Yard Goats First Ever Coaching Staff Named by Colorado Rockies
January 21, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
Hartford Yard Goats News Release
Hartford Yard Goats Manager Darin Everson
(Hartford Yard Goats)
Hartford, Conn - The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, has its first ever coaching staff in place for the 2016 season. The Rockies named Darin Everson (EE-ver-sun) Yard Goats Manager, Ron Gideon Development Supervisor, Dave Burba Pitching Coach, and Jeff Salazar Hitting Coach at Hartford. Billy Whitehead will be the clubs Trainer and Brady Fitzgerald will serve as the Strength and Conditioning Coach. This will make up the first ever coaching staff for the Hartford Yard Goats.
"We are happy to have Darin, Ron, Dave and Jeff as part of the Yard Goats coaching staff in our inaugural season in Hartford," Yard Goats General Manager Tim Restall said. "They all bring a great deal of experience to our club and I look forward to working with them again both on the field and in our community."
Everson, 44, returns to Connecticut for his second season as manager of the Rockies Double-A affiliate. He becomes the first manager in Harford Yard Goats history after managing the Rock Cats in 2015. He guided the club to its best start ever and helped four players go from the Eastern League to the Major Leagues during the same season (P Yohan Flande, P Jason Gurka, P Justin Miller, C Tom Murphy). The 2016 season will be Everson's fourth in the Rockies' system. He also was a manager in the Marlins' system and scout for the Baltimore Orioles. The Wisconsin native played in the minor leagues for seven seasons as a first baseman and catcher in the Expos and Red Sox chains and was part of two Eastern League clubs, the Harrisburg Senators and Trenton Thunder.
"The inaugural coaching staff of the Hartford Yard Goats is a group of loyal, committed, knowledgeable, and passionate teachers who will give everything they have to develop championship players for the Yard Goats and the Colorado Rockies," Rockies Senior Director of Player Development Zach Wilson said. "With Ron Gideon and Darin Everson leading the charge, this staff is ready for the challenge and opportunity to bring winning baseball to Hartford while representing themselves and the Colorado Rockies with professionalism and an unmistakable love for the game."
The Yard Goats will have an additional coach on the staff with the Development Supervisor position. The Development Supervisor is a leadership role that is highly responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Colorado Rockies development philosophies and practices. The Development Supervisor is often in uniform as part of the coaching staff and other times will be evaluating the Yard Goats from the stands.
Ron Gideon will be the Yard Goats Development Supervisor in 2016. Gideon begins his 19th season in the Rockies farm system and his fourth as Development Supervisor, after serving in the same capacity with the Rock Cats last season and the Tulsa Drillers in 2014. He was the Rockies Roving Field Coordinator for five seasons and managed the Drillers from mid-season 2009 through 2010. He has 15 years of managerial experience and more than 750 wins as a minor league manager. Prior to joining the Rockies, he spent 10 years in the Mets organization, including five as a player. The Texas native was in the Eastern League as the Binghamton Mets hitting coach in 1992. He was selected by the Phillies in 1984 as the first selection in the secondary phase of the draft and played two seasons in the minors before getting traded to the Mets. Gideon played seven seasons in the minors.
Former Major League veteran pitcher Dave Burba will be the Yard Goats Pitching Coach in 2016. Burba, who pitched for the Mariners, Giants, Reds, Indians, Rangers and Brewers from 1990-2004, is returning to Connecticut where he was the pitching coach for the Rock Cats last season. He is entering his sixth season as a Pitching Coach in the Rockies organization and his second season at the Double-A level. Burba made the transition from player to coach in 2011 after pitching 19 seasons in professional baseball, including 15 in the Major Leagues. The Ohio native recorded three straight seasons of 15 wins or more (1998-2000). He was perfect, 3-0 in all of his post-season decisions. While pitching for the Reds in 1995 he defeated the Dodgers. He then went on to beat the Red Sox and Yankees in 1998 playoffs as a starter with the Indians. He graduated from Ohio State University and was drafted with the first pick of the second round by the Seattle Mariners in 1987.
Former Major League Outfielder Jeff Salazar will be the Yard Goats Hitting Coach in 2016. Salazar begins his second season as a hitting coach in the Rockies organization after an 11 year playing career from 2002-2012. Last season, he served as the Rock Cats hitting coach. He played outfield for three Major League clubs (Rockies, Diamondbacks, Pirates) from 2006-2009, batting .232 with 15 doubles, 4 triples, 5 stolen bases, 4 home runs and 31 RBI in 168 MLB games. Salazar made his Major League debut with the Rockies on September 7, 2006 at 25 years old. He was also part of the 2007 National League West Champion Arizona Diamonbacks club and played in the NLDS and NLCS. He played in the minors with the Orioles, Tigers and Rays - ending his playing career in 2012 with the Durham Bulls. He hit 122 home runs and stole 184 bases in the minor leagues.
Images from this story
 Hartford Yard Goats Manager Darin Everson |
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