TL1 Round Rock Express

Astros announce Minor League staffs

Published on December 9, 2003 under Texas League (TL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


HOUSTON – The Houston Astros announced today the field staffs for their minor league affiliates. The staffs at both Triple A New Orleans and Double A Round Rock will remain the same; Russ Nixon has been named manager at Class A Salem; Ivan DeJesus has been promoted to manager at Class A Lexington; and Gregg Langbehn will manage Short-Season Class A Tri-City. The Astros minor league coordinators will also continue in their same capacities.

For the New Orleans Zephyrs, Chris Maloney will begin his third year as manager. He has guided the team to a 146-142 record over two seasons, including a tie for first place in the Pacific Coast League's East Division in 2002. Joining Maloney on the New Orleans staff will be Jim Hickey, who begins his 14th season as a pitching coach in the Houston organization and seventh year with the Zephyrs. Gary Gaetti, an 18-year Major League veteran, will start his third season as the hitting coach for New Orleans, and Mike Freer returns for his 15th season as an athletic trainer in the Astros minor league system.

The Round Rock Express are set to begin their fifth season under the guidance of manager Jackie Moore. Despite missing the playoffs last season, Moore led the Express to three consecutive Texas League postseason appearances from 2000-02. Joe Slusarski, a former Astros Major Leaguer, will return to the Express for his second season as pitching coach. Spike Owen begins his third season on the Round Rock coaching staff, former Astro Sean Berry will start his second year as an Express coach, and Jamey Snodgrass will begin his second season as the team's athletic trainer.

In their second season in the Houston organization, the Salem Avalanche will have a new skipper. Russ Nixon has been named manager of the Carolina League club, beginning his 52nd year in professional baseball. Nixon joined the Astros system last season as manager at Lexington, guiding the Legends to a South Atlantic League playoff berth. Pitching coach Stan Boroski returns to the Avalanche for his second season in the same role, and after two seasons at Tri-City and spending last season as a coach at Rookie League Martinsville, former Astros minor leaguer Marc Ronan has been named coach for Salem. Mike Smith will also return for his second season as Salem's athletic trainer.

Ivan DeJesus has been named manager of the Lexington Legends following two seasons at the helm of Tri-City. DeJesus was dubbed the Astros 2003 Player Development Man of the Year after guiding the ValleyCats to a 43-32 overall record and second place in the New York-Penn League's Stedler Division in the team's second season. Charley Taylor will return to Lexington for his fourth season as pitching coach with the team and his 23rd year in the Houston system, and Brian Dayett has been named coach for the Legends after spending last year with Tri-City. Eric Montague remains in his same role as athletic trainer at Lexington.

The Astros named Gregg Langbehn manager of the Tri-City ValleyCats. He served as a coach at Lexington last year and the previous two seasons on the staff in Martinsville. Langbehn will be joined by Bill Ballou, who returns for his fifth season as an Astros pitching coach at the Short-Season Class A level, and Jorge Orta, who has been named coach at Tri-City after managing the last four seasons at Martinsville. Adam Thomas continues for a third season as the team's athletic trainer.

The Astros minor league coordinators will remain the same from the 2003 season. Tom Wiedenbauer will begin his fourth year as the organization's minor league field coordinator; Dewey Robinson starts his eighth season as the minor league pitching coordinator; Pat Roessler returns for a third year as the minor league hitting coordinator; Jim Pankovits begins his fourth year in the role of minor league defense coordinator; Pete Fagan will start his third season in the Astros system as the coordinator of training, conditioning and rehabilitation; and Nathan Lucero will return for a third year as the minor league strength and conditioning coordinator.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from December 9, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central