DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers announced four new members of the Major League coaching staff for the 2024 season. Joey Cora (Third Base Coach), Anthony Iapoce (First Base Coach), Ryan Sienko (Catching Coach), and Lance Zawadzki (Assistant Major League Hitting Coach) will all join the Tigers coaching staff in 2024.
Cora joins the Tigers coaching staff after spending the previous two seasons as the third base coach for the New York Mets. Prior to his time with the Mets, Cora was the Pirates third base and infield coach from 2017-21. In 2016, he managed Pittsburgh’s Double A affiliate, Altoona, leading them to a 76-64 regular season record and a spot in the playoffs. Cora was the bench coach in 2012 with Miami and with the Chicago White Sox from 2007-11. He was the third base coach for the White Sox from 2004-06, including during the club’s 2005 World Championship season. Cora managed Single A Savannah in 2003 and led the Mets rookie-level affiliate Kingsport in 2001 and 2002. He began his coaching career in 2000 with Single A Daytona.
Cora enjoyed an 11-year Major League career with the Padres (1987; 1989-90), White Sox (1991-94), Mariners (1995-98) and Indians (1988). He was selected to the American League All-Star Team in 1997 with Seattle, setting career highs in doubles (40), home runs (11), RBI (54) and runs scored (105). Cora was part of four teams that advanced to the postseason during his playing career.
The 23rd overall selection by San Diego in the 1985 MLB Draft, Cora played collegiately at Vanderbilt University, where he was a two-time All-American and a two-time academic All-American.
Iapoce was promoted to the Major League coaching staff after spending the 2023 season as the manager for Triple A Toledo. Before joining the Tigers organization, he most recently worked in the Boston Red Sox organization as the Senior Hitting Coordinator in 2022. Prior to his time with the Red Sox, he spent six seasons as a Major League hitting coach, three each with the Chicago Cubs (2019-21) and Texas Rangers (2016-18).
Prior to joining Texas’ Major League staff, Iapoce spent three seasons in the Cubs organization as a Special Assistant to the GM while overseeing the club’s Minor League hitting program from 2013-15. He was a roving hitting coordinator with Toronto from 2010-12. Iapoce was a hitting coach in the Marlins system with Single A Jamestown (2006), Single A Greensboro (2007) and Single A Jupiter (2008-09).
Iapoce played 11 seasons in the Minor Leagues with the Brewers and Marlins organizations, as well as independent ball, after being selected by Milwaukee in the 33rd round of the 1994 MLB Draft.
Sienko spent the previous two seasons as the organization’s Director of Coaching and Field Coordinator, where he coordinated the organization’s on-field activity and coaching initiatives. Prior to coming to Detroit, he spent six seasons as a catching coordinator with the Dodgers. Before joining the Dodgers, he was an associate scout for the Orioles from 2007-15 and from 2002-07 was the Director of Baseball Operations and instructor with the National Pitching Association. In 2005, he founded Catch & Throw, an organization with the mission of providing quality professional catching instruction to support the health and performance of catchers. He also coached at the high school level, including at Torrey Pines High School and Canyon Crest Academy.
Sienko played collegiately at the University of Iowa, professionally in the Texas and Chicago (AL) systems, and was named an All-Star in independent baseball.
Zawadzki joins the Tigers after spending the previous two seasons as the Hitting Coordinator in the Boston Red Sox player development system. Prior to that, he was the hitting coach for Double A Portland in 2020-21 and Single A Salem in 2019. He made his coaching debut with Single A Lowell in 2018.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Lee University, Zawadzki played 11 professional seasons, reaching the big leagues with the Padres in 2010.
Under fourth-year manager A.J. Hinch, the Tigers full Major League coaching staff for the 2024 season is listed below:
Manager – A.J. Hinch
Bench Coach – George Lombard
Pitching Coach – Chris Fetter
Assistant Pitching Coach – Robin Lund
Assistant Pitching Coach – Juan Nieves
Hitting Coach – Keith Beauregard
Hitting Coach – Michael Brdar
Assistant Hitting Coach – Lance Zawadzki
Major League Coach – Gary Jones
First Base Coach – Anthony Iapoce
Third Base Coach – Joey Cora
Catching Coach – Ryan Sienko
–TIGERS–
