Trash Pandas announce Andy Schatzley as manager for 2022 season

MADISON, Ala. (WAFF) - The Rocket City Trash Pandas announced the addition of Andy Schatzley as their manager for the upcoming 2022 season on Friday.

“I think the Trash Pandas are the best-run affiliate in baseball, and I am honored and beyond excited to get there and get started,” Schatzley said in a statement.

Returning for the Trash Pandas coaching staff will be hitting coach Kenny Hook and pitching coach Michael Wuertz. New additions to the staff include Dann Bilardello, strength and conditioning coach Henry Aleck and athletic trainer Will Whitehead.

In 2021, Schatzley served as the manager for High-A Tri-City. This will be Schatzley’s third season with the Los Angeles Angels organization.

Before joining the Angels organization in 2019, Schatzley was an assistant coach at Harding University. He served as associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and served on-field as hitting coach, infield instructor and third base coach.

Hook returns as hitting coach after the team led the Double-A South with 152 home runs. This is Hook’s third season with the organization.

Wuertz is back to lead a pitching staff that finished second in the Double-A South with 1,112 strikeouts. 10 Trash Pandas pitchers made their MLB debut last season for the Angels under the direction of Wuertz.

This is the first season in the Angels organization for Bilardello as was in the St. Louis Cardinals system through 2020. Aleck was with Schatzley at Tri-City after being in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Whitehead also comes from Tri-City and he served the Colorado Rockies organization for 11 years.

The 2022 season begins for the Trash Pandas on April 8 against the Birmingham Barons in Birmingham. The home opener at Toyota Field is slated for April 12 against Pensacola.