Suns 2015 Coaching Staff Announced
HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Washington Nationals announced today the 2015 coaching staffs for each of their minor league affiliates. The 2015 staff for the Suns will include four members of last season's staff (Manager Patrick Anderson, Pitching Coach Sam Narron, Hitting Coach Luis Ordaz, and Athletic Trainer Don Neidig), as well as one new face in Strength and Conditioning Coach Gabe Torres. The Suns finished the 2014 season with a record of 87-53 and advanced to the South Atlantic League Championship Series, where they lost to the Asheville Tourists three games to two.
Anderson is returning for his second season as manager of the Suns. The 2015 season will be Anderson's third season as a manager in the Nationals organization. Anderson guided the GCL Nationals to a 49-9 regular season record in 2013, which established a Minor League Baseball record for the best domestic regular-season winning percentage. The 2013 GCL Nationals went on to win the GCL Championship Series, meaning Anderson has led a team to its league championship series each of the last two seasons. Anderson has a combined overall regular season record the last two years of 136-62, which is a .687 winning percentage. Prior to joining the Nationals organization, Anderson was the Head Baseball Coach at Hofstra (NY) University from 2009-2012. He previously spent time in the minor leagues as a hitting and catching instructor with the Kansas City organization from 2001-2008.
Narron is also returning for his second season with the Suns. Narron guided a pitching staff in 2014 that ranked second in the South Atlantic League in saves and runs allowed, tied for third in shutouts, finished fourth in WHIP, and fifth in ERA. Overall 2015 will be Narron's fourth season as a coach in the Nationals chain. He spent both 2012 and 2013 as the pitching coach for the short-season Auburn Doubledays. Narron spent nine years pitching in the minors for the Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers organizations. He made one big league appearance over that span, on July 30, 2004 with the Rangers against Oakland. Narron played his college ball at East Carolina University and he is the grandson of former big league catcher and coach Sam Narron.
Ordaz will be entering his second season with the Suns in 2015 as well. Ordaz led a Suns offense last year that ranked atop the league in steals, and ranked third in the league in runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, batting average, and OPS. Prior to joining the Suns in 2014, Ordaz was the hitting coach in Auburn for three seasons. Ordaz had a seven-year MLB playing career that spanned from 1997 - 2006 and included stints with St. Louis, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay. Ordaz began his association with the Nationals as a player/coach with Triple-A Syracuse in 2010.
Neidig will begin his second season in Hagerstown and third in the Nationals organization in 2015. He spent the 2013 season with the GCL Nationals. Prior to joining the Nationals organization Neidig spent two years working in the Pirates farm system for the low-A State College Spikes in the New York-Penn League and the rookie-level GCL Pirates. Neidig is from Williamsport, Pennsylvania and graduated from Lock Haven (PA) University where he worked as a student instructor, teaching anatomy and physiology courses.
The Suns begin the 2015 season on April 9, with the home opener against the Lakewood BlueClaws scheduled for Thursday April 16. Season tickets for the 2015 season are now on sale. Call the Suns front office at 301-791-6266 to purchase your tickets today!