Redbirds Core Coaching Staff to Return in 2024

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The St Louis Cardinals have announced that Memphis native Ben Johnson returns for his fifth season as manager of the Memphis Redbirds.

During the 2023 season, Johnson led the team to a 71-78 record. The Redbirds finished fifth in the International League West with postseason awards going to Luken Baker, International League All-Star and MVP, Masyn Winn, Top MLB Prospect, and Ivan Herrera, International League All-Star.

Prior to coaching, Johnson, a Germantown High School graduate, was drafted by the Cardinals out of high school in the 4th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft. After turning down college baseball and football scholarship offers to sign with the Cardinals, he was ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the Cardinals system and played the 1999 season for Rookie-level Johnson City and part of the 2000 campaign with Single-A Peoria. He was then traded to the San Diego Padres.

He made his Major League debut with San Diego on June 26, 2005, and he went on to appear in 31 games with the Padres that year. He played 58 games with San Diego in 2006, before being traded to the New York Mets in the offseason and playing nine games in The Big Apple in 2007. Johnson’s 10-year Minor League playing career spanned 901 games, where he hit .262 with 187 doubles, 115 home runs, 473 RBI, and 91 stolen bases.

Johnson’s Redbirds coaching staff for 2024 includes returning pitching coach Darwin Marrero and hitting coach Howie Clark along with coach Will Hawk, who joins the Redbirds from double-A Springfield. Athletic trainer Dan Martin and strength and conditioning coach Henry Torres also return to the coaching *staff*.

For more information on the Redbirds’ upcoming 2024 season, which begins on March 29 against the Charlotte Knights at AutoZone Park, visit www.memphisredbirds.com. Additional information about ticket on-sales, promotions, theme nights, and giveaways will be available in the coming weeks and months.