Delino DeShields returns as manager

HARRISBURG, PA. - The Washington Nationals have announced that Delino DeShields will return to lead the Senators in their 37^th season in their modern history. Joining DeShields on the 2024 Senators staff is pitching coach Rigo Beltrán, hitting coach Jeff Livesey and coach Oscar Salazar. Rounding out the staff are trainer Don Neidig, strength and conditioning coach Ryan Grose and performance analyst Samantha Unger.

DeShields begins his second season in the Nationals organization and his second with the Senators. He was with the Cincinnati Reds organization the prior 14 seasons (2009-22), including four seasons (2019-22) as their first base/infield/baserunning coach on their Major League staff. Prior to that role, DeShields spent the previous 10 seasons in the Reds’ player development system. In 2010, he began an eight-year run as a manager in their system, leading rookie-level Billings (2010), Single-A Dayton (2011-12), Double-A Pensacola (2013-14) and Triple-A Louisville (2015-17). He spent the 2018 season as the organization’s roving bunting and baserunning instructor. DeShields was Montreal’s first round pick in the 1987 Draft and went on to spend 13 seasons in the Major Leagues with Montreal, Los Angeles (NL), St. Louis, Baltimore and Chicago (NL).

Beltrán will serve as the Senator’s pitching coach after spending the 2023 season as the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen coach. He moved to that role after four seasons (2019-22) between Triple-A Columbus and Cleveland’s Alternate Training Site. During that time, 19 pitchers made their Major League debuts after being called up from one of the two affiliates. Beltrán spent the 2018 season as the pitching coach for Double-A Akron after three seasons (2015-17) with High-A Lynchburg. Beltrán appeared in 78 Major League games across five seasons with Montreal (2004), Colorado (1999-00), New York Mets (1998-99) and St. Louis (1997). He was selected in the 26th round of the 1991 June Amateur Draft out of the University of Wyoming.

Livesey returns to Double-A Harrisburg where his coaching career began in 1996 as the hitting coach for the Senators. He spent two seasons with Montreal’s Double-A affiliate before joining Pittsburgh’s organization in 1998. Prior to joining the Nationals, Livesey spent the last four seasons (2020-23) as Miami’s Minor League hitting coordinator. Prior to his time with the Marlins organization, Livesey spent 16 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, including five seasons on their Major League staff from 2014-18. Between stints with the Pirates, Livesey worked in Japan as the bench coach for the Hiroshima Carp and the Rakuten Eagles. Livesey played eight professional seasons in New York’s (AL) Minor League system before joining the coaching ranks in 1996.

Salazar is in his third season with the Senators and Washington Nationals organization after spending 2021 in El Paso as the fielding coach for the Padres triple-A affiliate. Prior to being the fielding coach for El Paso, he was the hitting coach for the Padres’ Tri-City affiliate in the Northwest League from 2017-2019. He played professionally for 19 seasons, including parts of four years in the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, and the Padres. He played in Bowie with the Orioles organization in 2007.

Neidig is in his 11th season with the Nationals organization and second with the Senators. He was with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2022 and spent the previous three seasons with Potomac. He began his professional career in the Pirates organization. Neidig graduated from Lock Haven University and lives in Lock Haven during the offseason.

Grose is in his fifth season with the Nationals and second in Harrisburg. He spent last two seasons in Fredericksburg. He previously worked for the Short-Season Single-A Auburn Doubledays in the Washington Nationals organization in 2019 and spent three years in the Minnesota Twins system.

Unger is in her second season in the Nationals organization and second with the Senators after spending the previous three seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization as an associate analyst. She spent last year working in Richmond for the Giants. She has previously worked for TrackMan and Inside Edge, Inc. in operation roles.

The Senators offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the offseason. The 2024 home opener is Friday, April 5, against the Erie SeaWolves. For information about Sensylvania Club Season Memberships or group tickets please call the Senators at 717-231-4444 or visit the Senators online at www.senatorsbaseball.com. You can find the Senators on Facebook at facebook.com/senatorsbaseball or @hbgsenators on Twitter.