This season, the coaching staffs of the Yankees’ full-season minor-league clubs will see both stability and significant upheaval.
The managers of the two highest affiliates, Shelley Duncan for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Raul Dominguez for Double-A Somerset, will return for their second seasons in the dugout, but the other two will have new managers.
Nick Ortiz, who is returning to the Yankees organization for a second stint, will take over as skipper for High A Hudson Valley, while James Cooper will succeed Rachel Balkovec, who left after two seasons on Jan. 9 to become the Miami Marlins’ director of player development.
Ortiz, 50, returns to the Yankees after spending the previous four seasons as the San Francisco Giants’ quality assurance coach. Ortiz, a former minor league infielder and Puerto Rican native, served as the Yankees’ minor league manager, coach, and amateur scout from 2016 to 2019.
Ortiz managed short-season Pulaski in 2018, and his roster included six prospective big leaguers, including current Yankees infielder Oswald Peraza and outfielder Everson Pereira.
Cooper, 41, was promoted after serving as the Florida Complex League Yankees’ rookie manager previous season. He was the FCL Yankees’ defensive coach in 2022, his first year with the team.
Duncan, who played outfield and first base for the Yankees from 2007 to 2009, returned to the organization last season and guided Scranton to a 73-75 record in the International League.
Dominguez is back in Somerset after leading the Patriots to an 84-53 record and a postseason berth in 2023. His roster at times included many of the Yankees’ top prospects, including outfielders Jasson Dominguez, Everson Pereira, and Spencer Jones, catcher Austin Wells, third baseman Tyler Hardman, and pitchers Chase Hampton, Clayton Beeter, Yoendrys Gomez, and Danny Watson.
Jones, the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is likely to start the season with Somerset.
“I am happy and excited for the opportunity that the Yankees organization has given me to return as manager in Somerset,” Dominguez said in a statement. “It will be another year of growth, competition, and joy for the fans.” Somerset seemed like a second home to me after a fantastic first year as a full-season manager, thanks to its facilities, environment, people, and fans.
“This year will be very positive regarding player development since, knowing the facilities that Somerset offers us, I will have better preparation and an idea of how to lead our staff and players during the season.”
The Patriots will have new pitching and hitting coaches this season.
Brett DeGagne replaces Grayson Crawford as pitching coach, having previously worked for the rookie level Florida Complex League Yankees in 2022 and 2023.
Crawford, who was well respected, left the Yankees organization in December to become the Mets’ pitching coach at Triple-A Syracuse.
Kevin Martir will replace Jake Hirst, who was the hitting coach for two seasons. Martir was the hitting coach for Hudson Valley last season.
Rick Guarno, who served as Tampa’s hitting coach last season and the FCL Yankees in 2022, will be Hudson Valley’s new coach.
2024 YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE COACHING STAFFS in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
Manager: Shelley Duncan.
Pitching coach: Graham Johnson.
Hitting coach: Trevor Amicone.
Defensive coach: José Javier
Bullpen coach: Gerardo Casadiego
SOMERSET (AA)
Manager: Raul Dominguez
Pitching coach: Brett DeGagne
HUDSON VALLEY (HIGH A)
Manager: Nick Ortiz
Pitching coach: Spencer Medick
Defensive coach: Derek Woodley
Defensive coach: Zak Wasserman
TAMPA TARPONS
Manager: James Cooper
