DeShields, Power return to Bats staff for 2016
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville Bats manager Delino DeShields and pitching coach Ted Power will return to the team's field staff for the 2016 season. They will be joined by new hitting coach Jody Davis and new trainer Steve Gober.
DeShields, 46, will skipper the Bats for his second season following the promotion of former Bats manager Jim Riggleman to the Reds' staff. Louisville finished third in the International League West at 64-80 in 2015 in DeShields' first campaign. The 2016 season will be his eighth overall in the Cincinnati Reds' organization and seventh as a manager. DeShields has also managed at Double-A Pensacola (2013-2014), Class A Dayton (2011-2012) and Rookie Billings (2010). He began his tenure with the Reds as Billings' hitting coach in 2009.
DeShields was the 12th overall draft pick by the Montreal Expos in the 1987 June draft out of Seaford High School in Seaford, Del. He made his Major League debut in 1990 and went on to play in 1,615 games with the Expos, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles and Cubs through 2002, mostly at second base. He finished his big league career with a .268 batting average and his 463 career stolen bases currently rank him 50th all-time.
Power, 60, returns for his 11th season as Bats pitching coach. Louisville pitchers have recorded a 3.97 ERA and have authored 96 shutouts during Power's tenure with the Bats. He enjoyed a 13-year Major League career spending time with eight organizations, including six seasons with the Reds. Power was previously the pitching coach at Dayton (2002) and Billings (2000-2001).
Davis, 59, enters his first season in the Reds organization after spending two seasons as a hitting coach in the San Diego Padres' system at Triple-A El Paso (2014-2015) and Class A Lake Elisnore (2014). He replaces Tony Jaramillo, who served as Louisville's hitting coach from 2013-2015 and was promoted to assistant hitting coach with the Reds for 2016. Davis previously spent time in the Chicago Cubs' system as manager at Class A Boise (2010), Class A Daytona (2007-2008) and Class A Peoria (2006). He was the Cubs' minor league catching coordinator in 2009. Davis enjoyed a 10-year Major League career with the Cubs (1981-1988), where he was an All-Star in 1984 and 1986, and the Atlanta Braves (1988-1990). In 1986, he won a Rawlings Gold Glove and threw out a modern-day record 89 attempted base stealers. He recorded a .245 career average with 127 home runs and 490 RBI.
Gober enters his first season in the Reds organization after working with the Washington Nationals since 2002, including the three most recent seasons as assistant athletic trainer on the big league staff. He replaces Jimmy Mattocks, who served as Louisville's trainer from 2011-2015 and was promoted to assistant athletic trainer with the Reds for 2016. Gober played golf and baseball at Shenandoah University and earned a degree in kinesiology/sports medicine in 1998.
The Bats' new strength and conditioning coach is still to be determined. Cody Clark served in the role in 2015.
The Bats will open their 2016 schedule with a seven-game road trip beginning April 7 before the home opener on Thursday, April 14 vs. Toledo at 7:05 p.m.
The Bats have averaged 8,827 fans per game at Louisville Slugger Field since its opening in 2000 and have totaled over 9.9 million fans through 16 seasons. Tickets for all regular season games are available. The entire 2016 Bats schedule, including updated promotions and special events, can be found at batsbaseball.com. Single-game tickets may be purchased online, by calling 1-855-228-8497 or by visiting the Louisville Slugger Field box office. Full and partial season tickets, along with group outings and suite rentals are available by calling the Bats front office at 502-212-2287.