Round Rock Express Announce 2017 Coaching Staff

Manager Jason Wood to Return for Third Season, Eric McMahon Joins Staff

December 1, 2016

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express coaching staff will look largely familiar in 2017 with Manager Jason Wood and four of his coaches returning for the upcoming season as the Texas Rangers announced their minor league coaching staffs Thursday afternoon. The only change to the Triple-A staff comes at the strength and conditioning position, as Eric McMahon has been promoted from the AA Frisco RoughRiders, replacing Ric Mabie.

Former Strength and Conditioning Coach Mabie accepted a position as the Rangers rehab strength and conditioning coordinator this offseason. Pitching Coach Greg Hibbard, Hitting Coach Jim Presley, Coach Geno Petralli and Athletic Trainer Carlos Olivas are all set to return next season.

McMahon will be entering his ninth season in the Texas organization, but his first at the Triple-A level after six years with the RoughRiders. The 34-year-old was named "Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year" for the Texas League in 2012, 2014 and 2015 by the Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.

Prior to his time in Frisco, McMahon spent two years with High-A Bakersfield. He also spent three years within the Milwaukee Brewers system (2006-08) and has worked as an instructor at MLB's training facility in Tirrenia, Italy. McMahon is a 2004 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where he majored in biology and minored in exercise science. The Vermont native earned a graduate degree in exercise science from Springfield College in 2010.

Wood returns for his third season as manager after compiling a 149-138 record in his first two years at the helm. The 46-year-old is entering his seventh season managing within the Rangers organization, having led five of his six previous teams to the postseason.

Hibbard is back for his second year as the team's pitching coach after his staff posted a 4.17 ERA in 2016, the seventh-best mark in the Pacific Coast League. The 2017 season will mark Presley's 28th in professional baseball, but just his second as Round Rock's hitting coach. Petralli, a former catcher for the Rangers, ventures into his third year as a coach for the Express. Finally, Olivas enters his ninth season within the Texas system and second as athletic trainer for the Express.

The Express open the 2017 season on Thursday, April 6 with a five-game series against the Nashville Sounds (Oakland Athletics affiliate) at Dell Diamond. Season tickets and flex plans are on sale now.

For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!