The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers announced manager Scott Hennessey will return for his sixth season in 2023.
Since taking the helm midway through the 2017 campaign, the Drillers have posted a winning record in each season and advanced to the postseason four times. The five straight winning seasons matches the 2002-2006 era as the longest winning stretch in franchise history.
Hennessey has compiled 327 career wins during the span, the fifth-most for any manager in Tulsa professional baseball history. He also has a 60% winning percentage at ONEOK Field with a 174-116 record.
Furthermore, Hennessey’s 16 playoff wins is good for second all-time among Tulsa managers. Only Al Vincent has more postseason wins among Tulsa managers with 23 from 1948-1951.
The Drillers coaching staff under Hennessey for the 2023 season features a blend of new and familiar faces, with pitching coach Ryan Dennick, athletic trainer Jesse Guffey and performance coach Noah Huff among those returning.
Newcomers include pitching coach Durin O’Linger, hitting coach Louis Iannotti, bench coach Juan Apodaca and video/development associate Mikael Mogues.
Dennick is entering his second season as the Drillers pitching coach and sixth season in the Dodgers organization. Prior to becoming a coach, he pitched professionally for seven seasons, including a brief stop with the Cincinnati Reds in 2014 and stint with Tulsa the following year.
Guffey additionally is back for his second season as the Drillers athletic trainer and sixth in the Dodgers organization. He was named Texas League Trainer of the Year last season.
Huff is returning for his third season as Tulsa’s performance coach and sixth season overall in the Dodgers system.
O’Linger will work alongside Dennick as another pitching coach this season. He is entering his third season with the Dodgers organization, previously serving in the same role for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes.
Iannotti is heading into his first season as Tulsa’s hitting coach and sixth season overall with the Dodgers. He served one season as the development coach for the Great Lakes Loons in 2018 and spent the last four years as a hitting analytics coordinator at Camelback Ranch.
After serving as the bench coach for Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, Apodaca joins the Drillers in the same role. Mogues will complete Hennessey’s staff as the video/development associate in his first season with the Dodgers organization.
Tulsa Drillers open 2023 season on April 6
The Drillers will begin the 2023 regular season at ONEOK Field on Friday, April 6, when they host the San Antonio Missions. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PT.
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
