Manager Keith Johnson and Staff to Return in 2014
SALT LAKE CITY - Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year Keith Johnson and his entire field staff will return to manage the 2014 Salt Lake Bees, announced Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Manager of Minor League Operations Mike LaCassa today. Alongside Johnson, and also returning to Salt Lake, will be hitting coach Francisco Matos, pitching coach Erik Bennett, trainer Brian Reinker and strength and conditioning coach Josh Fields. The Bees won the Pacific Conference Championship in 2013 and advanced to the PCL Finals.
Johnson, 42, enters his fourth season as manager of the Bees and his 11th in the Angels organization. He became the Salt Lake franchise's first former player to manage the club in 2011, having played during 2002 and 2003 in Salt Lake. After three seasons at the helm of the club, Johnson owns a 213-219 record (.493).
Prior to Salt Lake, he served a two-year managerial stint with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga (2009-10) and one season as manager of Single-A Cedar Rapids (2008), both in the Angels organization. He has compiled a 424-426 (.498) record in six seasons as a manager and has reached the playoffs four times. The former infielder enjoyed a 12-year professional playing career including organizational stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1992-1998, 2001), Arizona Diamondbacks (1999) and Anaheim Angels (2000, 2002-2003). Johnson is a native of Hanford, Calif. and currently resides in Salt Lake City with his wife, Malena, and their two children.
A member of the Angels organization for eight seasons, Matos returns for his third season as hitting coach for the Bees in 2014. Previously he spent four seasons as the hitting coach at Double-A Arkansas, one season at Rancho Cucamonga and one season at Orem. The 44-year-old Matos enjoyed a 16-year professional playing career as a second baseman. He was signed as a free agent by the Oakland Athletics in 1987 and spent 1989-94 in the A's organization. He also played for affiliates of Pittsburgh, New York (Yankees), Montreal, Baltimore and Seattle from 1995 through 2000. From 2001-04, he played in the Mexican League and for four independent league teams until retiring following the 2004 season. A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Matos resides in Huntsville, Ala. in the offseason with his wife, Susan.
Erik Bennett, entering his 19th season with the Angels organization, returns to the Bees for a seventh season as pitching coach. The 44-year-old former major league pitcher began his coaching career as the pitching coach for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 1997. He served as pitching coach for Cedar Rapids and Arkansas prior to joining the Bees. Bennett played 10 seasons of professional baseball, including time with the California Angels, Minnesota Twins and Salt Lake Buzz. A native of Yreka, Calif., Bennett, his wife, Teresa, and daughter, Teagan, call northern California home.
Columbus, Ohio native Brian Reinker also returns for his seventh season as a trainer with the Bees and his 12th in the Angels organization. Josh Fields, a Virginia native, returns to Salt Lake and the Angels organization for his fifth season as strength and conditioning coach.
2014 Bees season tickets are on sale now with prices starting at just $576 per person. Purchase today by calling (801) 325-BEES (2337) or by visiting slbees.com with no online fees. The Bees begin their season on April 3 with an eight-game homestand against Sacramento and Fresno.