Edwin Rodriguez, who was formally the manager of High-A Lake Elsinore Storm under the Padres organization, was named the fourth manager in El Paso Chihuahuas history, the organization announced today.

Pitching coach Bronswell Patrick, hitting coach Morgan Burkhart and fielding coach Lance Burkhart will all return to the staff in 2019.

Rodriguez will embark on his third season with the Padres organization and he was the first Puerto Rican manager in MLB history, when he managed the Florida Marlins for parts of the 2010-2011 season.

True to his Puerto Rican roots, Rodriguez managed Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in 2013 and 2017. His playing career in the '80s featured stints on the Padres and New York Yankees.

Rodriguez has minor league managing experience with the Marlins, Cleveland and Tampa Bay organizations.

He will replace former Chihuahuas manager Rod Barajas, who was named a bench coach for San Diego in October.

 

“As we head into our sixth season, the All-Star Season, we are glad to welcome our new manager, Edwin Rodriguez, and look forward to his leadership with some of the Padres top prospects that will continue to come through El Paso,” said Chihuahuas Senior Vice President and General Manager Brad Taylor. “It’s also great to see those coaches and trainers that have given us such tremendous on-field success return. Bronswell Patrick, Morgan Burkhart, Lance Burkhart, Dan Turner, A.J. Russell – it’s awesome to be able to continue to work with them.”

El Paso has won four straight Southern Division titles, with the start of their 2019 season set for Thursday, April 4 versus Las Vegas at home.

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