Diaz Gets Promotion as Sanders Steps in as New Head Coach

When the 2013 season opens at Suplizio Field on June 20th,2013 Tony Diaz will be in Grand Junction, but he will not be coaching the GJ Rockies from 3rd base coaching box. On Monday Feb. 4th, the Colorado Rockies announced a new minor league structure for all their minor league teams. The new structure resulted in Tony Diaz being promoted to the GJ Rockies development supervisor. Tony Diaz might not be on the field during the games this year, but he will still have a major impact with the GJ Rockies in 2013.

The man running the show from inside the dugout this year will be Anthony Sanders. Coach Sanders was the hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies Short-Season A team in Tri-City since 2007. Coach Sanders was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 7th round of the 1992 June draft and played 3 seasons in the Major League with Toronto (1999) and Seattle (2000-01). He appeared in 13 major league contests batting .240 (6-for-25) and 4 RBIs. Coach Sanders is from Tucson, AZ and has an extensive Minor League background, playing parts of 14 season in the minors, including a stint with Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2004.

Returning for the Grand Junction Rockies in 2013 will be pitching coach Ryan Kibler. Under Coach Kibler the Pioneer League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies made great strides in 2012 from the previous year in Casper. In Casper in 2011 the Ghosts finished 8th out of 8 teams in the Pioneer League in WHIP ((Walk + Hits)/Innings pitched) at 1.59, ERA (Earned Run Average) at 5.91, and wins at 27. Under Kibler the GJ Rockies rose to 5th in WHIP finishing with a 1.59, 5th in ERA finishing with a 4.97, and rose all the way to 2nd in the Pioneer League in wins with 43 just 1 shy of the league lead. during 2012 the the GJ Rockies pitching staff lead by Kibler also improved from 2011 in saves from 6th to T-4th, increasing 4 saves form the previous year. In 2011 the Casper Ghosts had one shutout in 76 games. In 2012 under Kibler the GJ Rockies finished 3rd in the league with 4 shutouts. The GJ Rockies also showed how stable their bullpen was in 2012 when they finished 2nd in the league in holds with 31.

New to the 2013 GJ Rockies coaching staff will be hitting coach Lee Stevens. This is Stevens' first professional coaching position, as he has spent the last five years as a varsity baseball coach at Highlands Ranch High School and a hitting instructor at Slammers Baseball facility in Centennial, CO. Stevens is a former first round draft pick of the California Angels in 1986. He played eight years in the Major Leagues with California, Texas, Montreal and Cleveland.

Also new to the staff for 2013 will be the teams medical trainer John Duff, replacing the promoted Josh Guterman.