Rochester Red Wings Announce 2023 Field Staff

Matthew LeCroy will return for a third season to manage the Rochester Red Wings in 2023, the Washington Nationals announced today. LeCroy, with over 700 career MiLB managerial wins, managed the Red Wings to a 67-81 record in 2022 while utilizing a franchise-record 81 different players.

LeCroy’s coaching staff for the 2023 season:

Brian Daubach - Hitting Coach (3rd Season)

Rafael Chaves - Pitching Coach (2nd Season)

Billy McMillon - Development Coach (2nd Season)

Daniel Minter - Performance Analyst (2nd Season)

Eric Montague - Athletic Trainer (3rd Season)

Mike Warren - Strength & Conditioning (3rd Season)

Rafael Chaves returns as the club’s Pitching Coach while Billy McMillon will again serve as the Development Coach, both of whom will be in their second seasons with the Red Wings. Hitting Coach Brian Daubach, Athletic Trainer Eric Montague, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike Warren all return to Rochester for their third year. Daniel Minter rounds out the coaching staff and returns to Rochester for his second year, this time in a new capacity as the club’s Performance Analyst, previously serving as the team’s Video Coordinator in 2022.

LeCroy, 47, enters his 15th season in the Nationals organization and 12th as a minor league manager. The South Carolinian previously managed Double-A Harrisburg (2016-19, 2012-13), Single-A Potomac (2011), and Single-A Hagerstown (2009-10). His combined minor league record as a manager is 730-799 (.480) and he has led his teams to three playoff appearances including a spot in the Eastern League finals in 2013. The Clemson University alum was slated to be the Nationals Minor League Quality Control Coordinator in 2020 prior to the cancellation of the MiLB season. The former major league catcher also spent two seasons as Washington’s Bullpen Coach (2014-15). The 50th overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft played eight seasons in the major leagues with Minnesota (2000-2005; 2007) and Washington (2006). LeCroy became the 17th player to manage the Wings full-time after previously playing for Rochester.

Rafael Chaves, 54, previously spent time as Director, Pitching Development for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2019-2022. He joined the Phillies as a pitching coordinator in 2015 and remained in that role until 2019. Prior to joining Philadelphia, he worked six years with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a special assistant (2014) and minor league pitching coordinator (2009-13). The native of Puerto Rico was an MiLB pitching coach for the New York Yankees in 2008, helping Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the Governors’ Cup while his staff led the International League with a 3.67 ERA. His previous 10 seasons were spent in the Seattle Mariners organization (1998-07) as a pitching coach at every level, including with the major league club from 2006-07. Chaves enjoyed a 12-year minor league career while pitching to a 3.51 ERA in 487 games (five starts) between the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations.

Billy McMillon, 51, managed the Worcester Red Sox in their inaugural season in 2021 and led the WooSox to a 74-54 record. He managed Pawtucket in 2019 and was set to lead the PawSox in 2020 before the cancellation of the MiLB season. The former Clemson University Tiger was minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator for the Boston Red Sox from 2016-18 after managing for six seasons with Double-A Portland (2014-15), Single-A Salem (2012-13), and Single-A Greenville (2010-11). His coaching career began in 2008 when he was Greenville’s hitting coach. McMillon played 12 professional seasons, including parts of six years in the majors leagues with the Oakland Athletics (2001-04), Detroit Tigers (2000-01), Philadelphia Phillies (1997), and Florida Marlins (1996-97). He was a three-time International League All-Star and the 1996 IL Rookie of the Year with Charlotte, earning him induction into the IL Hall of Fame in 2019 and Charlotte’s Round Table of Honor in 2022. McMillon was originally selected in the eighth round of the 1993 MLB Draft by Florida.

Brian Daubach, 51, embarks on his 13th season as a coach in the Nationals chain. The former Major League first baseman will instruct the organization’s Triple-A hitters for an eighth straight season. Prior to his current role, he managed five seasons in the system with Double-A Harrisburg (2014-15), Single-A Potomac (2013), and Single-A Hagerstown (2011-12). The 2013 Potomac Nationals had the best overall record (84-55) in the Carolina League, winning both the first and second-half North titles, before falling to Salem in the Mills Cup Championship. His 2012 Hagerstown Suns team had the best overall record in the South Atlantic League at 82-55 and won the second-half division title before falling to Greensboro in the first round of the playoffs. Daubach played in 661 MLB games over eight seasons for the New York Mets (2005), Chicago White Sox (2003), Boston Red Sox (1999-2002, 2004), and Florida Marlins (1998), earning a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2004. He also suited up for 1,235 additional minor league games during a 17-year playing career (1990-2006). Daubach was selected by the Mets in the 17th round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of West High School in Belleville, IL.

Eric Montague embarks on his sixth Triple-A season and third with the Wings after spending the previous four seasons (2014-17) with Double-A Harrisburg. The 2023 season will be his 25th in professional baseball and his 11th season in the Nationals organization after 10 seasons at various levels of the Houston Astros’ chain. Montague joined Washington’s system in 2013 with Single-A Potomac before jumping to Harrisburg the following season. He spent the 2011-12 seasons with Double-A Corpus Christi and prior to that, worked from 2004-10 with Salem and Lancaster, both Advanced-A affiliates of the Houston Astros. In 2003, Montague worked with Single-A Lexington after spending the 2002 campaign with Martinsville of the Rookie-Level Appalachian League. Prior to joining the Astros, he worked four seasons (1998-2001) in the Mets organization. Montague attended Mississippi State University, where he served as a student athletic trainer while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in fitness.

Mike Warren enters his 13th season with the Washington Nationals organization and his ninth leading the strength and conditioning program at the Triple-A level. He was the strength and conditioning coach for Triple-A Syracuse from 2015-2018 and Single-A Advanced Potomac for the four prior seasons. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas Wesleyan University, where he played baseball for the NAIA program. His father, also Mike, appeared in 52 major league games with the Oakland Athletics from 1983-85 and tossed a no-hitter for the A’s vs. the Chicago White Sox on September 29, 1983.

Daniel Minter enters into his fourth season with the Washington Nationals organization and his second with Rochester, this year moving into a Performance Analyst role. Having previously served as the team’s Video and Technology Coordinator in 2021, Minter has overseen video operations at the Florida Complex League level for two seasons. Prior to his time with the Nationals organization, Minter was a part of the Detroit Tigers business operations department serving as a data analyst for parts of two seasons. The University of Florida alum has also spent time with ESPN as an Official Statistician, working at the Gainesville Super Regional during the 2017 College World Series.

Rochester opens the 2023 season with a three-game series against Lehigh Valley (PHI) at home on March 31st at newly renamed Innovative Field. Season Seats, group outings, single-game suites, picnics, and flex packs, can be purchased now by calling 585-454-1001. More information on these options can be found at RedWingsBaseball.com.