Reno Aces Announce 2026 Staff: Gardner Returns, Key Coaches Retained

Jeff Gardner was confirmed to return for a second season as manager of the Reno Aces, and the club kept the core of its 2025 coaching staff as it prepares for the 2026 Triple-A campaign. Pitching coaches Jeff Bajenaru and Doug Drabek, bench coach Shawn Roof and hitting coach Terrmel Sledge all return, while Jordan Procyshen joins the staff as an additional bench coach. The announcement also named Connor Oates returning as athletic trainer and added Adam Brewer and Wacy Crenshaw to the athletic training and strength staff.

The retention of Bajenaru and Drabek preserves continuity for a pitching group that helped fuel organizational callups last year. Eight former Aces made Major League debuts during the previous season, a clear signal that Reno’s on-field instruction and workload management are translating into MLB opportunities. Keeping the same pitching instructors gives arms in Reno consistent mechanics coaching and sequencing that can smooth transitions when Arizona Diamondbacks needs depth at the big league level.

On the offensive side, Terrmel Sledge’s return as hitting coach gives position players a stable plan entering spring. Shawn Roof remaining as bench coach and the addition of Jordan Procyshen deepen the day-to-day decision-making room; those roles matter during tight Triple-A pennant races where late-game substitutions and matchup choices can swing outcomes. For prospects on the cusp, managerial and bench stability can reduce adjustment time and let players focus on execution rather than adapting to new voices.

Upgrades to the athletic training and strength staff signal an organizational emphasis on availability and long-term arm health. Connor Oates returning as athletic trainer, plus Adam Brewer and Wacy Crenshaw joining the support staff, arrive amid an industry-wide focus on sports science, pitch counts, and individualized recovery protocols. Those additions position Reno to manage workloads across a long Pacific Coast League grind while sustaining the talent pipeline to Arizona.

Business and fan implications are immediate. The Reno home opener against the Tacoma team is set for March 27, a date that shapes season-ticket renewals, promotional planning and early attendance patterns. Continuity in the dugout and training room gives marketing a stable narrative to sell to season-ticket holders and local sponsors: a proven development environment with a track record of MLB callups.

For Reno fans and Diamondbacks observers, the message is clear: the organization is doubling down on a model that produced eight MLB debuts. The coming weeks will show whether coaching continuity, new support staff hires and a fresh bench voice in Jordan Procyshen convert into wins, sustained prospect development and another wave of big-league promotions as the 2026 season unfolds.