The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Low-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes announced their coaching staff for the 2021 season, which will be led by a new manager in John Shoemaker.
“The Dodgers have a long history with the California League and I am excited to come to Rancho Cucamonga and be a part of it for the 2021 season,” Shoemaker said in a statement.
“Without Minor League baseball last year, there is a great sense of enthusiasm, excitement and expectation for the upcoming season. The players, staff, cities, fans and reporters are all anxiously awaiting opening day.”
The upcoming campaign marks Shoemaker’s 28th as a Minor League manager, which includes two stints with Great Lakes from 2011-12 and 2018-19. He led the Loons to one of their best seasons in franchise history in 2019 en route to Midwest League Manager of the Year honors.
Great Lakes posted a 81-55 record during the regular season that year, winning the first half Eastern Division Championship and solidifying their second consecutive postseason appearance.
Shoemaker is the winningest manager in Loons history, having compiled a 282-277 record in 559 games over four seasons. Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 35th round of the 1977 MLB Draft, Shoemaker played four seasons in the Minors before beginning his coaching career in 1981 as the hitting coach for Vero Beach.
Shoemaker’s staff is rounded out by hitting coach Dylan Nasiatka, pitching coach Stephanos Stroop and Ramon Troncoso, bench coach Johan Garcia, athletic trainer Jesse Guffey, performance coach Mike Roman and video associate Dean Kim.
Austin Chubb, who was supposed to manage the Quakes last year, will be the manager of High-A Great Lakes in 2021.
Dodgers’ Minor League coaching staffs shaping up
In addition to Shoemaker joining the Quakes, the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers announced that their coaching staff will be led by manager Scott Hennessey for a fourth consecutive season.
Moreover, Triple-A Oklahoma City also announced that manager Travis Barbary will return for his fourth consecutive season at the helm as well.
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