Senators Announce 2020 Field Staff

The Washington Nationals have announced that Billy Gardner, Jr. has been named 2020 manager of the Harrisburg Senators. He replaces long time manager Matt LeCroy who moves into a different position with the Nationals organization. Joining Gardner on the 2020 Senators staff is new pitching coach Sam Narron and hitting coach Brian Rupp. Rupp returns for a fifth straight season. Also returning are T.D. Swinford, trainer and RJ Guyer, strength and conditioning coach.
Gardner enters his first season as the manager of the Senators. He previously worked as a roving minor league coordinator in 2019 after spending four seasons (2014-17) as the manager of Triple-A Syracuse. 2010 will mark his 31st season in professional baseball. He has 23 years of Minor League managing experience, collecting over 1,500 managerial wins (1,524-1,466, .510). He was named the manager of the International League in the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game. He was the 2014 International League Manager of the Year, his second such league citation (Southern League, 2012). Gardner served the previous seven seasons (2007-13) as the manager of the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. He led Montgomery to a Southern League title in 200 in his first season at the helm. He previously managed in the Eastern League at Trenton in 2000 & 2001.
The Kansas City Royals selected Gardner in the 50th round of the 1987 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Hartford. Gardner played two Minor League seasons before returning to Hartford to take his first coaching job. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife, Kristie. They have three children: Joshua, Jaycie and Abbie.
Narron enters his ninth season as a coach in the Nationals' chain, and first with the Senators. He spent the past two seasons with Potomac (2018-10) and before that he spent four seasons (2014-17) with Single-A Hagerstown. Following the 2016 season, he served as the pitching coach of the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League. He spent the 2012-13 seasons as the pitching coach for short-season Auburn. Narron Joined the Nationals in 2012 after enjoying a nine-year playing career pitching in the Texas and Milwaukee Minor League chains. He made his big league debut with Texas, July 30, 2004 vs. Oakland which was his lone big league appearance. The Texas Rangers selected him in the 15th round of 2002 First-Year Player Draft. He Played collegiately at East Carolina (NC) University. Sam is married and resides in Gibsonville, NC with his wife Aaron, daughter Lillie and son Trey.
Rupp enters his ninth season in the Nationals organization and fifth consecutive as the Senators hitting coach. Before joining the Senators, he was the hitting coach for Potomac in 2014 & 2015. He managed the P-Nats in 2012, his first season in the Nationals organization. Before joining the Nats organization, he worked in the Royals organization for eight years. He earned the 2008 Dick Howser Award, given annually to the Royals' top minor league manager. Brian is married and resides in Florissant, MO with his wife Stacie and son Andrew.
Swinford begins his 10th season in the Nationals organization and third with the Senators. Following the 2015 season, he worked for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. Before joining the Nationals organization, he worked in Baltimore's organization for seven seasons. T.D. graduated from McKendree (IL) College in 2003 with a degree in athletic training and physical education.
Guyer is in his seventh season in the Nationals organization and fourth with the Senators. Before joining the Senators, he was with Hagerstown and Auburn. Before joining the Nationals organization, he spent nearly two years as a special assistant to the director in the Arizona Fall League. He was also an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2011 to 2014.
The Senators offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the offseason. The 2020 home opener is Thursday, April 16, against the Reading Fightin Phils. For information about Sensylvania Club Season Memberships or group tickets please call the Senators at 717-231-4444 or visit the Senators online at www.senatorsbaseball.com. You can find the Senators on Facebook at facebook.com/senatorsbaseball or @hbgsenators on Twitter.