Booker and Gingrich named to staff

Syracuse, NY-The Syracuse Chiefs, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are pleased to announce that Greg Booker will return as the team's pitching coach and Troy Gingrich will join the club as its hitting coach for the 2012 season. Booker and Gingrich will complete the field staff for manager Tony Beasley, who was named the Chiefs' manager earlier this month.

Booker, who spends his off-seasons in Elon, North Carolina, will return for his third consecutive season in the Syracuse dugout. Booker has extensive coaching experience with the Indians, Padres and Rockies organizations. He pitched in the Majors for nine seasons, seven of which came with the San Diego Padres (1983-1988, 1990). Booker also suited up for Toronto and San Francisco during his playing career, compiling a career ERA of 3.89. He served as the Padres' pitching coach from 2001 to 2003. Booker is the son-in-law of former Major League manager Jack McKeon.

Gingrich joins the Chiefs in his ninth season as a coach in the Nationals' farm system. For the last four of those years, Gingrich has mentored the hitters with Washington's Double-A franchise, the Harrisburg Senators. Prior to that stint, Gingrich was the hitting coach at Advanced-A Potomac for three seasons and at Short Season-A Vermont for one campaign. Prior to his retirement as a player in 2004, Gingrich played in 369 games in the Expos' minor league chain. Gingrich lives in San Diego in the off-season with his wife and twin sons.

The Chiefs are scheduled to open the 2012 season at home on Thursday, April 5 against the Rochester Red Wings. Full and partial season ticket plans are on sale now.