Few people may be more excited for the return of baseball than new Ems Manager Dennis Pelfrey. The 2021 season will be the MiLB managerial debut for the Arlington, Texas native, who was supposed to take the helm of the Class-A San Jose Giants last year before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the season. Prior to joining the Giants organization, Pelfrey spent five seasons (2015-19) leading the Florence Freedom (now the Florence Y’alls) in the Independent Frontier League. After succeeding former Freedom manager Fran Riordan (now the manager of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators) in 2015, Pelfrey led the Freedom to a 261-218 overall record during his tenure, highlighted by League Championship Series appearances in two of his final three seasons. While his track record with the Freedom certainly speaks for itself, the positive impression he left amongst the staff in Florence was noteworthy, as evidenced by the words of Florence VP/General Manager Josh Anderson. Upon being hired away from the Freedom by the Giants organization, Anderson stated, “working with Dennis has been nothing short of an honor and I’m so happy for him to get this opportunity.” Perhaps more impressive than his winning pedigree as a manager, though, is his knack for developing talent, having helped a whopping 16 former Freedom players sign contracts with MLB organizations during his time in Florence, Kentucky. Pelfrey attended Northwood University in Cedar Hill, TX before spending six seasons playing professionally, the majority of which was spent in the Frontier League.

Like Pelfrey, Alain Quijano was also slated to make his Giants coaching debut in 2020 only to see the season cancelled. Alas, the former left-handed hurler hailing from Iowa is ready to hit the ground running in Eugene having previously coached at nearly every notable level of professional and amateur baseball prior to joining the Giants organization. A standout ace at Des Moines Lincoln High School (where he played for his father, Alex), Quijano originally committed to Iowa State University only to quickly see the school drop its baseball program altogether due to budget cuts, leaving Alain wondering if his once promising future in baseball would materialize. Unphased, Quijano walked-on at Marshalltown (IA) Community College before later transferring to the University of Missouri and then Grand View University. Following his collegiate career, the Iowan spent nearly a decade playing in various independent leagues while simultaneously beginning his coaching career on the side at a number of different colleges and universities. All the while, Quijano pursued his Master’s degree, one he eventually obtained from Lincoln Memorial University while simultaneously serving as a graduate assistant for the school’s baseball program. Most recently, Quijano was a former foe of Ems manager Dennis Pelfrey having served as the pitching coach for the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the independent Frontier League.

Elasik enters his first season with the Giants organization after previously serving as a coach at St. Johns River State College in Palatka, Florida. A Florida native, the first-year coach will be tasked with helping aid the development of a loaded stable of young Giants hitting prospects, led by first rounders Patrick Bailey, Hunter Bishop, and Will Wilson. Despite being early in the season, Elasik has quickly become a fan favorite in opposing ballparks as he can often be found interacting with young fans, tossing souvenir balls into the stands, and doing all he can be serve as a great ambassador for the Giants, the Emeralds, and the game of baseball as a whole.

Lipso Nava is the true veteran of the Ems coaching staff having spent the prior 13 years as a member of the Giants organization. The Venezuelan has zig-zagged across the United States during his more than decade-plus tenure as a coach in the Giants organization, most recently serving as the fundamentals coach for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2019, a position he was slated to hold again in 2020 before the cancellation of the MiLB season due to COVID-19. Before spending time in Richmond, Nava accrued ample managerial experience as he led the San Jose Giants on two separate occasions (2016, 2018) while also serving as the skipper for the Augusta GreenJackets in 2011 and 2012. His professional experience at the helm of pro baseball squad isn’t limited to just the here in the United States, though, as he also earned the honor of being named the 2016 Venezuelan Winter League Manager of the Year after leading Aguilas del Zulia to the 2016 VWL Championship. As a player, Nava suited up for 16 seasons of professional baseball (1990-2006, including time within the Seattle Mariners (1990-94), Boston Red Sox (1995), and Chicago Cubs (1996) organizations. Like Ems hitting coach Jake Fox, Nava has already spent some time in the Northwest having previously played for the Northwest League’s Bellingham Mariners during the 1990 season.

Set to start his third year in the Giants organization, Tim Vigue comes back to the Northwest after previously serving in the same role that he held for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes during the 2019 season, a role he would have held once more in 2020 if not for the cancellation of the MiLB season. Previously, Vigue has experience as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for Baseball at Florida International University and additionally on the staff for USA Baseball during the Tournament of Stars (2016, 2017) and for the 15U National Team (2018). Vigue obtained his B.S. in Athletic Training from the University of South Carolina before later earning his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership Technology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.