Texeira leads Rome coaching staff for minor league season
Kanekoa Texeira has been named the next manager of the Rome Braves.
The Atlanta Braves released their 2021 field staffs for all four minor league clubs Tuesday.
Texeira will make his managerial debut in Rome, following his assignment as Rome’s pitching coach in 2019. Prior to joining Rome in 2019, Texeira spent the previous two seasons at rookie-ball Danville.
Matt Tuiasosopo, Rome’s manager in 2019, was promoted to serve in the same capacity for the Triple-a Gwinnett Stripers.
The 2021 season will be Texeira’s fourth season coaching.
“I’m excited and I can’t wait to get going,” Texeira said in a statement. “We have gone a long time without playing baseball, and I know everyone is ready to play again. I never thought of being a manager until the idea was presented to me. After that, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and how great it would be. Now it’s time to go to work.”
The Hawaii native was a part of six different organizations, including the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta over a 10-year playing career that included 49 appearances (2010-11) at the major league level. Texeira retired after the 2016 season.
The remainder of Rome’s field staff includes five new staff members and one returner.
Bo Henning will take over as Rome’s pitching coach after joining the organization in 2020 with coaching stops at Nova Southeastern University and the Wilmar Stingers of the Northwest League.
Danny Santiesteban will resume duties as the Braves High-a hitting coach following his stint at the same position for the Florida Fire Frogs in 2019. Santiesteban, coaching in his third season in the Braves organization, also served as the hitting coach for the Dominican Summer League Braves in 2018. He played four seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization from 2005-2008.
Angel Flores will move up to Rome’s staff as an assistant coach after helping the Gulf Coast League Braves in 2019. Bobby Moore will return as an assistant coach for Rome and will serve his eighth season with the team and his 24th with the Braves’ farm system.
Jesus Aviles will take over as Rome’s athletic trainer after serving the Braves’ DSL club in the same role in 2019. Tyler Enns rounds out Rome’s 2021 coaching staff and will serve as the team’s new strength and conditioning coach.