2018 Vermont Field Staff Announced
BURLINGTON, VT --- The Vermont Lake Monsters are excited to announce the Field Staff for their 2018 season, including the return of Aaron Nieckula for his fourth season as manager of the New York-Penn League team affilated with the Oakland Athletics, who announced their full Minor League coaching staffs on
BURLINGTON, VT --- The Vermont Lake Monsters are excited to announce the Field Staff for their 2018 season, including the return of Aaron Nieckula for his fourth season as manager of the New York-Penn League team affilated with the Oakland Athletics, who announced their full Minor League coaching staffs on December 5th.
The 15th manager in Vermont's 25-year history, Nieckula is the first to skipper the Lake Monsters for four seasons. Previously, Rick Magnante had served as Vermont manager for three seasons (2011-13) before giving way to David Newhan in 2014. Nieckula started his Lake Monsters career in 2015 and led Vermont to the 2017 Stedler Division title and a runner-up finish to Hudson Valley in the NYPL Championship series.
Also returning to the Lake Monsters field staff for the 2018 season is hitting coach Lloyd Turner, pitching coach Carlos Chavez and athletic trainer Toshi Nagahara. After serving as hitting coach for Vermont in 2013, Turner returned to the Lake Monsters in 2016 and 2017. Chavez was Vermont's pitching coach in 2015 and 2016 before serving in the same capacity with the Single-A Beloit Snappers in 2017. The upcoming 2018 season will make Nagahara's sixth straight year with Vermont.
2017 Lake Monsters pitching coach Bryan Corey jumps up to High Single-A Stockton in the California, joining the Ports staff with manager Magnante and hitting coach Brian McArn (1996 Vermont Expos hitting coach). In additiion, 2014-15 Vermont hitting coach Tommy Everridge, who coaching the past two seasons with Stockton, joins 2014 Lake Monsters pitching Steve Connelly with Double-A Midland.
The Lake Monsters 25th NYPL season begins June 15, 2018 at Tri-City with the home opener scheduled for June 18th vs. Connecticut at historic Centennial Field.