White Sox announce 2019 Intimidators' Field Staff

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Chicago White Sox announced Tuesday morning that the Kannapolis Intimidators will have the following field staff for the 2019 season: Manager, Ryan Newman; Pitching Coach, José Bautista; Hitting Coach, Cole Armstrong; Coach, Ryan Johansen; Trainer, Joe Geck; Strength & Conditioning, Goldy Simmons.
Newman will lead the Intimidators staff after spending last season as the manager of the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Barons finished 34-36. After playing at Scottsdale Community College, Newman enjoyed a three-year minor league career after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the minors, the Hayward, CA, native hit just under the Mendoza Line (.200 avg) in all three seasons, acting as a utility infielder in the Pirates lower levels.
The 39-year-old Intimidators manager spent two seasons as a coach with Triple-A Charlotte after managing the Class-A Winston-Salem Dash in 2013. Staying in the White Sox organization, Newman led the Great Falls Voyagers to a Pioneer League Championship in 2011, proving to be one of his two seasons as the skipper for the ChiSox short-season team. Before coaching in the White Sox organization, Newman coached in the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates farm systems. Newman's father, Jeff Newman, spent a total of nine years with the Oakland A's (1976-1982) and the Boston Red Sox (1983-1984).
Bautista returns as the pitching coach for the Intimidators after serving in the same role in Kannapolis last season. In 2018, the Intimidators posted a 3.41 team-ERA, finishing with a 74-63 record. Entering his 12^th season in the White Sox system, Bautista also guided the Intimidators' pitching staff from 2011-15. Before returning to Kannapolis in 2018, Bautista served as the pitching coach with the Barons in 2017 and the Dash in 2016. Prior to his time with the White Sox, the Bani, Dominican Republic, native spent time in the Royals organization. Signed by the Mets in 1981, he had a nine-year career in the Major Leagues, where he went 32-42 with a 4.62 ERA, including three saves in 312 appearances.
Armstrong, born in Surrey, British Columbia, will bring his offensive talents back to Kannapolis as the hitting coach this time, while previously serving as the Intimidators' manager in 2016. Over the past two seasons, Armstrong served as the hitting coach for the Barons. Before his two-year stint in Birmingham, Armstrong managed the Intimidators and the Great Falls Voyagers (2015). After being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 12^th round of the 2003 MLB Draft, Armstrong spent time in the Braves, White Sox and Angels organizations before hanging up the cleats in 2013.
Johansen will be in his first season with the White Sox organization when he comes to Kannapolis as an assistant coach in 2019. Johansen played his college baseball at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensboro. Along with coaching at Top Tier Baseball LLC, a travel baseball program based out of Chicago that helps players get to the college level, Johansen coached at Aurora university and Judson University. Most recently, Johansen was the head baseball recruiting coach at NCSA where he worked with over 1,500 athletes.
Simmons also returns to Kannapolis as the team's strength and conditioning coach. His fourth season on the White Sox player development staff, he served as the strength and conditioning coach for Great Falls in 2016. He joined the organization in 2015 as the conditioning coach of the AZL White Sox after working at UCSD in 2014. In two seasons as a pitcher in the White Sox organization, Simmons went 3-3 with a 4.97 ERA in 28 games between Advanced Rookie Bristol and Great Falls in 2009-10. He played college baseball at San Diego State for head coach Tony Gwynn.
Joe Geck will serve as the head trainer for Kannapolis for his fourth straight season in 2019, his 27^th season in the White Sox organization.
The Intimidators, Class-A affiliate of the White Sox and member of the South Atlantic League, play all home games at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health. 2019 Season Seat Memberships, Mini Plans and Group Tickets are on sale NOW! Call today and join the fun! For ticket information, call 704-932-3267 or visit intimidatorsbaseball.com.