Meet Your 2015 Storm Coaching Staff
LAKE ELSINORE, CA - The San Diego Padres announced the 2015 Lake Elsinore Storm field staff Friday, naming Michael Collins, Glendon Rusch and Rod Barajas to the Storm coaching ranks.
Michael Collins will take over as manager of the Storm in what will be his fourth season as a coach within the Padres organization. After an 11-year playing career, including two seasons in the San Diego system, Collins signed on to coach the Padres' Dominican Summer League team in 2012. He followed that up with a stint as the head of the AZL Padres in 2013 and skippered the Fort Wayne TinCaps last season.
Originally from Canberra, Australia, Collins managed the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League during the last three offseasons, leading the club to an ABL title in 2012-13. Collins is the 12th manager in Storm franchise history.
Glendon Rusch will make his professional coaching debut as the Storm pitching coach in 2015. Rusch played parts of 12 seasons with six teams in the Major Leagues, including a brief stint with the Padres in 2008. After ending his playing career in 2009, the southpaw founded the Full Count Baseball Academy for young athletes in Southern California.
Rod Barajas returns to The Diamond as hitting coach for the 2015 season. A 14-year veteran of the Major Leagues, Barajas enters his second season with the Padres organization and his first full year as hitting coach for the Storm after joining Lake Elsinore midway through 2014. The Southern California native won a World Series in 2001 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rounding out the field staff are 2008 California League Athletic Trainer of the Year Will Sinon, who has signed on for his 18th season with San Diego and ninth season in Lake Elsinore, and strength & conditioning coach Dan Byrne, who enters his third year with the Padres and first with the Storm.
Jamie Quirk, last season's Storm skipper, and 2014 pitching coach Bronswell Patrick will remain with the Padres organization for the upcoming season. Quirk will manage the San Antonio Missions (AA) and Patrick will serve as pitching coach for the El Paso Chihuahuas (AAA).
The Lake Elsinore Storm begin their 22nd season, their 15th as a San Diego Padres affiliate, on April 9th, 2015. A full season schedule can be found HERE.