Barons Announce 2020 Coaching Staff

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham Barons, in conjunction with the Chicago White Sox, are excited to announce that former Barons infielder Justin Jirschele as the Barons Manager for the 2020 season. 

Jirschele will be assisted this season by new Hitting Coach Charlie Romero, Bench Coach Devin De Young, and Athletic Trainer Hyeon Kim. Returning to the Barons coaching staff this season will be Pitching Coach Richard Dotson and Performance Coach Tim Rodmaker.
"We are excited to welcome Justin back to Birmingham, this time as our manager. I know he brings an exciting style of baseball that Barons fans will appreciate here at Regions Field," said Barons General Manager Jonathan Nelson. "Justin along with our entire coaching staff will once again have a Barons team comprised of some of the most highly regarded White Sox prospects."
Jirschele, 29, enters his fourth season as a manager in the Chicago White Sox organization and first with the Barons. Making his managerial debut in 2017 with the Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators, Jirschele led the team to the South Atlantic League Championship Series with a 68-69 record. In 2018, he again led the Intimidators to a semi-final's playoff berth. Jirschele was promoted to the Winston-Salem Dash last season where he led the club to a 72-61 record. 
A native of Clintonville, Wisconsin, Jirschele was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the White Sox in 2012. From 2012 to 2015 he made stops at all five of the White Sox Farm affiliates (Great Falls Voyagers, Kannapolis Intimidators, Winston-Salem Dash, Birmingham Barons, and the Charlotte Knights). During his playing career, he recorded a .277 AVG, 172 hits, 70 RBIs, and 52 walks. During his last season, Jirschele made four appearances for the Barons in which he recorded three hits and two walks.
"I'm extremely fortunate that the Chicago White Sox has given me the opportunity to come back to Birmingham this season," said Jirschele. "There's a lot of buzz and excitement around Birmingham and the Barons this year, and I can't wait to get back to Regions Field and be under those bright lights again."
Charlie Romero, 47, enters his second season with the White Sox organization and his first season with the Barons. A former minor league player himself, Romero played six seasons (1985-1990) within both the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels organizations. He has won six Dominican Summer League division titles with the Angels and was named the Los Angeles Angels Minor League Manager of the Year in 2010.
Devin De Young, 30, will begin his first season with the Barons after spending the 2019 season as a Bench Coach for the Greenville Reds. He served two years as the bench and hitting coach for the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League.
Richard Dotson, 60, returns for his third season in Birmingham as the Barons Pitching Coach. The right-handed Dotson was drafted in the 1st round (7th overall) of the 1977 draft by the California Angels, but was traded later that year to the White Sox organization. He spent 12 seasons in the Major Leagues and recorded a 4.23 career ERA in 305 games (111-113). In 295 starts, Dotson pitched 55 complete games and 11 shutouts, and he was tabbed as an American League All-Star in the 1984 season, pitching two scoreless innings at Candlestick Park.
Tim Rodmaker, 37, returns for his sixth season in Birmingham as the Performance Coach. Rodmaker has been in the White Sox organization since 2006, seeing time in Short Season-A Great Falls, Single-A Kannapolis, and Single-A Advanced Winston-Salem before joining the Barons field staff in 2015.
Hyeon Kim, 34, enters his third season as an Athletic Trainer for the White Sox organization and his first season with the Barons. Prior to his time with the White Sox, Kim served as a graduate assistant at Auburn University-Montgomery.
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The Birmingham Barons are the proud Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Barons 2020 home opener at Regions Field will be on Thursday, April 9th against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar, or for additional information about Regions Field, visit barons.com or call (205) 988-3200.
Southern League Champions: 1906 • 1912 • 1914 • 1928 • 1929 • 1931 • 1958 • 1967 •1983 • 1987 • 1989 • 1993 • 2002 • 2013 31-Year Double-A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox