The Cleveland Guardians announced 2023 player development assignments for their Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A affiliate teams on Tuesday.
The Columbus Clippers will once again be led by manager Andy Tracy atop a revamped staff from that which helped the Clippers go 85–64 in 2022, the fifth-best record in Triple-A. Tracy begins his fourth year with the Clippers, third as manager.
Tracy played in the Majors with the Expos, Rockies and Phillies, as well as playing in the Mets, Orioles and Diamondbacks systems. Before joining the Cleveland Guardians organization, he spent seven years coaching for the Phillies, six as a minor league hitting coordinator, and one as manager. He was the Clippers’ hitting coach in 2019 and the alternate site manager in 2020.
New Pitching Coach
Owen Dew takes over as pitching coach after handling that role the past two seasons at Double-A Akron. He is entering his seventh year of coaching.
Junior Betances replaces Jason Esposito as hitting coach. The native of the Dominican Republic has served as a player, coach and executive in the Cleveland system for 25 years since being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers as a Rule 5 draft pick in 1996. Betances hit .277 over six minor league seasons. He was Akron’s hitting coach the past two seasons.
These moves are typical of the Cleveland Guardians’ developmental approach. They believe having players work with familiar instructors on their rise through the system is beneficial. Several players will move up from Akron to the Clippers in 2023.
New bench coach Greg DiCenzo moves up from Lake County, where he was the Captains’ manager the past two years. DiCenzo coached at Holy Cross College from 2008-19 in his home state of Massachusetts. He led the Crusaders to ten 20-win seasons, and the first Patriot League Championship in school history in 2017.
Cody Buckel returns as pitching strategist for a second season. A second-round pick in 2010, had a 3.92 ERA over eight minor league seasons with the Texas Rangers, and the LA Angels.
Jeremy Heller returns for his fourth season as the Clippers’ trainer, while Tyler Grisdale will join the staff as Strength & Conditioning Coach.
Same Approach at Akron
Rouglas Odor will return as the RubberDucks’ manager for a franchise-record fourth consecutive season. Joining Odor in 2023 will be Brad Goldberg as pitching coach, Mike Mergenthaler as hitting coach, Ian Forster as assistant hitting coach, Daniel Robertson as bench coach, Jake Legan as athletic trainer, and Mo Cuevas as strength and conditioning coach.
“We are so excited to welcome Rougie back for a fourth season leading the RubberDucks,” President and General Manager Jim Pfander said. “It truly feels like family is returning with Rougie, Mike Mergenthaler and Jake Legan are back for another season. I can’t wait to see this staff and the players take the field at Canal Park in 58 days.”
Established History
Odor enters his 36th season with the Cleveland Guardians organization as a player, coach and manager. He led Akron to a 79–59 record in 2022, and the Double-A Northeast championship with a 73–46 record in 2021. Odor also led the RubberDucks to a 61–79 record in 2019. He is 213–184 as RubberDucks manager.
“I am excited to be in Akron again, working with great people,” Odor said. “We will have a great group of players again and new faces on the coaching staff. I am looking forward to seeing the fans and everyone in Akron.”
Odor has been a popular mainstay in Akron as a member of the Canton-Akron Indians, Akron Aeros and RubberDucks. He was an infielder for Canton-Akron for parts of the 1991, 1993 and 1994 seasons, the Aeros’ hitting coach in 2012, and RubberDucks hitting coach in 2014.
Goldberg enters his second season with the Guardians. In 2022, Goldberg served as a pitching development coach on the Arizona Complex staff.
Mergenthaler enters his seventh year with the organization and third at Akron. He spent 2022 as Akron’s assistant hitting coach after serving as the bench coach for the RubberDucks in 2021 and Lynchburg in 2019.
Returning Hitting Coach
Assistant hitting coach Ian Forster enters his fourth season in the organization. He spent 2022 as the hitting development coach on the Arizona Complex staff. A graduate of North Olmsted High School in suburban Cleveland, Forster played four years at Baldwin Wallace University in nearby Berea.
Robertson enters his second season as a coach in the organization. He was bench coach for Low-A Lynchburg last year. He played 12 pro seasons, and appeared in 32 games for Cleveland in 2017.
Legan enters his 10th season in the organization and third with the RubberDucks. Cuevas enters his eighth season with the organization, and first season in Akron.
New Manager at Low-A Lynchburg
The Hillcats will be led by Jordan Smith, who managed the Arizona Complex League team in 2022. His staff will consist of venerable pitching coach Tony Arnold, hitting coach Ordomar Valdez, and bench coach Yan River. Franklin Sammons is back for a second season as the athletic trainer.
Arnold appeared in 38 games for the Baltimore Orioles in the mid-1980s, and has been regarded as one of the very best minor-league pitching coaches for more than 30 years. Smith joined the Cleveland organization in 1992, and has coached at every level. He previously worked in Lynchburg in 2015, 2018, and 2021. He is a big reason why Cleveland is noted for developing pitchers such as Cy Young Award winners Shane Bieber, Corey Kluber, Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia, Bartolo Colon and stars like Charlie Nagy, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, Cody Allen, Rafael Betancourt, Danys Baez, Jake Westbrook and others.
Valdez was the hitting coach for the Guardians Dominican Summer League Blue team last season. He signed with Cleveland in 2011, and played several minor-league seasons. Rivera, 27, spent last season as the bench coach for the Lake County Captains. He is one of the youngest coaches in the organization, having graduated from La Salle University in 2018 with a degree in psychology. He is the son of former major league infielder Luis Rivera. His father served as the inaugural skipper for the Lake County Captains in 2003.
New Ownership At High-A Lake County
Entrepreneurs Alan Miller and Jon Ryan, both owners of COLLiDE Sport, and the Portland Pickles baseball team, became majority owners of the Lake County Captains in mid-January.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Cleveland Guardians organization to bring our passion for baseball and fun to Northeast Ohio,” said Miller. “We are grateful to Peter and & Rita Carfagna for the opportunity to take the reins on this organization and continue their commitment to Lake County.”
Former majority owner and chairman Peter Carfagna will stay on as a minority shareholder. Peter and wife Rita, along with Ray and Katie Murphy, purchased the Columbus (Ga.) Redstixx and moved the franchise to the Cleveland suburb of Eastlake in 2003.
Today, the Captains announced that 41-year old Omir Santos will be their new manager. He guided Lynchburg in 2022 to a First-Half North Division Championship in the Carolina League. Santos will have many of those players on this year’s Lake County roster. Santos was a catcher who played briefly for four teams in the majors, including one game for Cleveland in 2013. Drafted by the New York Yankees in 2001, he played 876 games over 14 years in the minors, and brings a wealth of experience to the team.
Kevin Erminio returns as pitching coach. He spent the 2021 season in the same role with the Captains and was at Lynchburg last year.
New to Lake County for 2023 are Jordan Beck as hitting coach, Kyle Lindquist as bench coach and Luis Rios as strength and conditioning coach. Matt Beauregard returns for his seventh season as athletic trainer.
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