Cardinals announce MiLB staff hirings; Four named to coordinator positions
ST. LOUIS, MO., December 23, 2024 每 The St. Louis Cardinals announced the following staff hirings and assignments today for their minor league system:
Ryan Barba 每 Minor League Field Coordinator
Jose Leger 每 Assistant Minor League Field Coordinator / Baserunning Coordinator
Austin Meine 每 Minor League Pitching Coordinator
Ethan Goforth 每 Minor League Catching Coordinator
Barba most recently served on the San Diego Padres coaching staff as Major League Field Coordinator in 2024. He originally joined the Padres as minor league infield coordinator in 2022 before serving as assistant field coordinator/infield coordinator for the 2023 season. The Van Nuys, Calif. native spent nine seasons (2013每21) in the Angels organization, serving as assistant field coordinator from 2020每21 after managing Single-A Inland Empire for two years (2018每19). He also served as hitting coach for Double-A Mobile (2017), Single-A Inland Empire (2016), Single-A Burlington (2015), Rookie-Level Orem (2014) and the Arizona Fall League Angels (2013). Prior to his professional coaching debut, he was an assistant coach in 2011 and 2012 at alma mater, the University of New Mexico. The middle infielder played four minor league seasons with the Brewers (2006每07) and Braves (2009每10).
Leger managed the Cardinals＊ Double-A Springfield Cardinals club each of the past four seasons (2021-24), leading the Texas League affiliate to a franchise record 79-59 mark in 2024. He has been a member of the Cardinals organization for seven seasons, and served as the Cardinals Latin American Field & Development Coordinator from 2018-20.
Meine, a St. Louis area native, comes to the Cardinals from the Baltimore Orioles where he was the pitching coach for Bowie Baysox in 2024 and the Aberdeen IronBirds in 2023. The Wright City High School grad played college baseball for Lindenwood University and St. Louis Community College.
Goforth has both played and coached in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system. He caught for Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City, Tenn.) and was drafted by the Pirates in 2019.