JetHawks Announce 2015 Field Staff

Omar Lopez Joins Alexander and Robinson to Lead Defending California League Champions

December 19, 2014

(Lancaster CA) - The Lancaster JetHawks have announced their Field Staff for the 2015 season with Omar Lopez leading the way in his first campaign as JetHawks skipper. Lopez replaces Rodney Linares after three successful seasons that included two California League Championships (2012, 2014) and one California League Manager of the Year Award (2013). Linares will take over as Manager of the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2015.

Omar Lopez joins the JetHawks for his first season as manager and his 17th overall with the Astros organization. Lopez has spent the last two seasons as manager of the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits, and in 2013 led the club to the Midwest League Championship title after an 81-57 finish in the regular season. Lopez has served as a manager in the Astros system for Rookie Level Greeneville (2011-12), the Gulf Coast League Astros (2009-10) and the Venezuelan Summer League Astros (2008). He has been with the Astros organization since 1999 and in 2010 earned the Astros Player Development Man of the Year Award.

Joining Lopez on the coaching staff will be Don Alexander (pitching coach) and Darryl Robinson (hitting coach), who return in the same roles they held last season.

Alexander has been a pitching coach in the Astros system since 2005, has spent a total of 17 years in Houston's organization and has been Lancaster's pitching for the last three seasons.

Robinson has been the JetHawks hitting coach since 2009, and in 2013 was named the California League Coach of the Year after his JetHawks led the minors in runs (976), walks (669), on-base percentage (.384) and OPS (.853).

Ramon Vazquez returns to the JetHawks for his second season as a developmental specialist with a focus on infielders. Vazquez was the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2014 following a 16-year playing career, which included nine seasons in the Major Leagues.

Michael Rendon begins his first season as the JetHawks trainer and his fifth with the Astros. Taylor Rhoades joins the Astros organization for his first season as Lancaster's strength and conditioning coach.

The 2015 Season opens at the Hangar on April 9th as the JetHawks look to defend their California League Championship. Great tickets packages are available now by visiting the JetHawks box office or calling (661) 726-5400.