Lamarr Rogers named as Greeneville Astros new manager
The Greeneville Astros have announced their 2015 field staff. The club will be led by new manager Lamarr Rogers, who joins the Astros organization following 16 seasons with the St. Paul Saints Professional Baseball Club. Rogers will become the club's eighth different manager as the Astros enter their twelfth season in Greeneville. He will be joined by two returning members on the staff in pitching coach Josh Miller and hitting coach Cesar Cedeño.
"We are looking forward to working with Lamarr in Greeneville and watching him lead our team on the field," said Greeneville Astros general manager David Lane. "He is a very well-rounded individual with a lot of professional experience. We can't wait to see his impact on our young and talented players as they strive to achieve all their goals, both individually and as a team."
The 2015 season will be Rogers' first as a minor league manager. Following six seasons as a minor league player, Rogers began his coaching career with the St. Paul Saints in 1999 as an assistant coach and 1st base coach. In 2004, Rogers was named the club's hitting coach and the Saints went on to win the Northern League Championship. In ten total seasons with Rogers as hitting coach, the Saints advanced to the playoffs seven times and made four championship appearances.
Rogers played in 560 minor league games in his career. He was originally selected by the Colorado Rockies out of California State University Long Beach in the 49th round of the June 1992 draft. He posted a .288 career batting average and was named the Rockies' organizational recipient as the best defensive outfielder (1992), fastest baserunner (1993), and best defensive infielder (1994). Rogers concluded his playing career with two successful seasons (1997-98) with the St. Paul Saints before making his way into coaching.
"I'm excited to join the Astros family, manage the players, and help them get better so they can ultimately reach their goals of getting to the big leagues," said Rogers about his new challenge as a first time minor league manager. "I look forward to fielding a competitive team, but also getting to know the fans of Greeneville and really being involved with the community. We have a great staff that I can rely on so there's a lot to be excited about and I'm eager to get started."
The coaching staff will consist of Josh Miller (pitching coach) and Cesar Cedeño (hitting coach). Miller, a former Astros minor league pitcher, will be Greeneville's pitching coach for the third straight season after spending two years as a professional scout for the Astros (2011-12). Cedeño returns to Greeneville for his fourth consecutive season. The four-time All-Star played 12 seasons (1970-81) with the Astros and collected five Gold Gloves as an outfielder. Following his playing career, Cedeño served as a coach or instructor for the organization for 10 seasons (1990-94, 1997-2001).
Among the field staffs for the Houston Astros' seven other minor league affiliates are several individuals with ties to Greeneville including former managers Josh Bonifay, Omar Lopez, Ed Romero and Rodney Linares. Bonifay, Greeneville's manager for the past two seasons, will be moving up to manage the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits. Lopez, who managed in Greeneville from 2011-12, will be moving up from Quad Cities to manage the High A Lancaster JetHawks. He will be tasked with following former Greeneville manager Rodney Linares, who led his team to the California League title two of the last three seasons. Meanwhile, Linares, who tops Greeneville's all-time win list after managing from 2007-09, will be making the jump to manage the Double A Corpus Christi Hooks. Finally, Romero, who led Greeneville in 2010, will be returning to the Short Season A Tri-City ValleyCats where he's had his team in the New York-Penn League Championship each of the past two seasons.
Other former Greeneville Astros field staff members still working at different levels throughout the Astros system include the following: 2014 coach Wladimir Sutil (GCL Astros), 2014 athletic trainer John Gregorich (Tri-City), 2014 strength & conditioning coach Dwayne Peterson (Quad Cities), 2012-13 athletic trainer Corey O'Brien (Quad Cities), 2012 pitching coach Hector Mercado (GCL Astros), 2011 athletic trainer Michael Rendon (Lancaster), 2009 and 2011 pitching coach Rick Aponte (DSL Astros), 2010 pitching coach Dave Borkowski (Quad Cities), 2008-10 athletic trainer Grant Hufford (Corpus Christi) and 2007 athletic trainer Bryan Baca (Fresno).
Opening Day of the 2015 Appalachian League season for the Greeneville Astros will be on Tuesday, June 23rd when they visit the Bristol Pirates. The Astros' home opener will take place two days later on Thursday, June 25th as they conclude a split series with the Pirates at Pioneer Park.
Options to renew and purchase new season ticket memberships are now available. To learn more or to purchase a ticket membership, please visit the Astros' administrative offices located at Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College or call (423) 638-0411. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm. For more information, visit www.greenevilleastros.com.