Syracuse field staff to return

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are pleased to announce the return of manager Tony Beasley, pitching coach Greg Booker and hitting coach Troy Gingrich for the 2013 season. Booker will return for his fourth consecutive season with the Chiefs, while Beasley and Gingrich will each call Syracuse their baseball home for the second straight year.

Beasley returns for his third consecutive season as a manager in the Nationals' Minor League system. He steered the Double-A Harrisburg Senators to a playoff berth in 2010 before joining Syracuse last year. From 2007 to 2009, Beasley served as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates' Major League staff, including a stint as the team's third base coach. He also served as the third base coach for the Nationals in their second year back in the nation's capital, 2006, and has three times been selected as a classification's Manager of the Year by Baseball America (Class A 2002 & 2003, Double-A 2004, all in the Pirates' organization). Beasley played nine years in the Orioles and Pirates organizations. He became a player/coach in 1998 and then retired to become a full-time coach in the Pirates organization in 1999.

Booker, who spends his offseasons in Elon, N.C., will return once again as the longest tenured coach in the Chiefs' organization. Booker also has extensive coaching experience with the Indians, Padres and Rockies organizations. He pitched in the Major Leagues 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 returns to the Chiefs for his 10th season as a coach in the Nationals' farm system. Prior to joining Syracuse's staff, Gingrich served four years as the hitting coach with Double-A Harrisburg. He also worked as the hitting coach at Class A Advanced Potomac for three seasons and at Class A Short-Season 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 offseason with his wife and twin sons.

The Syracuse Chiefs are scheduled to open the 2013 season on Thu, April 4, at Lehigh Valley, with a Fri, April 12 home opener, also against the IronPigs. Full and partial season ticket plans are on sale now.