Many happy returns: Worcester Red Sox bring all coaches back for 2023

WORCESTER — The Boston Red Sox were pleased with their Triple-A field staff’s performance in 2022, so it’s no surprise everyone is returning for 2023.

Chad Tracy, 37, will be back for his second season as WooSox manager, along with hitting coach Rich Gedman, pitching coach Paul Abbott, bench coach Jose Flores, assistant hitting coach Mike Montville and development coach Brendan Connolly. The Red Sox added Matt Wheeler as the new bullpen coach in Worcester.

Tracy described the 2022 season as “amazing” and felt a strong, working relationship with the field staff.

“It helps that our staff gets along really, really well and that makes the season fun,” Tracy said at the end of last season. “It makes it go fast and really enjoyable when you enjoy the staff you work with.”

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The WooSox finished with a winning record in 2022 as they went 75-73. The team also sent 28 players to Boston in 2022.

Gedman, a Red Sox Hall of Fame catcher, returns for his third season as WooSox hitting coach. This will be his ninth season as the Red Sox’ Triple-A hitting coach, dating back to the 2015 season in Pawtucket. The Worcester native is the longest tenured Triple-A hitting coach in Red Sox history.

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Abbott returns for his third season in Worcester, and sixth overall as a pitching coach in the Red Sox system. In 2022, WooSox pitchers were ninth in the league with a 4.40 ERA. They also allowed only 117 home runs, which were the fewest at the Triple-A level.

Flores returns for his second season in Worcester. He has more than 20 years of experience as a coach or manager and he served as an integral member of Tracy’s staff.

Montville, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, joined the WooSox as a coach in 2021. Wheeler, who made his coaching debut last season with Class-A Greenville, was a video intern with the WooSox in 2021.

Scott Gallon has been promoted to head athletic trainer, while Nick Kuchwara has been promote from Double-A Portland an will serve as the WooSox’ assistant trainer. Edwin Rodriguez returns for his third season as massage therapist. Ben Chadwick returns for his third season as strength and conditioning coach.

The WooSox open the 2023 season against the Syracuse Mets on March 31 at Polar Park. For ticket information, visit www.WooSox.com, or call (508) 500-8888.

—Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Red Sox bring all coaches back for 2023