The Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League coaching staffs were officially put into place, which for High-A Rancho Cucamonga includes the return of Drew Saylor for a third consecutive season as manager.
Saylor has led the Quakes to the Cal League Playoffs in each of the last two seasons, going 76-64 in last year, and 155-125 overall. He will be just the third manager in team history to lead the team for three seasons, joining Mike Basso (1996-98) and Bobby Meacham (2002-04).
While Saylor is returning as manager, the rest of his staff will be a bit different this season than it was a year ago. One of the changes has Justin Viele taking over as hitting coach.
Viele is entering his second year with the organization, as he served as the hitting coach of the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League last season.
The Quakes pitching coach will also be a promotion from within, as Connor McGuiness takes over after holding the same role for the Low-A Great Lakes last year. He previously coached at Emory University.
To round out Saylor’s staff is assistant coach Petie Montero, who like the other two assistants is also in his second year with the organization. Montero spent last year coaching with the Dodgers Dominican Summer League Team.
Minor League coaching staffs are instrumental in the development of prospects within the organization. The likes of Keibert Ruiz, Yusniel Diaz, Will Smith and D.J. Peters all played for the Quakes in 2017.
Many of them may be moving on to Double-A Tulsa to play for Scott Hennessey and his staff in 2018, leaving Saylor and his coaches to develop the next crop of top prospects.
