In addition to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Brooklyn Cyclones have announced their 2022 coaching staff. Notably, Ed Blankmeyer will not be returning as the manager of the team as he accepted a role with the Chicago Cubs organization. The coaching staff is as follows:
- Luis Rivera – Manager
- Chris Newell – Bench Coach
- AJ Sager – Pitching Coach
- Richie Benes – Hitting Coach
- Austin Dayton – Athletic Trainer
- Drew Skrocki – Athletic Trainer
Rivera, 37, has been a part of the Mets organization as a minor league player and coach since 2008. He was the Syracuse Mets bench coach last season, and he was previously the Kingsport Mets manager from 2015-2017. This marks a return to Brooklyn for Rivera as he was a 2009 New York-Penn League All-Star representing the Cyclones.
This will also mark a return to Brooklyn for hitting coach Benes. Benes had served in that role for Brooklyn in 2019 when they won the final New York-Penn League championship. This will mark his fourth season in the Mets organization. Last year, the New Jersey native was a coach in the Mets Dominican Academy and Complex League.
Newell worked with Benes in the Complex League last season serving as the manager. This marks his third season with the Mets organization after he was hired from the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers of the USPBL. Prior to his managerial and coaching experience, he was a professional scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees organization.
Sager, 56, is the only Cyclones coach new to the Mets organization. Sager spent the last 20 seasons as a member of the Detroit Tigers organization with the last eight as the minor league pitching coordinator.
This will be the second season Brooklyn will serve as the Mets High-A affiliate.
