Washington Nationals Part with Multiple Minor League Coaches

The Washington Nationals are making several changes across its minor league staff.

Per multiple reports, the Nationals have informed multiple coaches that their contracts will not be renewed in 2027, including Triple A pitching coach Fernando Nieve, Double A manager Delino DeShields, Double A pitching coach Rigo Beltran, Dominican Summer League hitting coach Rafael Ozuna, Single A strength and conditioning coach Jordan Chen, senior advisor and player development Dave Jauss, outfield/baserunning coordinator Chris Prieto and infield coordinator Jason Wood.

DeShields is among the most notable names on the list as a longtime former player who began his playing career with the Montreal Expos back in 1990 before becoming a minor league coach within the Cincinnati Reds organization back in 2012. DeShields was eventually promoted within the farm system before being named the first base and base running coach for the 2022 season. After the Reds moved ahead with a coaching change following a 100 loss season, DeShields arrived in Washington as the new manager of the Harrisburg Senators.

2026 marked the first time that DeShields led the Senators to avoid a sub-.500 record, while he owns a 262-284 overall record during his four seasons with the organization.

Chen and Nieve are among the coaches who wrapped up their lone season within the organization, while Jauss served in his role since Jan. 2022. Jauss previously spent over two decades as a position coach across the MLB including stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and two stints with both the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

Beltran, meanwhile, has been with the organization since the start of the 2024 season where he has served as a coaching in the minor league for nearly 20 years.

It marks multiple vacancies for president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and manager Blake Butera to fill through the offseason after wrapping up a 2026 season where development of the upgraded talent in the farm system became a premium point of focus.

It also comes as the Nationals saw the Triple A Rochester pull out the 2026 International League Championship this past weekend after taking down the Memphis Redbirds, 3-2, for their first league title in nearly 20 years. Right handed pitcher Jarlin Susana, the team's third-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was among the pitchers to take the mound under what proved to be Nieve's final stint with the organization.