Corpus Christi Hooks manager Ricky Rivera, pitching coach Zach Wilkins, hitting coach Bobby Bell, development coach Jeremy Cologna, athletic trainer Jennifer Bardales and strength coach Kevin Rivera will return to lead the organization in 2026, the Houston Astros announced Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Rivera, the 10th manager in 21 seasons of Hooks baseball, returns to Corpus Christi for a second consecutive campaign.
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The 2026 season marks Rivera’s sixth year as a minor league manager. He joined the Astros organization in 2020 and managed two seasons in the Florida Complex League. Before his time with the Hooks, Rivera led the Astros’ Class A affiliate in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2023 and 2024.
A native of Dorado, Puerto Rico, Rivera played college baseball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Central Missouri.
Bell and Bardales also return to the Double-A staff and will begin their third season in Corpus Christi. Kevin Rivera is set for his second year with the Hooks. Wilkins spent last season as pitching coach at High-A Asheville after two years with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Cologna joins the Astros system following stints with Missouri State and the New York Mets.
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“We are excited to have Ricky and his staff at Whataburger Field in 2026,” Hooks general manager Brady Ballard said. “They are eager to get back to work developing the next crop of Houston Astros, and we can certainly help by filling the ballpark with energy each and every night.”
The Hooks, the Texas League affiliate of the Houston Astros, open their 21st season Thursday, April 2, at Whataburger Field when the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders visit for a three-game series.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Houston Astros set 2026 coaching staff for Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks