Phillies announce 2018 minor league coaching staffs

On Thursday, the Phillies announced their minor league coaching staff for the 2018 season, including a few big additions.

At the top of the developmental levels, Gary Jones has been hired as the manager of the Phils’ Triple-A affiliate the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Jones, 57, spent the previous four seasons as the third base coach for the Cubs. He has also coaches in the A’s, Padres and Red Sox organizations.

Jones makes the third individual that the Phillies have hired away from the 2016 World Series champions this off-season. John Mallee, the team's new hitting coach at the big league level, held that position with the Cubs for the previous three seasons and new first base coach Jose Flores served as Chicago's minor league field coordinator (virtually a second-in-command of the minors) for a handful of seasons.

Former Phillies infielder Wes Helms will also be added to the IronPigs’ staff as a coach. Hitting coach Sal Rende and pitching coach Dave Lundquist will remain in their roles with the team.

Greg Legg, image- Jay Floyd

Returning Double-A Reading manager Greg Legg's history with the Phillies dates back to 1982 when the team drafted him as an infielder in the 22nd round. He would play for 13 professional seasons, including time spent in the majors with the Phils. Since 1994 he has served as a coach at various levels of the minors.

Legg will be joined by former Phillies first baseman Rico Brogna. He previously worked as a scout with the Angels.

The new hitting coach with Reading will be Kevin Riggs, who has coaching experience with the Rockies and Pirates developmental systems. Steve Schrenk will return as the team’s pitching coach.

With Class A Advanced Clearwater, Shawn Williams will return as the club’s skipper for his second season there. Aaron Fultz, another former Phillie, will be retained as the Threshers’ pitching coach. John Mizerock, who served as hitting coach with Reading last year, will join the Clearwater staff in the same role. Ruben Gotay, a former big league infielder with the Royals, Mets and Braves, will be added as a coach with Clearwater.

Class A Lakewood will see manager Marty Malloy return for his second season with the team. His staff will be completely new with former Phillies farmhand Tyler Henson named as hitting coach, former big league hurler Brad Bergesen joining the team as pitching coach and Venezuela native, Milver Reyes being added as coach.

For short-season Class A Williamsport Pat Borders will return for his fourth season as the team’s manager. Former Phils farmhand Christian Marrero will join the team as a hitting coach with Hector Berrios returns as pitching coach. Greg Brodzinski, who was a catcher in the Phillies farm system in 2015 and 2016, will be added as a coach.

The organization also announced that they have added a second team in the short-season rookie level Gulf Coast League.

The GCL East team will feature manager Roly de Armas hitting coach Rafael de Lima, pitching coach Hector Mercado and coach Charlie Hayes.

The GCL West team includes manager Nelson Prada, who was the hitting coach with Lakewood the last few seasons, former infielder Chris Heintz and former Temple University and Phillies minor league reliever Matt Hockenberry as pitching coach.

Rob Ducey, who was a hitting coach in the Phils’ system in recent seasons, will take on the position of base running and bunting coordinator. Other developmental mainstays such as coordinators, roving instructors and rehab coaches will be retained in their roles. Details on those positions and others mentioned above can be viewed at this linked web address.

Stats to Ponder: Jimmy Rollins Edition

J-Roll has batted under .200 for a calendar month twice in his career. In April 2004, Rollins went 13-for-71, for a .183 average. The following month, Rollins went 30-for-107, which is a .280 average. And in August 2005, Rollins went 22-for-117, for a .188 average. The month that followed saw Rollins go 49-for-122 for a .402 average. Rollins is batting .171 so far in May 2009. Improvement is not far away for Jimmy. The Phillies are 10-2 in games this year which Rollins scores at least 1 run. The Phillies are 4-12 in games which Rollins does not score. Jimmy Rollins in 6 games against the Braves this year is batting .071 (2-for-28). In 2008 Rollins batted .284 against the Braves in 18 games. In 2007 Rollins batted .347 against the Braves in 18 games. In 2006 Rollins batted .367 against the Braves in 18 games. Jimmy Milestone Watch: 6 more RBI and Rollins will tie Scott Rolen for 25th all time in Phillies RBI leaders. 7 more triples and Rollins will tie Richie Ashburn for 4th all time i...

Crawford's Chronicles: JP Crawford talks Spring Training

JP Crawford, image- Jay Floyd Entering this year as the widely regarded top prospect in the Phillies organization, J.P. Crawford will be taking time each week to provide insight directly from inside spring training in Clearwater, FL, right here on PhilliesNation.com. Crawford, 20, was named the top positional prospect in two leagues (Class A South Atlantic League and Class A Advanced Florida State League) last year, when he combined, in 123 games, to post a .285 average, 11 homers, 48 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He also represented the Phils organization in the MLB All-Star Futures Game last season. As the 2015 campaign approaches, the six-foot-two 180-pound lefty batter is expected to reach the Double-A level and continue to prove why the Phillies selected him in the first round of the 2013 draft. In this initial installment of our weekly check-in with J.P., he shares thoughts on a variety of topics, including his exclusion from big league camp, which member of the big leagu...

Phreestyle Battle & Notes

Unrelated to baseball, really...but it's fun and our Phils are off today. This new kid on the hip hop scene, Charles Hamilton , whose single Brooklyn Girl is ripping up radio and video count downs, was at PSU for a performance recently. A freestyle battle ensued, and as you'll see, the Penn State student held his own. Stay tuned for the ending. It's the best part. Here are some random Phillies-in-idle baseball thoughts and notes- Colbert Hamels is slated to make his Grapefruit League debut tomorrow vs. Team Canada. Shane Victorino is going to wear #50 on his jersey for Team USA, a nod to Hawaii Five-O. Brad Lidge is likely to not see game action till next week, after he throws some more bullpen sessions and works out the tightness in his forearm. Albert Pujols is declaring "respect for his country" as reasoning for sitting out of the Cardinals' exhibition this week against Team Dominican Republic. He told reporters, "I don’t want to play against them...

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