The Columbia Fireflies have announced their coaching staff for the 2018 season. With Jose Leger being hired by the Cardinals and Joel Fuentes being promoted to St. Lucie, this is a mostly new coaching staff, albeit one with familiar names.

After a disappointing year with Las Vegas, Pedro Lopez returns to the South Atlantic League after coaching one year for the Mets then affiliate Savannah Sand Gnats. The 2010 Sand Gnats went 75-64 and lost in the semi-finals.

Joining Lopez on his staff is pitching coach Jonathan Hurst, who returns for his third season with the team and his 13th in the Mets organization. Last year, the Fireflies lowered their team ERA by 12 points.

The new hitting coach will be Ender Chavez, who is the younger brother of former Met Endy Chavez.

Ender has worked in the Mets minor league system since 2010, and he began his coaching career in 2012. For the past two seasons, he has been the hitting coach for the Kingsport Mets. In 2017, Kingsport made strides toward offensively raising the team batting average, OBP, and SLG.

Rounding out the staff is Hiroto Kawamura (strength coach), Tanner Miracle (strength coach), and Josh Kozuch (assistant coach).