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Reading Fightin Phils get new manager for 2023 season

brian smith, reading eagle, pa.
·5 min read

Jan. 31—Al Pedrique has been named manager of the Reading Fightin Phils in 2023, the Philadelphia Phillies announced Tuesday.

Pedrique, 62, joins the Phillies organization after spending last season as the third base coach of the Miami Marlins.

He replaces Shawn Williams, who will manage the Phillies' Rookie-level Florida Complex League team. Williams went 189-201 in three seasons in Reading, including 61-77 in 2022.

On Williams' staff will be Sarah Edwards, the first female field staff member in team history, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Edwards, who played softball at the University of Buffalo and Hofstra, has been named hitting development coach. She has played professional softball in Europe and New Zealand since graduating from college in 2018 and with the Italian National Team.

Pedrique is a former infielder who played in 174 big league games for the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers. He has a wealth of managing and coaching experience in the majors and minors, including a stint as interim manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004. He went 22-61.

In 2021, he managed the Marlins' Triple-A Jacksonville affiliate to a 75-55 record.

From 2018-20, he was a coach with the Oakland Athletics, serving as the first base coach in '18 and the third base coach the last two seasons.

He was a manager in the New York Yankees organization from 2013-17, spending a season each at the low Single-A, high Single-A and Double-A levels, and the last two at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He led the RailRaiders to the Triple-A national title in 2016.

He's also been a manager in the Kansas City, Houston and Arizona organizations since retiring as a player following the 1994 season. He was the Diamondbacks' third base coach in 2004 before being named interim manager.

Overall, he has a 989-886 record in 16 seasons as a minor league manager.

Joining Pedrique on the Double-A Reading staff will be hitting coach Tyler Henson, pitching coach Brad Bergesen and position coach Ray Ricker.

Steve Torregrosa will be the athletic trainer and Bruce Peditto the strength and conditioning coach.

Henson, who played for Reading in 2013, is back for his fourth season as a coach with the Fightins.

Bergesen returns to Reading after spending last season as the pitching coach at high Single-A Jersey Shore. He had been the Fightins' pitching coach in 2021.

Ricker, who was a coach with the Florida Complex League last season, joined the Phillies organization in 2020.

Also of note, former Phillies/Fightin Phils first baseman Brock Stassi has been named hitting coach at Jersey Shore, and Tulpehocken grad Troy Hoffert will be the Phillies' MiLB medical operations liaison this season.

Here's the rest of the Phillies' minor league coaching staffs for 2022:

Lehigh Valley (Triple-A): Anthony Contreras, manager; Cesar Ramos, pitching coach; Ryan Buchter, assistant pitching coach; Joe Thurston, hitting coach; Pat Listach, bench coach; Andrew Dodgson, athletic trainer; Makenna Behrens, assistant athletic trainer; Mike Lidge, strength and conditioning coach.

Jersey Shore (high Single-A): Greg Brodzinski, manager; Phil Cundari, pitching coach; Brady Lail, pitching development coach; Brock Stassi, hitting coach; Chris Adamson, bench coach; Meaghan Flaherty, athletic trainer; Mark Jesse Jr., strength and conditioning coach.

Clearwater (low Single-A): Marty Malloy, manager; Matt Hockenberry, pitching coach; Chris Heintz, hitting coach; Mycal Jones, position coach; Samantha Myers, athletic trainer; Joseph Miranda, strength and conditioning coach.

Florida Complex League Phillies (Rookie): Shawn Williams, manager; Riley McCauley, pitching development coach; Gustavo Armas, pitching development coach; Zach Jones, complex hitting initiatives coach; Rafael DeLima, hitting coach; Sarah Edwards, hitting development coach; Gary Cathcart, position coach; Roly DeArmas, player development instructor; Sean Rodriguez , player development instructor; John Ryan Murphy, player development instructor; Keita Isaji, athletic trainer; Blaine Taylor, strength and conditioning coach; John Sweeney, strength and conditioning coach.

Dominican Summer League Phillies Red (Rookie): Nerluis Martínez, manager; Waner Santana, bench coach; Alex Concepción, pitching coach; Manny Martinez, hitting coach; Argelis Pérez, athletic trainer; Francois Martel, athletic trainer; Manuel Javier, strength and conditioning coach; Noel Almonte, strength and conditioning coach.

Dominican Summer League Phillies White (Rookie): Orlando Muñoz, manager; Les Straker, pitching coach; Samuel Hiciano, hitting coach; Félix Castillo, position coach; José Betancourt, athletic trainer; Ervis Manzanillo, strength and conditioning coach.

Coordinators, roving and support staff: Kevin Bradshaw, field coordinator; Manny Amador, Dominican Republic academy field coordinator; Luke Murton, director, hitting development; Kevin Mahala, upper level hitting coordinator/development analyst; Jake Elmore, lower level hitting coordinator; Edwar González, Latin America hitting coordinator/special advisor too international scouting; Brian Kaplan, director of pitching development; Travis Hergert, pitching coordinator; Mark Lowy, upper level pitching coordinator/development analyst; Vic Diaz, lower level pitching coordinator; Keith Werman, Florida complex coordinator; Andy Abad, defensive coordinator, outfield; Adam Everett, defensive coordinator, infield; Justin Ahrens, medical coordinator; Justin Tallard, rehab coordinator; Brittany Gooch, physical therapist; Aaron Barrett, rehab pitching coordinator; Dan Liburd, rehab strength and conditioning coach; Troy Hoffert, MiLB medical operations liaison; Pat Trainor, strength and conditioning coordinator; José Salas, assistant strength and conditioning coordinator; Traci Statler, mental performance scouting and rehab coordinator; Brea Hapken, mental performance coach; Frances Cardenas, mental performance coach; Manuel Antuna, (Dominican Republic academy mental performance coach; Andrea Padron, assistant mental performance coach; Stephanie MacNeill, nutrition coordinator; Akilah Phillips, performance dietician; Alex Moses, performance dietician; Kiah Villamán, manager, language education and cultural assimilation; Enfrin Benitez, Dominican Republic academy coordinator, life skills and education; Connor Carroll, manager, minor league video and technology; Thomas Knauss, assistant video coordinator; Sintia Baez, Dominican Republic academy video and technology associate; Francisco Hernandez, Dominican Republic academy video and technology associate.