Things are lining up for Amarillo Professional Baseball, as the Sod Poodles’ opening day quickly approaches.
On Thursday, the team announced the selection of Phillip Wellman as the team field manager for the Sod Poodles’ first season. In addition, the coaching selections of pitching coach Jimmy Jones, hitting coach, Raul Padron, coach Freddy Flores, athletic trainers Nick Coberly and Drew Garner, and strength & conditioning coach Drew Heithoff were also announced by the team in a press release on Thursday.
Wellman, 57, is a native of San Antonio. His move to Amarillo will mark yet another year for the coach being involved with the San Diego Padres organization. In a statement, Wellman said he is excited for the move and looks forward to becoming a Sod Poodle.
“I am very excited to head to Amarillo,” said Wellman. “It’s not every day you get to be the first to manage and play in a brand-new stadium in a community filled with so much excitement and anticipation, and the fact that it’s in my home state of Texas makes it that much more special. I look forward to developing players and getting them to the Big-League level. With development comes winning and as long as the lights and scoreboard are turned on every night, my expectation is to win.”
The season for the Sod Poodles is expected to begin in April.
