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GreenJackets announce 2023 coaching staff

aiken standard, s.c.
·2 min read

Feb. 17—NORTH AUGUSTA — The Augusta GreenJackets, Single-A Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, in conjunction with their parent club, have announced the coaching staff for the 2023 season.

Cody Gabella who will be the new manager of the GreenJackets. He'll be joined by Wes McGuire as pitching coach, Francisco Diaz and strength coach Julian Rip as first-year members on the staff. Connor Narron returns to the team as the hitting coach in addition to athletic trainer Austin Smith.

Gabella spent 2022 with the FCL Braves as manager of the Braves rookie affiliate. He was drafted by the Braves in 2010 out of high school before heading to the Padres organization 2011 in the amateur draft. He finished his pro career with 11 runs and 12 RBI in 47 games. In 2016, Gabella became the hitting coach for the GCL Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals Rookie affiliate). He continued on with the Johnson City Cardinals (2018), State College Spikes (2019) and the Peoria Chiefs (2020).

McGuire makes his way to North Augusta after overseeing the pitching for the High-A Rome Braves in 2022. McGuire enters his third season with the Braves, also serving as pitching coach for the FCL Braves in 2021. McGuire held multiple coaching positions after graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2016.

Narron returns for his second season as the GreenJackets' hitting coach. Narron was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth round of the 2010 Amateur Draft out of high school. He played in the minor leagues from 2010-14 before getting into coaching. He's been in the Braves organization since 2019.

Diaz joins the GreenJackets in his first season with the Braves, having spent two seasons coaching in Miami's system. Diaz began his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, continuing within the Pirates and Yankees systems until 2019.

Smith joins Narron as the other returnee to the GreenJackets field staff. Smith is a graduate of Iowa State University and is entering his third season in that role.

The GreenJackets ranked No. 1 in the Carolina League in attendance (out of 30 teams) and set a franchise record in attendance by averaging 4,096 fans per game at SRP Park. They open the regular season April 6 at Columbia for a three-game series, and their home opener is set for April 11 against Delmarva.