There will be four new faces in the dugout and bullpen for the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in 2022.
On Monday, manager Bud Black’s staff for next season was announced with bench coach Mike Redmond, hitting coach Dave Magadan, third base coach Stu Cole and first base coach Ron Gideon reprising their roles from 2021.
New to the staff is Reid Cornelius, Andy González and P.J. Pilittere. Darryl Scott, bullpen coach for the last two seasons, has been promoted to pitching coach following Steve Foster’s graduation to a more prominent position once Mark Wiley, director of pitching operations, retired after nine seasons in the role.
“I’m thrilled to have Reid, Andy and P.J. join our coaching staff for the 2022 season,” said Black. “Each of them has a tremendous amount of credibility and knowledge and they are well respected throughout the game. I’m also excited for Darryl’s transition to pitching coach, having witnessed firsthand his work with our bullpen and his long term success as a Minor League pitching coach and coordinator. I’m anxious and excited to work with these four and the rest of our staff in the coming season.”
Cornelius, 51, takes over for Scott as the bullpen coach. This will be his 33rd season in professional baseball, having most recently served as the Miami Marlins’ rehab pitching coach in 2021. Prior to that, he spent a bulk of his coaching career with the Marlins from 2003-16, teaming with Redmond from 2013-15. The Thomasville, Ala., native enjoyed a 13-year playing career that included stints in the Majors with the Montreál Expos (1995), New York Mets (1995) and then-Florida Marlins (1999-2000).
Replacing assistant hitting coach Jeff Salazar will be González, 39, who has been with the organization for seven years total with the last three coming as the Rockies’ camps and fundamentals coordinator. The Rio Piedra, Puerto Rico native played in parts of three seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians and Marlins from 2007-09. He becomes only the second Puerto Rican after Sandy Alomar Sr. (2003-04) to be named to Colorado’s coaching staff.
Pilittere will also serve as an assistant hitting coach following four years with the New York Yankees in the same role. The 40-year-old from San Dimas, Calif. spent the entirety of his playing and coaching career with the Yankees, originally being drafted by the team as a catcher in 2004.
