Red Sox make a variety of moves with their minor league staffs
The Red Sox announced a number of promotions and staff changes with all of their Minor League affiliates earlier in the week.
The Red Sox made quite a few moves throughout their minor league organizations earlier in the week, news that some Sox fans may have missed. It was quite a shake-up that ran the gamut from Triple-A Pawtucket all the way down to the Gulf Coast League.
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WEEI’s John Tomase discussed how Greg Norton has been hired to take over for Tim Hyers, after Sox base-running expert Dave Roberts lured Hyers away to be his hitting coach with the Dodgers, as the minor league hitting coordinator. Fans may remember Norton as a journeyman type player who was a member of six different teams. Norton held the same position with Marlins from 2010-2013 before taking on the role of hitting coach for Auburn University from 2013-2015. Kevin Boles will still be the skipper in Pawtucket as he comes into his third season in that role.
The Sox promoted Double-A Portland’s manager Billy McMillon to Minor League Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator. McMillon also held positions previously with Single-A Greenville (2010-11) and High-A Salem (2012-13). McMillon’s advancement comes after being named Eastern League Manager of the Year in 2014.
CSNNE.com also touched on the subject with a piece talking about the various moves, noting that Carlos Febles will fill the managerial opening in Portland. Febles held a variety of titles within the Sox minor league affiliates prior to this. The other promotion involving the Sea Dogs is Jon Nunnally leaving Salem to be their hitting coach.
More moves for the Sox:
Joe Oliver will manage in Class-A Salem after filling the same role in Lowell for two seasons. Oliver was a catcher with the Red Sox earlier in his career.
Nelson Paulino has been moved to hitting coach in Salem.
Wilton Veras will be the hitting coach in Lowell after spending his time in the Dominican League the last four seasons.
Brandon Henry has been given the title of Minor League Athletic Training Coordinator after holding the same role in Portland.
Edgar Barreto gets the honors of Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. He also held that position in Gulf Coast League.
David Herrera has been moved up to Latin America Medical Coordinator.
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While some of these may seem like minor adjustments to the staff, the Red Sox have had one of the better regarded pool of prospects in all of baseball and each and every decision they make must be to maintain that status. After 2016, it will be interesting to go back and look at how these adjustments effected the overall path of the organization.