Every year, many teams make coaching changes at the expense of trying to give their players the most insightful knowledge about the game. The Colorado Rockies have kept much of their staff aboard, and most have been with the team since the 2021 season. Their most recent hires were Warren Schaeffer, who was promoted to the Rockies major league coaching staff as the team’s third base and infield coach for the 2023 season, and hitting coach Hensley Meulens. Manager Bud Black and bench manager Mike Redmond have been with Colorado since the 2017 season. There are a ton of familiar faces back in the Rockies dugout for the 2024 season! Let’s check out who they are and what they do!
Rockies 2024 Coaching Staff
Bud Black (Manager)
In the 2016 offseason, the Colorado Rockies announced Bud Black as their new manager. Last February, Black signed a one-year extension that will last through the 2024 season. While he helped the Rockies make the postseason during his first two seasons as manager, the last five years haven’t been as exhilarating. Colorado finished with 103 losses during the 2023 season, the most losses in a season in their franchise’s history. While the NL West division will be a complete dogfight, Black has confidence in his team. If things don’t go as planned, expect Bud to be on the hot seat.
Mike Redmond (Bench Coach)
On November 16th, 2016, Mike Redmond was hired as the Rockies bench coach. The former coach and manager was part of the 2003 Miami Marlins squad that won it all. From 2013-2015, he coached the Marlins. As manager, he posted a 155-207 record. If Black gets fired midseason, look for Redmond to take over that interim manager role.
Hensley Meulens (Hitting Coach)
In November 2022, the Rockies hired Hensley Meulens as the new hitting coach. Meulens has been a key reason why the team has been so successful in Spring Training. Colorado has scored 40 runs in their first eight Spring Training games. Hensley has also been a big factor in developing the younger Rockies hitters.
Andy González (Assistant Hitting Coach)
During the 2021 offseason, the Rockies hired Andy González as an assistant hitting coach starting the 2022 season. While he never spent much time in the majors as a player, González has a ton of experience playing a few years in the minor leagues and Puerto Rico. He earned a silver medal with Puerto Rico during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
P.J. Pillttere (Assistant Hitting Coach)
The Rockies hired P.J. Pillttere as their assistant hitting coach on December 14th, 2021. He previously played and served as the assistant hitting coach for the New York Yankees. Once the Yankees decided not to opt not to retain Pillttere’s contract, the Rockies jumped the gun and made sure to give the former player a great deal to develop some of the young batters.
Darryl Scott (Pitching Coach)
Colorado named Darryl Scott the bullpen coach for the 2020 season. In the 2021 offseason, the team promoted Scott to pitching coach after Scott Foster stepped down. Scott has much to redeem in 2024, especially after the pitching staff put up one of their worst ERA totals in franchise history.
Ronnie Gideon (First Base Coach)
The team’s first base coach has been working within the organization since 1996. Ronnie Gideon was a minor league coach from 1993 to 2005 but never coached above Double-A. In 2013, he was named a developmental supervisor of the Rockies Short Season-A affiliate, the Tri-City Dust Devils. A few seasons later, in 2017, Ronnie was promoted to the major league coaching staff and would become the Rockies’ first base coach before the 2019 season.
Warren Schaeffer (Third Base Coach/Infield Coach)
The Rockies selected Colorado’s current third base coach/infield coach during the 2007 MLB Draft. He spent six seasons in the minor league before retiring and remained a Rockies’ coach. In 2015, he was manager of the Asheville Tourists from 2015-2017 and the Hartford Yard Goats manager from 2018-2019. After that, he was promoted to manager of the Albuquerque Isotopes from 2020-2022. During the 2022 offseason, Colorado promoted Warren Schaeffer to their major league coaching staff as their third base coach/infield coach.
Reid Cornelius (Bullpen Coach)
Reid Cornelius pitched for the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, and Florida Marlins as a player. Cornelius was the Marlins bullpen coach from 2010-2016. A few years later, the Rockies would name Reid their bullpen coach in 2021. Just like Darryl Scott, Cornelius has much to prove this 2024 season.
Main Photo Credits: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
