New additions and familiar faces will join the Charleston RiverDogs’s coaching staff for the 2023 season, which opens April 6 at Myrtle Beach. The first home game is April 11 against the Columbia Fireflies.
Sliding into the manager role for the squad is 32-year-old Sean Smedley, who previously was the RiverDogs’ bench coach in 2021.
This will be Smedley’s first managerial position after spending the last six seasons as a coaching staff member at various levels of the Tampa Bay Rays farm system. Smedley was named the manager of Princeton’s baseball team in 2020, but never served in the role the season was canceled due to the pandemic.
The Colorado native began his coaching career in 2016 as a video coordinator for the Princeton Rays. Since then, Smedley has served in the bench coach role for the Princeton Rays, the Hudson Valley Renegades and the Charleston RiverDogs, helping to achieve a combined winning record of 170-100 with those three respective teams.
“I am truly honored to be named the manager of the RiverDogs and excited to return to the Holy City,” Smedley said. “I can’t wait to get to work at The Joe in April!”
Levi Romero, a former minor league player, will be the RiverDogs’ new pitching coach.
Prior to joining Charleston, Romero was the pitching coach for the Florida Complex League Rays in 2021. He also assumed the pitching coach responsibilities in the Dominican Summer League that same year.
Before becoming a pitching coach, Romero was originally signed as a pitcher in 2003 by the Houston Astros. Romero pitched for the Astros and the Texas Rangers over the course of five years before playing internationally for seven years and retiring from playing baseball in 2015.
Another new face to the Charleston RiverDogs, Ronnie Richardson will serve as the team’s bench coach.
Richardson previously coached in the Florida Complex League for the Rays affiliate team for two years. He guided the team to a 39-16 record in the regular season and made it into the league’s championship series.
Richardson coached for the Miami Marlins, the Hillsborough Community College and more throughout his career.
As a player, Richardson was drafted in the 16th round by the San Diego Padres. He played for three seasons in the MLB organization’s farm system.
Halee Williams takes over as the RiverDogs’ athletic trainer after serving in the same role for the Florida Complex League Rays last year.
This will be Williams’ fourth year in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system after joining the organization in 2019.
Williams’ educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Indiana Wesleyan University and a global master’s degree in sports management and legal skills.
This past winter, Williams worked for Venezuelan Professional Baseball League team, the Bravos de Margarita.
Perry Roth and Mia Salvemini return to the team as hitting coach and strength and conditioning coach, respectively.
This is Perry’s second season in the position. He coached at the collegiate level since 1996.
This is Salvemini’s third consecutive season with the RiverDogs in her role. She graduated from the University of Tampa in 2019 with a bachelor of science degree in human performance and is also a CrossFit Level One Trainer.
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