Bonifay Returning to Manage Greeneville Astros
January 6, 2016 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
Greeneville Astros Manager Josh Bonifay
(Greeneville Astros)
GREENEVILLE, TN - After one year away, Josh Bonifay is returning to manage the Greeneville Astros for the 2016 season. In addition, Bill Murphy (pitching coach) has been added to the staff and will be joining the previously announced Cesar Cedeno (hitting coach), Elliot Diehl (athletic trainer) and Ju-lio Diaz (strength).
"I am very excited about returning to Greeneville this season," said Bonifay. "Pioneer Park is an outstanding facility, the best in the Appalachian League, where our players are provided a terrific opportunity to develop. The Appalachian League is a great developmental league led by president Lee Landers, who I really enjoy working with. I'm just genuinely looking forward to getting back there. I enjoy the area and love the community."
Bonifay earned 2015 Midwest League Coach of the Year honors with Class A Quad Cities while leading the River Bandits to the second-best record (88-50) in the organization's history. Prior to last season, he led Greeneville to a 70-64 record over two seasons from 2013-14. In 2013, he was named the Appalachian League Manager of the Year while leading Greeneville to their second-best record in club history (38-30) and an appearance in the Appalachian League Championship for the first time in nine years. His 70 wins are just four shy of the club's all-time managerial record (Rodney Linares, 74).
An eight-year minor league veteran, Bonifay began his coaching career as a player/coach in the Pirates organization (2007-09) before joining Houston in 2011. He was the hitting coach for Greeneville in 2011 and spent 2012 as the hitting coach for Class A Lexington, where he represented the Legends as a coach on the 2012 Postseason All-Star Team. Bonifay played in 812 minor league games, which included a stint with Double A Corpus Christi in 2006.
Prior to joining the Astros, Murphy was the pitching coach at Brown University following a stint as a co-manager and pitching coach in the Northwoods Collegiate League. Murphy has also held coaching positions at Georgetown University, the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League and at the high school level.
Cedeno will be returning to Greeneville for his fifth consecutive season, and his 16th as a coach with the Astros. The four-time All-Star played 12 seasons (1970-81) with the Astros and collected five Gold Gloves as an outfielder. Diehl will be entering his second season in Greeneville, and Diaz will begin his fourth season with the Astros organization after previous stints with class A Quad Cities and the rookie Gulf Coast League Astros.
Bonifay expressed his eagerness to work with the staff by saying, "I'm excited to get to work with Cesar Cedeno again. He was a Gold Glove winner as a player and is a great coach, leader and mentor for the kids. Bill is a young, energetic coach with a lot of knowledge so I'm happy to have him on board as well. Elliot does a tremendous job of keeping the guys healthy and on the field, and Julio has great passion and enthusiasm in getting our guys stronger and healthier. In addition, I also have a great relationship with the front office in Greeneville so I'm really looking forward to this season."
The Astros will open the 2016 season at home against the Johnson City Cardinals on Thursday, June 23rd. Full season, half-season, and 7-game mini-plan memberships are available for purchase now. The Greeneville Astros are the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com or call (423) 638-0411.
Images from this story
 Greeneville Astros Manager Josh Bonifay |
Appalachian League Stories from January 6, 2016
- Majority of Coaching Staff to Return for Pulaski Yankees' 2016 Season - Pulaski River Turtles
- Bonifay Returning to Manage Greeneville Astros - Greeneville Astros
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