G-stros Name Field Staff

The Greeneville Astros announced their field staff yesterday. Leading the 2011 edition of the G-Stros will be Omar Lopez. He will be returning to the Appy League where he had the best season of his pro career with the Bristol White Sox in 1996. He was the Houston Astros Player Development Man of the Year last year in his role as manager for the Gulf Coast League Astros.

Joining Lopez will be Josh Bonifay as hitting coach & Rick Aponte as pitching coach. Bonifay, the son of former Pirates GM Cam Bonifay, was a player/coach the last three years with the Pirates organization. Here is what he had to say about joining the Astros:

"Houston called for an opportunity within their player development department as a hitting coach at a low-level rookie team," Bonifay said. "It was my first opportunity to have a full-time gig as a hitting coach and a longtime goal to continue my career in baseball.

"I am extremely fortunate for the opportunity, and I look forward to a long career as a coach."

Aponte returns to Greeneville where he served as the pitching coach in 2009. He was in Lexington last year.

To update you on the where abouts of other former G-Stros field staff see this list:

Ed Romero - (2010 manager) - Gulf Coast League Astros Manager
Rodney Linares (2007-2009 manager) - Lexington Legends Manager
Tim Bogar - (2004 manager) - MLB Red Sox 3rd base coach (will get his shot as a manager before long).
Stubby Clapp - (2007 & 2009 hitting coach) - Tri Cities Valley Cats Manager
D. J. Boston - (2008 hitting coach) - Danville Braves Hitting Coach
Travis Driskill - (2008 pitching coach) - Lancaster Jethawks Pitching Coach
Dave Borkowski - (2010 pitching coach) - Lexington Legends Pitching Coach

Other Appy League mangers for 2011 include:
Bristol White Sox - Pete Rose Jr.
Danville Braves - Randy Ingle
Pulaski Mariners - Rob Mummua