The Red Sox on Thursday announced personnel moves in the Player Development department and the managerial and coaching staffs for their minor league affiliates.
Greg Norton has been hired as Minor League Hitting Coordinator after previously holding the same position in the Miami Marlins organization from 2012-13. Norton played 13 major league seasons for six teams from 1996-2009 before joining the Marlins as a coach in 2010. Most recently, he was the hitting coach at Auburn University from 2013-15.
Billy McMillon is taking over as Minor League Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator. McMillon managed the pst two seasons in Double-A Portland, earning Eastern League Manager of the Year honors in 2014. Prior to his time in Portland, the former major leaguer managed for four years in the Red Sox system at Single-A Greenville (2010-11) and High-A Salem (2012-13).
At Triple-A Pawtucket, Kevin Boles will return for this third year as manager of the PawSox and his ninth season as a member of the Red Sox organization. Bruce Crabbe will also serve as coach for his third year with the team, extending his tenure with the organization to 12 years. Pitching coach Bob Kipper will return for his second year with Pawtucket and his 17th overall season with the organization, and Rich Gedman will continue with his second year as the PawSox hitting coach, his sixth season as a coach in the organization.
At Double-A Portland, Carlos Febles joins the Sea Dogs as manager in his 10th season in the Red Sox organization. He has spent the previous five years managing at Lowell (2011), Greenville (2012-13), and Salem (2014-15). Before his managing career, Febles served as a hitting coach for four years in the organization. Sea Dogs pitching coach Kevin Walker will return to the staff for his second season in this role and his eighth season coaching Red Sox affiliates. New to Portland’s staff is hitting coach Jon Nunnally, who coached last year at Salem.
Salem (High-A, Carolina League).
Joe Oliver has been named Class A Salem’s manager in his third year on a professional coaching staff, all with the Red Sox organization. The former major league catcher, who finished his playing career with Boston in 2001, spent the last two seasons managing Lowell. Paul Abbott will return for his second season as Salem’s pitching coach, his sixth coaching season in the organization. Joining Salem’s staff is hitting coach Nelson Paulino, who enters his 19th season coaching Boston affiliates.
Darren Fenster continues his tenure as manager of the Class A Greenville Drive. 2016 will mark his third season at the helm in Greenville and fifth season coaching in the organization. Walter Miranda returns for his third year as Greenville’s pitching coach.
Iggy Suarez, who served as Lowell’s hitting coach in 2015, will manage the Class A New York Penn League Spinners in his second professional coaching season. Suarez spent seven seasons playing in the Red Sox system from 2003-09. Lance Carter returns for his second season as pitching coach and fourth season as a professional coach, previously in the Philadelphia Phillies system from 2010-11. New to Lowell’s staff is Wilton Veras, who joins the club as hitting coach after four seasons in that role in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League.
Tom Kotchman returns to the helm for his third year as manager of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox and Jose Zapata will return for his 10th season as the club’s Latin American field coordinator and manager of the Dominican Summer League Red Sox.
Brandon Henry, entering his 10th year in the organization, has been promoted to Minor League Athletic Training Coordinator. Henry most recently spent the past four years as Portland’s athletic trainer.
Edgar Barreto will serve as Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, having spent the last two seasons as a full-time strength and conditioning coach with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox
David Herrera has been promoted to Latin America Medical Coordinator in his ninth season in the organization.