The Washington Nationals are undergoing a significant restructuring of their minor league operations, parting ways with several coaches and staff members across all levels of their farm system.
Among those whose contracts were not renewed are key figures from Class A Fredericksburg, including manager Billy McMillon, hitting coach Mike Habas, and performance analyst Samantha Unger. Class A Wilmington also saw changes, with hitting coach Delwyn Young, pitching coach Mark DiFelice, and development coach Mark Harris departing. At Double-A Harrisburg, development coach Oscar Salazar was let go, while Triple-A Rochester will move forward without pitching coach Rafael Chaves.
The shake-up extends beyond team-specific roles. Washington Nationals Minor league hitting coordinator Tommy Everidge, catching coordinator Randy Knorr, medical rehab coordinator Gene Basham, fundamentals coordinator Jeff Garber, rehab pitching coordinator Joel Hanrahan, Florida Complex League development coach Frank Moore, and assistant director of minor league scouting operations JJ Estevez were also not retained.
One notable departure is international scout Modesto Ulloa, who played a pivotal role in identifying Juan Soto as a rising star in the Dominican Republic during the mid-2010s.
Despite the widespread changes, the Nationals have extended offers to retain the managers of their top three affiliates: Matthew LeCroy (Triple-A Rochester), Delino DeShields (Double-A Harrisburg), and Jake Lowery (High-A Wilmington). However, the specifics of their roles moving forward remain uncertain.
These moves suggest a broader effort by the Nationals to reshape their player development strategy and build a more competitive pipeline for the future.