The staff includes many familiar faces with a few notable changes.
With just under two weeks left until pitchers and catchers report for spring training, the Colorado Rockies have announced their organizational and player development staff for the upcoming 2025 season.
Colorado Rockies
The primary organizational staff for the Rockies remains largely unchanged for the 2025 season under Director of Player Development Chris Forbes and his Assistant Director Jesse Stender.
The biggest addition to the Rockies Organizational Staff was announced just last weekend at Rockies Fest. Former franchise outfielder Charlie Blackmon has been named Special Assistant to the General Manager alongside fellow special assistants and former team members Clint Hurdle, Vinny Castilla, and Todd Helton. Former Rockies right-handed reliever Scott Oberg has also been named pitching coordinator—a role he will share with Doug Linton—after spending several of his post-retirement years as a special assistant for player development and scouting.
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With the elevation of Dustin Garneau to bullpen coach for the 2025 season, Steve Soliz—the former manager of the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies—has been promoted to fill the role of catching and game planning coordinator. Soliz was named manager of the Grizzlies prior to the 2023 season and managed the Low-A affiliate to back-to-back winning seasons, narrowly missing a playoff berth last season.
The Rockies’ medical and performance staff has seen a significant overhaul with five staff members moving into new roles. Emilio Martinez has been named the coordinator of the Rockies’ Performance Lab at their Arizona Complex after previously being an assistant. Arnaldo Gomez has been promoted to the Minor League Medical Director while Maranda Briney—previously the athletic trainer for the Arizona Complex League team—has moved into Gomez’ former role as the Minor League Medical Coordinator. Jason Robbins—also a former member of the ACL staff as a performance coach—has been named the Rockies’ Physical Performance Coordinator. He fills a role vacated by Trevor Swartz, who has been promoted to Physical Performance Manager.
Finally, Rick Mathews has been reclassified as Special Assistant for Player Development. This is a role he has held previously, though last season he was listed as Special Assistant to the Farm Director.
Albuquerque Isotopes
The coaching staff for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes is unchanged for the 2025 season under manager Pedro Lopez. Lopez and his Isotopes finished 2024 with a 92-58 record after a difficult season, but an infusion of prospects from the lower levels could brighten the outlook for the ‘Topes this year. Michael Ryan will return for his second season as Lopez’ bench coach alongside pitching coach Chris Michalak and hitting coach Jordan Pacheco. Pacheco is entering his third year as the Isotopes’ hitting coach.
Hartford Yard Goats
Bobby Meacham will manage the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats for a second season after being named Eastern League Manager of the Year for 2024. Meacham led the Yard Goats to their first playoff berth in franchise history and a 76-60 record. Pitching coach Dan Meyer and hitting coach Zach Osborne are both back for a second season under Meacham, while bench coach Luis Lopez enters his fourth.
The Yard Goats new athletic trainer is Toshiaki Nagahara, who previously was the athletic trainer for the ACL Rockies, and former Spokane Indians physical performance coach Jacob Mathis has been promoted to that role in Hartford.
Spokane Indians
The 2024 Northwest League Champion High-A Spokane Indians will once again have manager Robinson Cancel at the helm for a third season. Cancel retained his pitching coach Blaine Beatty—who helped the Indians have one of the best pitching staffs in the Northwest League—but the Indians are seeing some significant shakeup on their staff.
Tom Sutaris will take over the bench coach role from Joe Mikulik, who appears to have departed the organization. Sutaris was the Indians’ hitting coach in 2024 after serving as the Yard Goats’ hitting coach the year prior.
The new Indians hitting coach is Trevor Burmeister, who served as the hitting coach for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies last season. Coming along with Burmeister from Fresno is new athletic trainer Justin Wilson, who filled the same role with the Grizzlies last year. The Indians also have a new physical performance coach in Allison Krajewski.
Fresno Grizzlies
With the promotion of former skipper Steve Soliz, the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies will now be managed by Cesar Galvez. Galvez had been Soliz’s bench coach since 2023.
The new bench coach for Fresno is Dave Keller, who spent the previous ten years with the Chicago Cubs as a roving instructor and Latin American field coordinator. Keller’s last on-field coaching job was in 2014 as the manager of the Daytona Cubs.
Greg Jones (no not that one) has been named hitting coach for the Grizzlies after serving that same role with the ACL Rockies last season. Jerry Sullivan will once again be the Grizzlies’ pitching coach, and Jeremiah Stewart is back as the physical performance coach. The Grizzlies have a new athletic trainer in Kota Omizu following the promotion of Justin Wilson to High-A Spokane.
Arizona Complex League
Fred Ocasio will return as the team’s manager while bench coach Tony Wolters will begin his second season as a coach. The ACL Rockies will once again carry two pitching coaches, with Ryan Kubler entering his second year and Helmis Rodriguez entering his fourth.
Notably, longtime Rockies bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz has been named the ACL Rockies’ hitting coach after spending nine seasons in his previous role. This will be Muñoz’ first full-time on-field coaching position.
Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Dominican Summer League
Mauricio Gonzalez will manage one of the Rockies DSL teams, overseeing all aspects of infield work and fundamentals for both clubs and the complex. Eugenio Jose will serve as the other manager. Florentino Nuñez will be back for his 18th season with the Rockies with a focus on defense, baserunning and hitting. Felix Rosario will be a second hitting coach while Sam Deduno and Johendí Jiminian will both serve as pitching coaches.
Former Rockies big league pitcher Pedro Astacio will enter his sixth season as a special pitching coach for the DSL staff after re-joining the organization in 2019. Astacio pitched for the Rockies from 1997-2001.
The only new face on the DSL staff is athletic trainer Marlon Carvajal.