Missions 2016 Field Staff Announced
January 14, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
San Antonio Missions News Release
SAN ANTONIO - Early Thursday afternoon, the San Diego Padres and the San Antonio Missions announced the field staff for the 2016 season.
Managing the Missions in 2016 will be Phillip Wellman, who enters his first season in the Padres organization and his 32nd in professional baseball. This season will be Wellman's fifth straight in the Texas League (he was out of baseball in 2015). Wellman's last managerial post came in 2014 when he guided the Arkansas Travelers (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim AA) to a 75-65 record and a second-half North Division title. Prior to arriving in North Little Rock, AR, Wellman served for three seasons as the hitting coach for the Springfield Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals AA). In Springfield, he mentored Texas League Player of the Year winners Matt Adams (2011) and Oscar Taveras (2012).
"I'm ecstatic to be returning to the game," said Wellman. "It's a pleasure and honor that the Padres saw fit to get me back in baseball."
The 54-year old skipper was born in Marlin, TX, but grew up in San Antonio. Wellman attended Madison High School, graduating in 1980.
"Coming back to San Antonio makes this opportunity even more special," said Wellman, who played collegiately at both Sam Houston State and Southwestern University. "I was raised in this city and it will be great to be back around so many family and friends."
Wellman played four seasons of minor league baseball, from 1984-87, for the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations. In 1985 for the Class A Sumter Braves, the third baseman/outfielder hit .269 (103-for-383) with a career-high 21 homers and a career-high 78 RBI.
He began his coaching career in 1988 as the hitting instructor for the Pulaski Braves (Atlanta Rookie) of the Appalachian League. After two seasons in Pulaski, Wellman continued in the same capacity for both the Burlington Braves (Atlanta Class A) in 1990 and the Durham Bulls (Atlanta High-A) in 1991.
Wellman's managerial career began in 1992 with the Baltimore Orioles Gulf Coast League affiliate. He has also piloted the independent Lethbridge Mounties of the Pioneer League (1993-94), the independent River City Rumblers of the Appalachian League, the Winston-Salem Warthogs (Cincinnati Reds High-A) of the Carolina League (1996), the Burlington Bees (Cincinnati Class A) of the Midwest League (1997-98), the Chattanooga Lookouts (Cincinnati AA) of the Southern League (1999, 2001-2003), the Mississippi Braves (Atlanta AA) of the Southern League (2007-2010) and the aforementioned Travelers. In 2008, Wellman led the Mississippi Braves to a 73-66 record and a Southern League championship. He has steered teams to the playoffs in five other seasons. In 16 seasons as a manager, Wellman is 937-1004.
"I'm excited for Phil to join our club," said Missions President Burl Yarbrough. "He's a great baseball guy with lots of experience that I know our team will benefit from. It's also great to have someone who grew up in San Antonio manage our club."
Wellman and his wife Montee have two children, Britnee and Brett, and reside in Chattanooga, TN. Brett is currently a catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays system.
Returning to the San Antonio staff is pitching coach, Jimmy Jones. The Dallas, TX native enters his eighth season in the Padres organization and his sixth straight with the Missions. Last season, Jones was named the Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Texas League Coach of the Year. Under Jones' tutelage in 2014, Mission pitching set a TL record with 1,156 strikeouts (breaking the old record held by the 2008 Missions). San Antonio has led the league in ERA in three of the five years during the Jones era.
New to both the Padres and the Missions is hitting coach, Johnny Washington. The 31-year old served as hitting coach last season for Triple-A Oklahoma City (Los Angeles Dodgers) of the Pacific Coast League. The 2016 season will mark Washington's eighth as a minor league coach. Washington was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 27th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft out of Mount San Jacinto College (San Jacinto, CA). He enjoyed a seven-year professional career with the Rangers and Dodgers, in addition to three seasons of independent league baseball. Washington retired as a player early in the 2009 season and immediately began his coaching career as the hitting instructor of the Rookie-level Ogden Raptors (Dodgers). After three seasons in Ogden, Washington coached at Camelback Ranch in 2012 and was High-A Rancho Cucamonga's (Dodgers High-A) hitting coach in 2013. In 2014, Washington was the hitting coach for Great Lakes (Dodgers Class A).
Rounding out the field staff will be athletic trainer Dan Turner and strength and conditioning coach Dan Byrne. The 2016 season will be Turner's 10th with the Padres, his eighth as a certified athletic trainer and his fourth in San Antonio. Byrne enters his fourth season in the San Diego system and his first in the Alamo City.
The 13-time Texas League champions will open the 2016 campaign at Wolff Stadium, Thursday April 7 when they square off with the Springfield Cardinals at 7:05 PM. After their series against the Cards, the Missions will next welcome in the Tulsa Drillers (Dodgers AA) for another three-game set from April 10-12.
Texas League Stories from January 14, 2016
- Drillers Announce 2016 On-Field Coaching Staff - Tulsa Drillers
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