CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds today announced the coaching staff for their Class AAA affiliate in Louisville of the International League.
PAT KELLY - Manager
Pat Kelly returns to the Bats as manager. He began the 2018 season as the skipper at Louisville but was promoted to the Major League staff on April 19, when Riggleman was named the Reds' interim manager. In 2019 he returned as manager to Chattanooga, where he served as Lookouts manager from 1993-1994. From 2015-2017, Pat managed Class AA Pensacola. He also managed in the Reds' system at Class A Bakersfield in 2014 and from 2011-2013 at Rookie Billings, where he was 2012 Pioneer League Manager of the Year. In 2010 Kelly was the manager at Class A Lynchburg, and prior to that he spent the majority of 3 seasons as manager of the Rookie GCL Reds as well as director of Florida on-field operations and as a roving catching instructor. He began those duties in 2007 but left the post on July 3 of that season when Reds interim manager Pete Mackanin hired him as a bench coach. Kelly returned to his operations position full-time in 2008. In both 2010 and 2016, Pat was named Puerto Rican Winter League Manager of the Year. Kelly has spent 31 seasons managing in the minor leagues for 16 teams, including Richmond (2003-05), Syracuse (1999-2000), Ottawa (1997-98), Harrisburg (1995-96), Chattanooga (1993-94, 2019), Indianapolis (1991-92), Rockford (1991), Las Vegas (1990), Wichita (1988-89), Reno (1987) and Charleston (1986). He also served as pitching coach with Glens Falls (1985), the GCL White Sox ('84) and Niagara Falls ('83). Kelly was a catcher in the Angels, Blue Jays, Braves and White Sox systems and reached the majors in 1980 with Toronto. Pat, 64, resides in Sarasota, FL.
LEON DURHAM - Hitting Coach
Leon Durham is entering his his third season as Louisville's hitting coach. In 2018, Durham returned to the Reds organization after spending the previous 17 seasons working for the Detroit Tigers. Following a 16-year run as Class AAA Toledo's hitting coach, Durham worked at the Major League level in 2017 as the Tigers' assistant hitting coach. In 2010, he coached Team USA during the Pan American qualifying tournament. From 1996-2000, he coached in the Angels' system at Class A Lake Elsinore (1996), Class AAA Vancouver (1997-98) and Class AAA Edmonton (1999-00). Durham enjoyed a 10-year Major League playing career with the Cardinals (1980, 1989), Cubs (1981-88) and Reds (1989), finishing his career with a .277 batting average and 147 home runs. He's a 2-time National League All-Star (1982, 1983) and earned The Sporting News' Silver Slugger honors following the '82 season. Durham belted a pair of home runs during the 1984 NLCS for the Cubs vs San Diego. A Cincinnati native and a 1976 graduate of Woodward High School, Leon continues to reside in the Queen City during the offseason.
JAMES BALDWIN - Pitching Coach
James Baldwin is entering his fifth season in the organization, his first with one of the Reds' affiliates. He spent the previous 4 seasons as rehabilitation coach at the Goodyear facility. He pitched in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons from 1995-2005 for the White Sox, Dodgers, Mariners, Twins, Mets, Orioles and Rangers. Baldwin was an American League All-Star in 2000 and finished that season with a 14-7 record. He also made his lone Postseason appearance in 2000, when for Chicago he started Game 3 of the AL Division Series and pitched 6.0 strong innings in the 2-1 loss at Seattle (3h, 1r, 3bb, 2k). Baldwin, 48, lives in Goodyear, Arizona.
KEVIN MAHAR - Bench Coach
Kevin Mahar is entering his seventh season in the Reds organization, his first at Louisville. He spent the last 3 years as Class A Dayton's bench coach. He returned to the Reds organization in 2017 after working in private business in 2016. Kevin served as Class A Daytona's hitting coach in 2015, a role he also held for Rookie level Billings in 2013 and 2014. The former outfielder in the Texas and Philadelphia organizations played in parts of 6 professional seasons, including 7 games for the Major League Rangers in 2007. He collected his first big league hit on May 17, 2007 off Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir. Mahar is a graduate of Indiana University and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2004. He resides in Jasper, Indiana with wife Atalie and children Malik, Stella and Nash
JUSTIN BUCKO - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Justin Bucko is in his fourth season in the organization, his first at Class AAA Louisville. He was in Class A Dayton in 2019, and in 2018 he served as strength and conditioning coach at Rookie Billings. Following an internship in the Olympic sports department at the University of Maryland, he worked for the AZL Reds in 2017. Justin played 4 years of football at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he completed his bachelor of science degree in physical education-health promotion, then became the head strength and conditioning coach of Milwaukee Lutheran High School before taking an internship with the University of Wisconsin. Following that internship with the Badgers, he began a 2-year stint volunteering at Georgetown University while he obtained his master of science degree in exercise science-sports performance training from Concordia of Chicago. Justin resides in Madison, WI with his wife, Marie.
STEVE GOBER - Athletic Trainer
Steve Gober is in his fifth season in the organization, all with the Bats. For 3 seasons from 2013-2015 he was an assistant athletic trainer on the Washington Nationals' Major League staff after serving the previous 7 seasons (2006- 2012) as that organization's minor league medical and rehabilitation coordinator. Gober also has been involved in the development and implementation of rehab programs for Major League players. His tenure with Washington included stints with the Brevard County Manatees (2002-2004) and Potomac Nationals (2005). Steve entered professional baseball in 1999 as strength and conditioning intern for the Class A Capital City Bombers in the Mets organization, then served as New York's minor league strength and conditioning coordinator from 2000-2001. He served as a CSCS and athletic training consultant for the SK Wyverns of Korean Baseball after the 2000 season and as athletic trainer for Peoria of the Arizona Fall League in 2004. During the 2000-2004 off-seasons, he worked in physical therapy clinics and served as an athletic trainer for several high schools in the Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia areas. Steve was on an educational board as an industry advisory council member for American Public University and spoke at several youth and collegiate sports organizations. He presented at the 2013 injury prevention workshop in Washington, D.C. and at PBATS' 2017 spring training seminar. Gober played golf and baseball at Shenandoah University while earning a degree in kinesiology/sports medicine in 1998. He enjoys archery hunting, gardening and is a collector of fine wines. Steve resides in Pennsylvania with his wife, Michelle, and 3 daughters.