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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Bees and Los Angeles Angels announced the 2018 coaching staff for the minor league team Tuesday.
Keith Johnson, a Salt Lake City native, will be returning for his seventh season as the Bees' manager. The 2013 Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year is the second winningest manager in Salt Lake franchise history. In his previous six years with the team, he has compiled a 408-452 (.475) record. Johnson is only 63 wins away from breaking Phil Roof’s franchise record for most managerial wins in team history.
Erik Bennett a former Major League reliever, will be returning for his 11th season as the pitching coach for the Bees. In 2017, Bennett’s pitchers held a 4.94 ERA, the lowest mark for Salt Lake since 2008. Pitchers Keynan Middleton, Eduardo Paredes and Troy Scribner each made their Major League debut with the Angels under the guidance of Bennett.
This will be Donnie Ecker's first season with the Bees and Angels organization. The 31-year old played baseball collegiately at Lewis-Clark State College and was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2007 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers. Ecker played professionally in the Rangers organization for four years. After playing, he turned his career toward coaching and became the head coach at his alma mater, Los Altos High School. He also spent time as a hitting coach for Single-A Palm Beach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Ray Olmedo will be joining the organization in the newly created defensive coach position. The Venezuelan native played professionally for 17 seasons with Major League teams Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox and parts of 12 seasons in Triple A. In 2000, Olmedo was rated as the best defensive infielder in the Cincinnati Reds system by Baseball America.
Brian Reinker will be another returning face for the Bees. He will be returning as the team's trainer for his 11th straight season. Reinker has been part of the Angels organization for 15 seasons. In 2015, he was named Pacific Coast League Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.
Adam Auer will be joining the Bees as the team's strength and conditioning coach. He previously held the same role for the Double-A Mobile BayBears in 2017. Auer has been with the Angels organization for six seasons.
The first pitch for the Bees' 2018 season will be on Thursday, April 5, against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Smith’s Ballpark. Season tickets and mini-packs are on sale now by calling 801-325-BEES (2337), single game tickets will go on sale on March 1 at www.slbees.com.
Lexi Lewis is a senior at Utah Valley University studying public relations. Contact her at lexi.lewis1018@gmail.com
