Pedro López Set to Become Isotopes' Longest-Tenured Manager as Team Revamps Assistants

Pedro López will enter his fourth season as Albuquerque Isotopes manager in 2026 and, with six years on the Isotopes payroll overall, will become the franchise's longest‑tenured coaching staff member when the season begins. The announcement, made Feb. 17 in conjunction with the Colorado Rockies, signals stability at Triple‑A as the Isotopes serve as the Rockies' top developmental club.

The Isotopes named three assistants who are all making their Isotopes coaching debuts: Luis López as bench coach, Matt Snyder as hitting coach and Craig Bjornson as pitching coach. The group was unveiled the same week the club is preparing to open its 2026 season on March 27 on the road at Oklahoma City; Albuquerque finished 62–87 in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive losing season for the franchise and creating organizational urgency around player development and on-field improvement.

Pedro López arrives on the dugout bench with long minor‑league credentials. He is beginning his 22nd year as a minor‑league manager in 2026 after completing 21 seasons with an overall managerial record of 1,167–1,238 and seven playoff appearances. Milb lists López as the eighth manager in Isotopes history; his Triple‑A résumé includes five Triple‑A managerial seasons and a prior Triple‑A year in 2017 with Las Vegas. López won his 1,000th managerial game on June 4, 2023 in a 7–1 victory, served as Albuquerque hitting coach in 2021 and bench coach in 2022, and has 13 minor‑league playing seasons in the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros organizations. López is a native of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico and has managerial background in the Texas Rangers system (2001–05, 2007) and the New York Mets system (2011–19), including a Double‑A Eastern League Championship with the 2014 Binghamton Mets.

Craig Bjornson brings established MLB and minor‑league pitching experience to Albuquerque. Bjornson is entering his 27th year as a professional coach, his first season on the Isotopes staff and his fourth year within the Colorado Rockies organization. He spent three seasons with the Atlanta Braves organization as a minor‑league pitching and bullpen coach and was the bullpen coach for the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox in 2018, seasons when those organizations won the World Series. Bjornson and López were teammates at Arizona Western Junior College, adding a personal connection to the new staff alignment. Sources supplied no further biographical details for Luis López or Matt Snyder beyond their appointments.

Local coverage by the Albuquerque Journal highlighted the dual storyline of López moving toward franchise longevity and a broader staff revamp. With the Isotopes’ Triple‑A role tied directly to Colorado Rockies player development, the continuity of López plus Bjornson’s major‑league pedigree reshapes coaching influence over prospects who could be in the Rockies’ pipeline this season as Albuquerque chases an end to its run of losing records.