Syracuse Chiefs Announce 2015 Coaching Staff
The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are pleased to announce their 2015 coaching staff. Four of the Chiefs' five staff members will return in 2015 - manager Billy Gardner, Jr., hitting coach Joe Dillon, athletic trainer Jeff Allred and strength and conditioning coach Brett Henry. In addition, first-year Nationals coach Bob Milacki has joined the team as pitching coach, replacing Paul Menhart, the Nationals' new Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
Gardner returns for his second year as Chiefs manager and 21st overall as a minor-league skipper. Last year, Gardner was voted the International League Manager of the Year by League players, coaches, media members and team representatives. He led Syracuse to an 81-62 record and North Division championship.
Three other staff members return to Syracuse this season. Dillon rejoins the Chiefs for his second season as hitting coach after making his professional coaching debut last year. Allred and Henry will each spend a third season in their respective roles with Syracuse.
Milacki comes to the Nationals after spending six seasons (2009-14) in the Philadelphia chain. Prior to joining the Phillies, he spent eight years as a pitching coach in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization (2001-08). Milacki appeared in 143 games, going 39-47 with a 4.38 ERA over parts of eight seasons in the Major Leagues with Baltimore (1988-92), Cleveland (1993), Kansas City (1994) and Seattle (1996). He was selected in the second round of the 1983 MLB Draft by Baltimore.
The Chiefs and their coaching staff will begin the 2015 season on Thursday, April 9th, at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at 7:05 p.m. Syracuse's home opener takes place one week later; Thursday, April 16th, at 2:05 p.m. vs. the RailRiders.