Aaron Rowand has company in the coaching ranks as the White Sox have hired former 2005 teammate Willie Harris to be a hitting coach.
Harris, who played for the White Sox from 2002-05, will begin his coaching career at Advanced Rookie Great Falls. Earlier this offseason, the White Sox announced that Rowand would assume the role of minor-league outfield and baserunning coordinator.
The franchise also announced that five of its minor-league managers are set to return this season.
Julio Vinas has been named manager at Triple-A Charlotte after spending the previous three season at Double-A Birmingham. Joel Skinner is headed to Single-A Winston-Salem after four seasons in Charlotte. Last season’s Great Falls manager Cole Armstrong is headed to Single-A Kannapolis. And Tommy Thompson takes over at Great Falls after he managed at Kannapolis last year.
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Mike Gellinger also returns as the manager of the Arizona Rookie League club.
An assistant coach at Charlotte the past two seasons, Ryan Newman takes over at Birmingham.
MLB
A pitcher in the system from 2004-14, Matt Zaleski has been named pitching coach at Great Falls.
Harris appeared in 313 games for the White Sox. He hit .246/.314/.302 and stole 49 bases in 938 plate appearances. Harris scored the winning run in Game 4 of the 2005 World Series.