Nats announce minor league staff, Knorr to manage Syracuse

The Nationals have announced their minor league staff for 2018, highlighted by the return of Randy Knorr to the dugout as manager of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, a post he last held in 2011. The past two seasons Knorr was the senior advisor to Mike Rizzo.

Matt LeCroy remains as Double-A Harrisburg manager and Tripp Keister continues as skipper for high Single-A Potomac. Patrick Anderson holds down the fort again as manager of the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Former Syracuse manager Billy Gardner Jr. remains in the organization as minor league roving coordinator.

Jerad Head is the manager for short-season Single-A Auburn. Sandy Martinez manages and is the field coordinator for the Dominican Summer League Nats.

Former Texas Rangers bullpen coach Brad Holman joins the organization as Syracuse's pitching coach. Michael Tejera is elevated to pitching coach at Double-A Harrisburg. Tejera was the pitching coach for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals and also pitching coach during the Arizona Fall League with the Mesa Solar Sox.

Former Nationals minor leaguer Mario Lisson is the new GCL Nationals manager, while Larry Pardo becomes the GCL pitching coach. Lisson's playing career spanned 16 seasons with the Royals, Giants and Nats. Pardo comes over from the Atlanta Braves where he was the director of international player development.

Sam Narron moves from Hagerstown to Potomac as pitching coach. Former Nationals pitcher Tim Redding moves from Auburn to Hagerstown as its pitching coach. Franklin Bravo moves from Potomac to Auburn pitching coach.

Former major leaguer Freddy Guzman is the new hitting coach for the Dominican Summer League team. He played in a combined 48 games over five seasons for the Padres, Yankees, Rangers and Rays.

Troy Gingrich remains the hitting coordinator and Paul Menhart is the pitching coordinator, while Tommy Shields is the co-field coordinator and Gary Thurman continues as the outfield/baserunning coordinator. Michael Barrett is the catching coordinator and the legendary Spin Williams remains as the senior advisor, player development.