BY DAN GLICKMAN
The Rochester Red Wings announced Friday that Matthew LeCroy will return as the club’s manager for a fourth season. Six more members of his 2023 staff are joining him, including hitting coach Brian Daubach, pitching coach Rafael Chaves, and development coach Billy McMillon.
The 48-year-old LeCroy will be the first manager of the Rochester Red Wings for four consecutive seasons since Stan Cliburn helmed the team from 2006-2009. A member of the Nationals organization for 16 seasons, he has spent 13 years as a minor league manager, leading squads to a career 796-879 record and three playoff appearances. The only man to manage the Red Wings during the Nationals era, LeCroy previously played catcher for eight seasons in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins and the Nationals. LeCroy is also an Olympic medalist, winning a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
LeCroy played for the Red Wings during the Twins era, appearing in 80 games in 2007. He’s the 17th manager in Red Wings history to have played for Rochester.
Other members of the 2023 coaching staff returning are:
- Brian Daubach enters his fourth season as Red Wings hitting coach and his 14th year as a coach in the Nationals systems. Before his coaching career, Daubach played 661 career MLB games, winning a World Series ring with the 2004 Red Sox.
- Rafael Chaves returns for his third season with the Red Wings as pitching coach. Before joining the Wings, he served as Director of Pitching Development for the Philadelphia Phillies and pitched in 487 games over a 12-year professional career.
- Billy McMillon is also in his third season with the Red Wings, serving as development coach. In 2021, the Clemson University grad managed the Worcester Red Sox to a 74-54 record. A coach since 2008, he played 12 professional seasons, including parts of six MLB seasons. McMillon often coaches third base and has stepped in as acting manager when LeCroy has been absent.
- Performance analyst Daniel Minter enters his third season with the Wings and his fifth with the Nationals organization.
- Athletic trainer Eric Montague has been the athletic trainer for the Red Wings for what will now be four seasons, dating back to the beginning of the Nationals affiliation. This season will be his 26th in professional baseball.
- Mike Warren also returns for his fourth season with the Red Wings, in his case as strength and conditioning coach. This season is his 14th in the Nationals organization.
The Red Wings open play on the road in Syracuse on March 29 before opening the home schedule on Tuesday, April 2, against Lehigh Valley.
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