Familiar Face Set To Manage Salt Lake Bees In 2023

Feb 21, 2023, 5:28 PM | Updated: 5:46 pm

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Former Miami Marlin first-base coach Keith Johnson will return in 2023 for his third stint as manager of the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.

The Los Angeles Angels, parent club of the Bees, announced the 2023 on-field staff for Salt Lake on Thursday, February 16.

The Salt Lake Bees Announce their 2023 Field Staff including the return of manager Keith Johnson! Read the entire field staff announcement at https://t.co/6QoqXlmf3m pic.twitter.com/uwSPNWVbo6

— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) February 16, 2023

Johnson previously managed Salt Lake from 2011-14 and again from 2016-18. In 2013, Johnson earned 2013 Pacific Coast League Manager of the year recognition by league peers and Baseball America, leading Salt Lake to a 78-66 record and an appearance in the PCL Championship Series against the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Most recently, Johnson spent the 2021 & 2022 seasons as the Miami Marlins first base coach.

As a player, Johnson spent 12 years in the minor leagues, appearing in just six major league games with Anaheim during the 2000 season. He played shortstop, second and third base during his career and finished with a .264 career batting average. He played 215 games with the Bees in 2002 and 2003 before retiring as a player.

Johnson replaces Lou Marson after he spent three seasons with the franchise. The Bees finished under .500 in each season under Marson, reaching 70 wins for the first time in 2022.

Alongside Johnson the Los Angeles Angels announced the Bees field staff will consist of hitting coach Joel Chimelis, pitching coach Derrin Ebert, coach Jack Santora, trainer Jonathan Fierro, strength and conditioning coach Henry Aleck, game planning strategist Andrew Hansford, video assistant Brooklyn Tanner and clubhouse manager Cole Filosa.

Salt Lake Bees 2023 Season Opener

Salt Lake is scheduled to open the 2023 season on Friday, March 31. The Bees welcome in the Sacramento River Cats for a three-game series to begin their 30th season of play.

This will be the second to last season the Bees will play in Smith’s Ballpark after the Miller Group, owners of the franchise since their inception, announced plans to relocate the franchise to Daybreak, Utah.

Details Of The Salt Lake Bees Move To Daybreak

“The privately financed stadium will serve as a year-round entertainment anchor for the fast-growing southwest quadrant of Salt Lake County. Construction will begin this year, and the stadium will open for the 2025 baseball season. Details, including the location, renderings and surrounding amenities, will be released later this year,” reads a release from ownership.

“The Bees look forward to commemorating the next two seasons at Smith’s Ballpark before the current lease expires in Fall 2024. The team is grateful for the long-term legacy of baseball in Salt Lake City and for the incredible fans and surrounding community that support the team,” the release states.