Minor moves: staff announced, Ariel Prieto to return to Arizona Rookie League, Matt Buschmann re-signed

The most notable moves in today's announcement of the Oakland Athletics minor league staff are Ryan Christenson's promotion from High-A Stockton manager to Double-A Midland manager, Ariel Prieto's return to the Arizona Rookie League, and the appointment of new pitching, hitting, and field coordinators for the minor leagues.

Here is the list of coordinators, managers, pitching coach, and hitting coach assignments:

• Minor league pitching coordinator: Garvin Alston, replacing new bullpen coach Scott Emerson. Alston was minor league pitching rehab coordinator for the previous six seasons.
• Minor league hitting coordinator: Greg Sparks, replacing new assistant hitting/catching coach Marcus Jensen. Sparks was hitting coach at Triple-A Sacramento the last three seasons.
• Minor league field coordinator and Short Season-A Vermont manager: Aaron Nieckula. The minor league field coordinator oversees minor league spring training, extended spring training, and instructional league. Serving in both roles provides continuity as young players move from extended spring training into the short-season schedule. Nieckula was previously manager of Double-A Midland for the last two seasons, and guided the Rockhounds to a Texas League Championship in 2014.
• Triple-A Nashville manager:Steve Scarsone, continuing in his third season as Oakland's Triple-A Manager.
• Triple-A Nashville pitching coach: Don Schulze, promoted from Double-A Midland. This is Schulze's 10th year as a pitching coach in the Oakland organization.
• Triple-A Nashville hitting coach: Webster Garrison, promoted from Double-A Midland. This is Garrison's 15th year as a coach or manager in the Oakland orgnanizaotin.

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D.L. Nelson

Ryan Christenson was traded by Billy Beane and yet lived to tell his tale. The former centerfielder of the Oakland Athletics now works for Beane as he climbs the A’s managerial ranks.

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• Double-A Midland manager: Ryan Christenson. Christenson led High-A Stockton to a postseason appearance in 2014 with an 85-55 record. He was previously manager at Low-A Beloit in 2013. Christenson will get a chance to continue the development of the top prospects he worked with in Stockton, including Matt Olson and Daniel Robertson. In May, our D.L. Nelson sat down with Christenson in a profile ahead of our Athletics Nation Day trip to Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton last June.
• Double-A Midland pitching coach: John Wasdin, promoted from High-A Stockton. Wasdin has followed Christenson up the minor league ladder for the third consecutive season.
• Double-A Midland hitting coach: Eric Martins. Martins has been a scout for the A's the last seven seasons.
• High-A Stockton manager: Rick Magnante, promoted from Low-A Beloit. This will be his 13th season as a minor league manager.
• High-A Stockton pitching coach: Rick Rodriguez, re-assigned from Triple-A after two seasons as pitching coach in Sacramento. This is his 31st season in the Oakland organization, including seven as a player and two as bullpen coach in Oakland.
• High-A Stockton hitting coach: Brian McArn continues as hitting coach, his 18th season with the Oakland organization in that role and fourth with Stockton.
• Low-A Beloit manager: Fran Riordan joins the Oakland organization, after 14 seasons managing in independent leagues.
• Low-A Beloit pitching coach: Steve Connelly, promoted from Short Season-A Vermont, his first professional coaching assignment.
• Low-A Beloit hitting coach: Lloyd Turner continues for his second consecutive season.
• Short Season-A Vermont pitching coach: Carlos Chavez, promoted after two seasons in the Arizona Rookie League in that role.
• Short Season-A Vermont hitting coach: Tommy Everidge, returning for his second season.
• Arizona Rookie League manager: Ruben Escalera, returning for second consecutive season and ninth overall. He has had various roles as an instructor in the Oakland organization between 2009-13.
• Arizona Rookie League pitching coach: Ariel Prieto, reassigned after serving on the Major League coaching staff for the previous three seasons. He was previously the Rookie League piching coach from 2009-11. Preito will also serve as liaison between the A's Dominican Republic and U.S. operations.
• Arizona Rookie League hitting coach: Juan Dilone, continuing in his seventh season.

Matt Buschmann re-signed

Melissa Lockard of Oakland Clubhouse reported the re-signing of minor league pitcher Matt Buschmann:

The #Athletics have re-signed MiLB FA Matt Buschmann and have invited him to big league camp (h/t @Burgh646).

— Melissa Lockard (@oakclubhouse) December 2, 2014

Entering his age-31 season, the right-hander Buschmann went 9-7 with a 4.52 ERA in Triple-A Sacramento last year, striking out 8.3 batters per nine innings pitched, and conceding 3.3 walks per nine innings.