El Paso Chihuahuas Announce 2026 Manager and Coaching Staff
PCL El Paso Chihuahuas

El Paso Chihuahuas Announce 2026 Manager and Coaching Staff

Published on January 21, 2026 under Pacific Coast League (PCL)
El Paso Chihuahuas News Release


EL PASO - The El Paso Chihuahuas and San Diego Padres have announced that Pete Zamora will return to manage the Chihuahuas in 2026. It will be Zamora's third season as the Chihuahuas' manager and his 11th year as a manager or coach in the Padres' organization.

The Chihuahuas' 2026 staff will also include pitching coach Scott Mitchell, assistant pitching coach Jimmy Jones, hitting coach Ben Rosenthal, bench coach Miguel Del Castillo, bench coach Morgan Burkhart, athletic trainers Carlos Olivas and Micah Gerhart, strength coach A.J. Russell and performance analyst Chris Turrisi.

"We look forward to Pete's return for a third season, and we welcome the rest of the field staff to Southwest University Park. We were in the championship hunt until late in the season last year and hope to continue that on-field success in 2026 while also developing players that can help the Padres return to the playoffs," said Chihuahuas Senior Vice President and General Manager Brad Taylor. "Pete, the staff and the team have become terrific ambassadors for El Paso through their time here and we look forward to getting the 2026 season started."

Prior to managing the Chihuahuas in 2024 and 2025, Zamora managed the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm in 2023 and was a pitching coach in the Padres' organization from 2016-2022. As a player, Zamora was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round of the 1997 June Amateur Draft out of UCLA. He pitched professionally in the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations. On June 7, 2000, Zamora pitched the first perfect game in the history of the Double-A Reading Phillies.

Mitchell is entering his fourth season in the Padres' organization, working all four years as the Chihuahuas' pitching coach. He was previously a pitching coach in the Florida Marlins' organization from 2002-2010, including two seasons in the Pacific Coast League with New Orleans. He was the Pittsburgh Pirates' pitching coordinator from 2011-2020. As a player, Mitchell pitched in the Montreal Expos' organization from 1995-2001, reaching Triple-A Ottawa.

Jones is entering his 18th season in the Padres' organization and his fourth year as part of the Chihuahuas' coaching staff. He was Double-A San Antonio's pitching coach from 2009-2019 and High-A Fort Wayne's pitching coach in 2021 and 2022. Jones was the third overall pick in the 1982 June Amateur Draft and pitched in the major leagues with the Padres, Yankees, Houston Astros and Expos from 1986-1993.

Rosenthal joins the Padres' organization in 2026 after serving as the Boston Red Sox' major league assistant hitting coach for the past four seasons. Prior to his stint in the major leagues, he was an Astros minor league hitting instructor for five years, including two seasons in the PCL with Round Rock (2019) and Sugar Land (2021). Rosenthal played college baseball at San Diego State University and played four seasons professionally (2003-2006) in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization and with independent league clubs.

Del Castillo is going into his eighth season as a coach in the Padres' organization, including the last two years as Double-A San Antonio's bench coach. Other previous roles for Del Castillo include manager for the Padres' Dominican Summer League affiliate (2018-2019) and hitting coach for the Padres' Arizona Complex League affiliate (2022-2023). Del Castillo was a catcher and played in the Padres' organization from 2009-2017, including 20 games for the 2016 PCL Champion Chihuahuas.

Burkhart begins his second stint on the Chihuahuas' coaching staff after he was the team's hitting coach from 2016-2019. He was San Diego's major league batting practice and hitting instructor from 2021-2025. The 2026 season will be Burkhart's 14th in the Padres' organization. He played professionally from 1995-2006, reaching the major leagues with Boston (2000-2001) and the Kansas City Royals (2003).

Olivas is entering his second season in the Padres' organization. He's been an athletic trainer in professional baseball for more than 25 years and has worked for the Texas Rangers, Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays. Gerhart was the Midwest League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2025 with the Padres' High-A Fort Wayne club and he was part of the Philadelphia Eagles' athletic training staff prior to his time with the Padres. Russell is entering his 15th consecutive season as the strength coach for the Padres' Triple-A affiliate. Turrisi is going into his second season with the Chihuahuas.

The Chihuahuas' 2025 season starts on Friday, March 27 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento and the home opener is on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:35 p.m. at Southwest University Park against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies affiliate).

Season Seat Memberships are on sale now! Payment plans are available with flexible ticket package options. Deposits are also being taken for Groups and Premium Areas. For more information, call 915-533-BASE (2273), text 915-666-2005 or visit epchihuahuas.com.

Check out the El Paso Chihuahuas Statistics

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from January 21, 2026


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