Johnny Rodriguez to return as Spikes manager

Johnny Rodriguez will return as the State College Spikes manager for the 2016 season, the St. Louis Cardinals announced Tuesday.

Rodriguez led the Spikes to a 41-35 record as the team missed the New York-Penn League playoffs by one game last season. Rodriguez has more than 25 years of experience in professional baseball.

He will be joined by hitting coach Roger LaFrancois and pitching coach Darwin Marrero for the second straight season in State College. C.J. Beatty will serve as a coach on the staff.

It will be Beatty’s first year coaching after a seven-year playing career. The 27-year-old spent two seasons playing for Cardinals’ minor-league affiliates. He also played in the minor leagues for the Chicago White Sox organization and spent time with the Australian Baseball League’s Brisbane Bandits.

Chris Whitman will be State College’s athletic trainer. He was the trainer for the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals for three years.

Dan Martin, who was the Spikes’ trainer the past three seasons, will be the trainer for Single-A Peoria.

The team’s strength and conditioning coach has yet to be announced.

The Spikes will open the season at Williamsport on June 17.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Johnny Rodriguez to return as Spikes manager."