Gary, IN – The Gary SouthShore RailCats have filled out their coaching staff ahead of the 2023 season as Hitting Coach Ramon Ortiz and Pitching Coach Kent Willis join second-year Manager Lamarr Rogers in the dugout.
Both coaches will make their debuts in the American Association in 2023, bringing 39 combined years of experience with five different Major League organizations.
A native of Venezuela, the Montreal Expos signed Ortiz as an international free agent in 1969. He played three seasons in their system, reaching as high as Triple-A at just 17 years old in 1970.
Ortiz returned to baseball 11 years later, joining the coaching staff at Central University of Venezuela in 1983. After three seasons in his home country, he made the jump to the affiliated ranks in 1987 with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he would spend five years as a roving instructor including a stint with their Rookie League affiliate Johnson City Cardinals in 1989. From there, he worked for the Savannah Cardinals, their Single-A affiliate, from 1992-1994.
Ortiz took a break from coaching in 1995 before joining the New York Yankees organization the next year, serving as a roving instructor in 1996 and 1998 and a coach for the Single-A Greensboro Bats in 1997. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays hired him the ensuing season, assigning him to the Short Season Hudson Valley Renegades from 1999-2002 and the High-A Bakersfield Blaze from 2003-2004. The Los Angeles Dodgers then picked him up in 2005, placing him with the Single-A Vero Beach Dodgers in 2006 and the Rookie League GCL Dodgers in 2007.
In 2008, Ortiz returned to the Cardinals, staying in the Rookie League ranks with the GCL Cardinals. From there, he progressed through their organization, moving on to the Short Season Batavia Muckdogs in 2009, the Johnson City Cardinals from 2010-2012, the Short Season State College Spikes from 2013-2014, the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals in 2015, and the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in 2016.
“A well-traveled coach, Ramon brings 20-plus years of professional experience working with hitters of every level in the game not only in the MLB but also in the Dominican Republic,” Rogers said. “His knowledge, calmness, and ability to relate to our ‘Cats hitters should play well over a 100-game season. He comes highly recommended from reliable MLB contacts, and I look forward to his impact on our RailCats team and hitters.”
Willis, who hails from Columbus, Mississippi, heads to the South Shore following 15 seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization. Most recently, he served as the pitching coach for the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2010.
A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, the Cincinnati Reds drafted Willis in the 12th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft, going on to play four seasons professionally split between the Reds and Expos organizations.
Eight seasons after his retirement, the Braves hired Willis as their pitching coach for the Rookie League affiliates in the GCL Braves in 1996 and 1998 and the Danville Braves in 1997. He steadily rose through the ranks, ascending to the Single-A Macon/Rome Braves from 1999-2004 and the Double-A Mississippi Braves from 2005-2006 before becoming the franchise’s Minor League Pitching Coordinator from 2007-2009.
“Experience and success are the first things that come to mind about Kent Willis,” Rogers said. “He played a vital role for many years in the Atlanta Braves organization, which was for many years one of the best-ranked systems for player development in Major League Baseball. Our pitchers should benefit from his 20-plus years of knowledge and wisdom, as he has worked with many who have gone on to have successful major league careers. We’re very fortunate to have Kent, and I’m excited to welcome him to the ‘Cats Family!”
The RailCats 2023 season begins at the Steel Yard on Thursday, May 11 vs Winnipeg Goldeyes. Season tickets packages and group outings for the 2023 season can be reserved by calling 219-882-2255 or emailing [email protected].