Volcanoes Announce 2020 Field Staff
January 13, 2020 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes News Release
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Northwest League, San Francisco Giants) officially kicked off their quest for a sixth league championship with the announcement of a strong 2020 coaching staff.
The team will be led by Lenn Sakata (Manager) and flanked by Michael Brdar (Hitting Coach), Paul Oseguera (Pitching Coach | Volcanoes '06), Eliezer Zambrano (Fundamentals Coach | Volcanoes '08), Matt Jordan (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Tim Vigue (Trainer).
"The 2020 season is clearly one of the most important in the history of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Lisa, Mickey and I are extremely energized by the depth of experience and strong organizational ties represented by the 2020 Volcanoes coaching staff," said Jerry Walker, Volcanoes Co-Owner. "Our players and all Volcanoes Nation will see the 2020 club fully supported by this dynamic coaching staff."
Manager - Lenn Sakata (photo attached)
Sakata is a native of Hawaii and played college baseball at Gonzaga. Sakata was drafted in the 1st round of the 1975 January Draft (Secondary Phase) by the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in parts of 11 major league seasons with the Brewers, Orioles, A's and Yankees as a middle-infielder and appeared in the 1983 World Series. Sakata has managed in the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's, and Colorado Rockies minor league systems as well as for the farm team of the Chiba Lotte Marines (NPB). Sakata holds the record for most managerial wins in the California League and is a member of the league's hall of fame, as well as the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame and Gonzaga University's Sports Hall of Fame.
Hitting Coach - Michael Brdar
Brdar is a native of Pleasanton, CA and played college baseball at the University of Michigan by way of Diablo Valley College (CA). Brdar was drafted in the 36th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and played one season before retiring to join Michigan as a Program Assistant for 2018. For the 2019 season he was elevated to the Volunteer Assistant Coach role for the Wolverines team that would go on to play in the College World Series, working primarily with the hitters and outfield group. Brdar is also the Giants' Assistant Hitting Coordinator.
Pitching Coach - Paul Oseguera
Oseguera is a native of La Jolla, CA and played college baseball at UCLA. Oseguera was drafted in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. Oseguera pitched in parts of four minor league seasons with the Giants organization and one with the Oakland A's, reaching Double-A. With the Volcanoes in 2006, Oseguera posted a 2-1 record with 39 strikeouts in 29 innings of work. Oseguera also played professionally in Japan (NPB) and Mexico, as well as in the independent Atlantic League. He retired in 2016 and was an Assistant Coach for De La Salle (CA) High School's varsity team in 2018.
Fundamentals Coach - Eliezer Zambrano
Zambrano is a native of Venezuela and signed with the San Francisco Giants ahead of the 2006 season. Zambrano played catcher for the Giants organization in all 12 of his professional seasons and reached Triple-A. Zambrano appeared in 22 games behind the plate for the Volcanoes in 2008, the same season Buster Posey played catcher for the team! He retired in 2017 and was hired as coach in the Giants' minor league ranks. Zambrano was the Bullpen Coach at Double-A Richmond for the 2018 season and Bullpen Catcher for the 2019 season.
Strength and Conditioning Coach - Matt Jordan
Jordan begins his first year in Salem-Keizer after spending 2019 as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Dominican Summer League Giants. Originally from Kingston, NY, and a former pitcher at Division-I Manhattan College, Jordan spent three years developing athletes at the Florida Athletic Development Center in Naples, Fl prior to joining the Giants.
Trainer - Tim Vigue
Vigue returns for his second season as the Athletic Trainer at Salem-Keizer. Prior to joining the Giants organization, Vigue had been the Assistant Athletic Trainer for Baseball at Florida International University since December 2013 and was as an Athletic Trainer for USA Baseball at Tournament of Stars (2016 and 2017) and for the 15U National Team (2018). Vigue graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Athletic Training and has a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership Technology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
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Northwest League Stories from January 13, 2020
- Volcanoes Announce 2020 Field Staff - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
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