Here’s how the Red Sox’ in-season overhaul has affected the staffs of the organization’s minor league affiliates
When the Red Sox enacted one of the farthest-reaching in-season overhauls of a big league staff in baseball history, the ripple effects were certain to be felt widely. That remains the case across the farm system.
In the middle of Triple-A Worcester’s game on April 25, defensive coach Iggy Suarez saw then-manager Chad Tracy slip into the clubhouse to take a call. That’s not unusual, with front office members communicating about players who need to be on call for the big league team. But when Tracy didn’t return quickly, Suarez ran into the clubhouse between innings to check in.
At that point, Tracy informed Suarez of the organizational shakeup. Suarez would take over as the WooSox’ interim manager. Though he had managerial experience from 2016-24 before joining Tracy’s staff in 2025, the news was jarring.
“I’ve managed quite some time, sure, [but] I prepared differently in the offseason as a manager than a defensive coach,” said Suarez. “This happens, and I’m like, ‘Holy [smokes].’ Now I’m trying to catch up … It just feels at first like the first time you ever managed.”
Just after Double-A Portland’s game that day, defensive coach Kyle Sasala got a similarly stunning message from manager Chad Epperson: Epperson was joining the big league staff; Sasala would be interim manager.
“There’s times when change happens and you kind of see it coming. None of us saw this coming,” said Sasala. “I woke up one day and was defensive coach. Next day, I was the manager.”
Six minor league staffers and coaches were added to the big league team, forcing an on-the-fly reshuffling of responsibilities, changing of personnel, and some “help wanted” signs across affiliates. The scorecard:
Triple-A Worcester: Tracy and hitting coach Collin Hetzler went to Boston. Suarez became interim manager. Roving hitting coordinator Harry Roberson and hitting adviser Rich Gedman have spent more time with the WooSox. With infield/outfield defensive coordinator Pablo Cabrera also in the big leagues, fellow coordinators Tyson Blaser and Robbie Britt are spending more time in Worcester and Low-A Salem.
Double-A Portland: Epperson is on the big league staff, with Sasala interim manager. Kyle Schmidt, who had been Salem’s defensive coach, is in the same role in Portland.
High-A Greenville: No changes.
Low-A Salem: With hitting coach Nelson Paulino in the big leagues, Edwin Rodriguez moved up from the Dominican academy to Salem.
Rookie ball: Hitting coach Jack Simonetty went from Fort Myers to the big league staff. Wade Satzinger came from the Dominican academy to replace him.
Dominican Summer League: With Rodriguez and Satzinger in the States, responsibilities have been reconfigured among existing staffers.
The Sox are hiring in an effort to offset some of the vacancies.
None of this is ideal, but the Sox believe they’ve limited the disruption to their farm system in a few ways. Suarez and Sasala have multiple years with their affiliates, giving them knowledge of many of the managerial responsibilities. They already had relationships across their player rosters.
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Further, the Sox have relatively robust minor league staffs, with multiple hitting and pitching coaches at each level, making it possible to relocate coaches without leaving voids. The roving coordinators also have helped cover player needs.
“This is a unique situation,” said farm director Brian Abraham. “[Staffers] are being put into roles that we feel confident they can handle. At the same time, they need to be able to adjust on the fly, and there is some fluidity with the roles that they’re in … We are dealing with a bit of an uncertain time with the minor league staff, and it’s an all-hands-on-deck mentality to make sure everyone, at the end of the day, is able to support the players.”
Suarez and Sasala, in particular, are adjusting to new roles and responsibilities. Suarez checks in regularly with Tracy and Abraham about potential big league roster situations that require players to be kept out of games and available for call-ups. There are different administrative responsibilities and conversations with players in the managerial role.
Still, amid the chaos, there is excitement for the new, expanded roles.
“This is a whole different beast up here,” said Suarez. “I’m glad I’m experiencing it, kind of thrown into the fire. I’m like, ‘Here we go. This is kind of cool.’ ”
Suarez enjoyed a win in his managerial debut on April 26. Sasala did him one better, with the Sea Dogs throwing a combined no-hitter in a 3-2 win in his managerial debut.
“I coached Division 3 baseball for 10 years and never once thought that coaching professional baseball was even an option,” said Sasala, who was hired from Grove City College in 2024. “The guys were genuinely excited for me, gave me a beer shower in the clubhouse [after the no-hitter]. That was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Three up
⋅ First baseman Brooks Brannon, whose season was delayed by hamate surgery, is off to a torrid start in Double-A Portland, hitting .359/.469/.897 with five home runs and 10 extra-base hits in 12 games. The 22-year-old has shown significantly improved swing decisions, with reduced chase and strikeout rates and a walk rate that has doubled. He’s letting the ball travel deeper, affording him more time to decide whether to attack, and then using his considerable power to drive the ball to center and right-center.
⋅ Catcher Ronny Hernandez, acquired this winter from the White Sox in a trade for Chris Murphy, was slowed by a late-spring quadriceps injury. But after a month on the injured list, he made a memorable debut, going 4 for 4 with two homers and a walk for High-A Greenville last Wednesday. The Sox acquired Hernandez believing he made good swing decisions with strong bat-to-ball skills, with a chance for offensive impact if he could add bat speed.
⋅ Center fielder Enddy Azocar stood out last year as a player who consistently hit the ball hard, with a chance for his stock to soar if he could drive more balls in the air. That is what’s occurring now in Low-A Salem. After a slow start through six games, the 19-year-old is hitting .306/.370/.582 with 15 extra-base hits (including five homers) in his last 23 games. He may be close to forcing a promotion to Greenville.
Three down
⋅ Triple-A righthander Tyler Uberstine, nearly four weeks after landing on the IL with shoulder soreness, is just starting to throw off a mound. He probably won’t be ready to return to games until late May.
⋅ Double-A outfielder Miguel Bleis remains underwater offensively. The 22-year-old is hitting .167/.247/.262 with a career-high 29 percent strikeout rate, and his ground-ball rate has jumped.
⋅ Though Salem righthander Christian Foutch has held hitters to a .145 average with a 30 percent strikeout rate in his pro debut, the 2025 fifth-rounder has a 5.82 ERA in his move from a college reliever to a minor league starter because of a 25 percent walk rate.
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