Entire Dodger Coaching Staff to Return in 2015

It was no surprise when Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers announced the return of their entire Major League coaching staff for 2015 on Thursday afternoon. Even though Friedman has revamped a big chunk of the roster this offseason, the coaching staff will conversely stay fully intact behind Don Mattingly who will enter his fifth season as Dodger skipper.

According to the press release, the following staff members will return next year in their respective job:

Don Mattingly – Manager (fifth season)

Lorenzo Bundy – Third Base coach (second season)

Chuck Crim – Bullpen Coach (third season)

Rick Honeycutt – Pitching Coach (10th season)

Davey Lopes – First Base Coach (fifth season)

Mark McGwire – Hitting Coach (third season)

Tim Wallach – Bench Coach (second season, fifth on staff)

Ken Howell – Assistant Pitching Coach (third season, eighth on staff)

John Valentin – Assistant Hitting Coach (third season)

Steve Yeager – Catching Instructor (fourth season)

Rob Flippo – Bullpen Catcher (14^th season)

Steve Cilladi – Bullpen Catcher (second season)

Rick Honeycutt returns for tenth season as pitching coach for the Dodgers. Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Rick Honeycutt will enter his 10th season as pitching coach for the Dodgers. Interestingly, Andre Ethier is also entering his 10th season as a Dodger in 2015.

"“Since Rick Honeycutt took the reigns as pitching coach in 2006, the Dodgers have led the Majors with a 3.67 team ERA, a .247 opponents’ batting average and 11,209 strikeouts.”"

Honeycutt will have a number of new arms to work with next season including starters Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson along with new bullpen members including Joel Peralta, Chris Hatcher, Juan Nicasio and Joe Wieland. Last season the Dodgers ranked fourth in the National League with a combined 3.40 ERA, third in WHIP (1.21), first in strikeouts (1,373) and 13th in walks allowed (429).

Davey Lopes returns as the first base coach and baserunning instructor, but sadly he won’t have his protégé Dee Gordon under his wing any longer. The Dodgers led the National League (and were second to the Kansas City Royals in the Majors) with 138 stolen bases.

Lorenzo Bundy will also be back to coach third base, and we expect many more runners to be helicoptered home in 2015.

Mark McGwire will enter his third season as hitting coach for the Dodgers. Last season, the Dodgers ranked second in the National League in combined batting average (.265), first in OBP (.333), second in slugging (.406) and second in OPS (.738). McGwire will have to work next season to find ways to replace the offensive production of the departed Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez.