January 13, 2023 – Eastern League (EL) – Hartford Yard Goats News Release
(Hartford, CT) The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, has been informed by the Rockies that the entire coaching staff from last season will be returning to Hartford in 2023. Manager and Southington native Chris Denorfia returns for his third season as Yard Goats manager, and will again be joined by the coaches that helped guide the club to the most wins in franchise history last season, hitting coach Tom Sutaris, pitching coach Blaine Beatty (pronounced Bee-tee) and bench coach Luis Lopez. Coy Coker will begin his first season as Athletic Trainer and Mason Rook returns as Physical Performance Coach. Yard Goats manager Chris Denorfia will be available to meet with media at Dunkin’ Donuts Park for a Press Conference next Tuesday, January 17th at 12:30 PM.
Denorfia played 10 years in the Major Leagues with Cincinnati (2005-06), Oakland (2008-09), San Diego (2010-14), Seattle (2014), and the Cubs (2015). The former outfielder graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford before playing at Wheaton College (Norton, MA), where he was a NCAA Division III All-American, and drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 19th round in 2002.
“We are extremely excited that Chris is returning to manage the Yard Goats for another season in Hartford,” Yard Goats General Manager Mike Abramson said. “It is nice to work with someone who knows our community so well, and is so supportive to our fans and partners. Chris is really the complete package and we can’t wait to get going in 2023.”
Denorfia, 42, managed the Yard Goats to a franchise record 77 wins last season, and had four players from the 2022 club reach the Major Leagues. In the past two seasons under his watch, nine Yard Goats have made their MLB debuts. He was appointed Yard Goats manager in 2021 after spending the 2019 season with the Chicago Cubs as Quality Assurance Coach on manager Joe Maddon’s staff. After his playing career, Denorfia joined the Cubs front office as a Special Assistant to the President/GM in 2018. In 10 seasons in the Majors, he batted .272 with 103 doubles, 17 triples, 41 home runs, 196 RBI and 56 stolen bases in 808 games. He was part of the Cubs 2015 Playoff Roster and appeared in all three rounds helping Chicago advance to the NLCS. Denorfia played for Italy during the 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classic and batted a combined .387 in eight games across…
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