lopez will be managing the Hooks for his second year. Lopez has been in the system for twenty years. Graham Johnson is their pitching coach, after serving that same position for Quad Cities last season in his first year with the Astros. The hitting coach will be Tim LaMonte in his first year in the system.

A  Advanced Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Fayetteville’s first season will be managed by Nate Shaver. Shaver was the development coach for Buies Creek in his first year with the Astros. Thomas Whitsett and Jason Kanzler will be the pitching and hitting coaches respectively in their inaugural years with the system.

A  Quad Cities River Bandits

The Bandits will be lead by Ray Hernandez in his second year with the Astros after spending last season as the development coach for the AAA Fresno team. Erick Abreu will be the pitching coach after spending the last five years as the development coach for several teams in the system. The hitting coach is Rafael Pena in his second year with the team.

A  Short Season Tri-City Valleycats

Ozney Guillen, son former Orioles manager Ozzie Guillen, joins the Astros this season managing the Valleycats. John Kovalik and Sean Godfrey also join the Astros this year as the team’s pitching and hitting coaches.

Rookie Level Gulf Coast Astros

Wladimir Sutil will be managing the team for his third season. Sutil has been in the system for five years and even played in their minor league system for eight seasons. The pitching coach is Jose Rada for a third consecutive season and Rene Rojas will serve his second season as their hitting coach.

Rookie Level Dominican Summer League Astros

First-year manager Carlos Lugo will lead the team for his sixth year in player development. For his 43 season with the Astros, Rick Aponte will be the pitching coach and Ernesto Irizarry will serve as the hitting coach.