OKC Dodgers Announce 2016 Coaching Staff

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Oklahoma City Dodgers have announced the 2016 OKC Dodgers field staff, led by manager Bill Haselman.

Haselman will be joined by pitching coach Matt Herges, hitting coach Shawn Wooten, and coach Luis Matos.

Haselman, who was named OKC Dodgers manager on Dec. 21, spent the past two seasons managing in the Dodgers’ minor league system. In 2015, he led the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to the team’s first California League championship since 1994 and tied for the California League South Division’s best regular-season record at 78-62. Prior to joining the Quakes, Haselman managed the Low-A Great Lakes Loons in 2014 in his first season with the Dodgers organization. The 2016 season will mark Haselman’s sixth managing in the Minor Leagues and his first at Triple-A. Haselman also has Major League coaching experience, spending three seasons with the Boston Red Sox as their first base coach (2004, 2006) and bullpen coach (2005).

Over a 13-year Major League career, Haselman played primarily as a catcher for the Texas Rangers (1990, 1998, 2000-02), Seattle Mariners (1992-94), Boston Red Sox (1995-97, 2003), and Detroit Tigers (1999). He appeared in 589 Major League games, accruing a .259 career average, with 47 home runs and 210 RBI. Between 1991-92, he appeared in 143 games with the Oklahoma City 89ers and spent the entire 1991 season in OKC.

Herges enters his sixth season as a pitching coach in the Dodgers organization. Last season, he served in the same role with Double-A Tulsa, where his pitching staff led the Texas League with a 3.50 ERA. The Drillers also paced the league in strikeouts and allowed the fewest hits in the circuit, holding opponents to a .232 batting average. Herges began his coaching career with the Dodgers in 2011. Prior to working with Tulsa last season, Herges’ previous stops in the Dodgers’ chain included one season with the Rookie AZL Dodgers, and three seasons with High-A Rancho Cucamonga (2012-14).

Although he was undrafted after playing at Illinois State University, Herges fashioned an 11-year career as a relief pitcher in the Major Leagues. He made 567 career appearances while suiting up for eight different teams, posting a career 3.91 ERA. Herges began his professional playing career with the Dodgers, appearing in parts of three seasons with Los Angeles (1999-2001).

Wooten will advance to Oklahoma City in 2016 after spending the last two seasons as the Dodgers’ Double-A hitting coach. He previously spent four seasons coaching in the San Diego Padres’ minor league system, including three seasons as a manager. Wooten guided his teams to playoff berths in both 2011 (Low-A Fort Wayne) and 2012 (High-A Lake Elsinore).

Wooten played parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues with the Anaheim Angels (2000-03), Philadelphia Phillies (2004), and Boston Red Sox (2005) as a catcher, first baseman, and third baseman. He grew up in the Los Angeles area and began his professional playing career in 1993 after being drafted by the Detroit Tigers from Mount San Antonio College.

After managing the Dodgers’ Low-A affiliate in Great Lakes in 2015, Matos will join Oklahoma City as a coach in 2016. In his first season as a manager, Matos led the Loons to an overall record of 68-69 and a spot in the Midwest League playoffs. Matos has also served as a hitting coach in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Matos spent seven seasons in the Majors as an outfielder, primarily with the Baltimore Orioles (2000-06) before a brief stint with the Washington Nationals (2006). He batted .255 over his career and amassed 30 home runs. A native of Puerto Rico, Matos was drafted and signed by Baltimore in 1996.

The team’s Athletic Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach will be announced at a later date.

The OKC Dodgers open the 2016 season Thursday, April 7 in Nashville and will play their home opener at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Friday, April 15. Ticket packages and group outings are now available and can be reserved by calling (405) 218-1000 or visiting okcdodgers.com