AA Sioux City Explorers

X's Complete 2009 Coaching Staff

Published on April 20, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release


Sioux City - The Sioux City Explorers announced today that they have finalized their coaching staff for the 2009 season with the hiring of Rafael Melchione and former X's pitcher Bobby Post. Melchione and Post will join Billy Williams on field manger Les Lancaster's coaching staff when spring training opens on May 2nd.

Billy Williams returns to Sioux City for his 5th season in 2009 and first season as field manager Les Lancaster's bench coach. Williams has spent 33 years in the game of baseball as player and coach. He spent 18 years playing in the minor leagues during the 1950's and 60's, blazing a trail in the segregated south, and opening doors for African-Americans. His efforts were finally rewarded when the Seattle Pilots called him up to the major leagues in 1969. That team became immortalized in Jim Bouton's best-selling book Ball Four. The Pilots moved the next year to Milwaukee and became the Brewers.

"I am excited about coming back to Sioux City again this summer and joining Les and the rest of the coaching staff, stated Williams. We had a great playoff run last season and I am looking forward to helping build upon the success we endured last season".

After retiring, the Newberry, SC native owned a haberdashery before being lured back into the game by his good friend Doc Edwards with Cleveland. Williams joined the Indians organization as a minor league coach and eventually made it to the majors as a coach for 2 seasons in 1990 and 1991. With the Indians organization, Williams tutored players such as Albert Belle, Richie Sexson and Brian Giles.

Williams joined the Sioux Falls Canaries under Edwards and spent 5 seasons as hitting instructor and third base coach from 2000-2004 before joining the X's. He helped Sioux Falls develop the best offense in the Northern League in 2001, leading to their only playoff appearance in franchise history. "BW" as he is known enjoys country music and is a wine connoisseur.

Rafael Melchione joins the Explorers as the X's hitting coach in 2009. Rafael re-joins manager Les Lancaster as the two were together in Reno and Mesa in the Golden League in 2005 and 2006. As the hitting coach for the Reno Silver Sox in 2006, the team led the Golden League in hitting and Rafael was selected as a Golden League All-Star Hitting Coach.

"Les and I were together for two years, winning a championship one year and in the playoffs another year. We are good friends and I am looking forward to working with him and the other coaches and hope to bring a championship to Sioux City," said Melchione.

Rafael played professional from 1995 to 2002 with stops in the Oakland and Angels organization. In the off-season, he serves as an instructor with the Angels and is the Owner/General Manager of Arizona Core Baseball headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. "Raffie" has served as a hitting instructor for many major and minor league players and has worked as an instructor in the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants organizations. From 1995 to 1999 he spent most of his playing career in Puerto Rico. He played two years in the Angels organization in the Cal League.

Melchione is married with two children and currently makes his home in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

After serving as the pitching coach at Briar Cliff University this past season, Bobby Post will remain in Sioux City as the pitching coach for the Sioux City Explorers this year. Post joins the team that he pitched for in the 1998 and 1999. A native of Victorville, California, Post played at Cerritos Junior College (CA) and finished up his college career at the University of Nevada where he was 18-5 for two seasons with the Wolf Pack.

After his college career, Post spent seven years as a pitcher in professional baseball with an overall record of 52-16 with 20 saves. His pro career was spent in the Diamondbacks organization with parts of three seasons at Class AA El Paso in the Texas League. His pro career also carried him to Taiwan, plus stops in Sioux Falls and Sioux City in the Northern League. Post currently hold's (3) career records for the X's with being (5th) In Wins (17), (3rd) in innings pitched (318.1), and (3rd) in games started (51)

When his pro career was over, Post was a pitching coach at Barstow (CA) Community College for three years and is currently finishing his first year at Briar Cliff.

"I am excited about working for Les Lancaster and working for the team that I used to pitch for," said Post. "Les and I have the same philosophy about pitching and that is to be aggressive. I am a great believer in our staff having sharp mechanics and working in the strike zone. With Les having been a pitcher at the major league level, I know I will learn even more," concluded Post.

Bobby and his wife Jennifer and three daughters (Alyssa, Emily and Jayden) make their home in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

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