Rockies name 3 additions to coaching staff
DENVER -- The Rockies have imported two coaches -- Reid Cornelius from the Marlins as bullpen coach and P.J. Pilittere from the Yankees as assistant hitting coach -- and promoted Andy Gonz¨¢lez from the Minor League system, also to serve as assistant hitting coach.
As previously announced, Darryl Scott will move from bullpen coach to pitching coach. Returning to manager Bud Black¡¯s staff will be bench coach Mike Redmond, third-base coach Stu Cole, first-base coach Ron Gideon and hitting coach Dave Magadan.
¡°I¡¯m thrilled to have Reid, Andy and P.J. join our coaching staff for the 2022 season,¡± Black said in the club¡¯s press release. ¡°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, spent his 32nd year in professional baseball in 2021 as rehab pitching coach in a return to Miami, where he spent much of his coaching career (2003-16, 2019-21). Cornelius worked for the Marlins in a variety of coaching roles, including bullpen coach from 2010-16. Part of that time (2013-15), he was bullpen coach under Redmond, then Miami's manager.
Also, Cornelius spent 2017-18 with the Braves as pitching coach at Triple-A Gwinnett. Cornelius pitched professionally for 13 years, including Major League stints with the Expos (1995), Mets ('95) and Marlins (1999-2000).
Pilittere, 40, spent the past four seasons as the Yankees¡¯ assistant hitting coach. Before that, he spent five years as hitting coach at Yankees affiliates at four levels: Class A Charleston (2013), Class A Advanced Tampa ('14), Double-A Trenton (2015-16) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ('17). The coaching stints came after an eight-season career as a catcher and first baseman in the Yankees¡¯ system (2004-11).
Gonz¨¢lez, who turns 40 on Wednesday, has spent seven seasons in the Rockies¡¯ player-development system, the last three as Colorado¡¯s camps and fundamentals coordinator. He also was hitting coach at Class A Boise (2015), manager at Boise ('16), and development supervisor at Rookie-level Grand Junction (2017-19).
Gonz¨¢lez had a 13-season professional career, including stints in the Majors with the White Sox (2007), Cleveland ('08) and the Marlins ('09).