Canadians Announce 2016 Field Staff
Published on February 23, 2016 under Northwest League (NWL1)
Vancouver Canadians News Release
Vancouver Canadians Manager John Tamargo, Jr.
(Vancouver Canadians)
(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club announced Tuesday that John Tamargo Jr. will become the 10th manager in franchise history as he, along with hitting coach Dave Pano and pitching coach Willie Collazo, head to Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium for the upcoming 2016 season.
About the 2016 Coaching Staff:
With deep family roots in the game of baseball, new Canadians manager John Tamargo Jr. heads to Vancouver after a successful career as a player, hitting coach and field manager.
Remembered for a stand out tenure at the University of Florida that included All-American honours (1994) and a trip to the College World Series (1996), Tamargo Jr. played eight Minor League seasons, reaching Triple-A Norfolk as part of the New York Mets organization.
Tamargo Jr. would begin coaching in 2004 within the Houston Astros organization before finding his way to the Blue Jays in 2010. After two years as hitting coach with the Lansing Lugnuts (Midwest League), Tamargo Jr. would be named Manager of the Lugnuts, compiling a 205-210 (.494) record in three seasons which included an 82-55 record in his first season (2012). Most recently, Tamargo Jr. was hitting coach with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League (2015).
Dave Pano (PAN-oh) returns as hitting coach for a 6th consecutive season, making him the longest tenured coach in Canadians franchise history dating back to 2000.
Pano has helped the Canadians to three Northwest League Championships (2011-2013) and four post-season appearances (2011-2014). Since his arrival in Vancouver, Pano has worked with the likes of Dalton Pompey and Kevin Pillar who have both since joined the Toronto Blue Jays roster.
Willie Collazo (COY-yah-zo) joins the Vancouver Canadians after spending the past three seasons within the Toronto organization as a pitching coach, most recently with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays (2015).
Selected in the 10th Round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by Atlanta in 2001, Collazo would play three seasons within the Braves organization before spending time with the Anaheim Angels, New York Mets, Florida Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays where he would enjoy three more seasons before retiring at the end of 2012.
Tamargo Jr., Pano and Collazo are joined by Head Trainer Danny Leja, Strength & Conditioning Coach Pat Szpak and Video Coordinator Jeremy Knight.
Note: Former Vancouver Canadians Manager John Schneider has been assigned to the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League while former Pitching Coach Jim Czajkowski (SIGH-cow-ski) has been assigned to the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League.
Images from this story
 Vancouver Canadians Manager John Tamargo, Jr. |
Northwest League Stories from February 23, 2016
- Canadians Announce 2016 Field Staff - Vancouver Canadians
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