2026_Program_layout - Flipbook - Page 24
2026 ISOTOPES FIELD STAFF
Luis Lopez
Craig Bjornson
Bench Coach
Pitching Coach
Luis Lopez enters his 昀椀rst year with the Isotopes and
昀椀fth with the Rockies organization. Most recently, Lopez
served as Double-A Hartford’s bench coach from 202225, helping the Yard Goats to their 昀椀rst-ever playoff
appearance in 2024. He began his coaching career as
a Minor League hitting coach with the Boston Red Sox
organization (2008-11) before serving as the Atlanta
Braves’ Minor League in昀椀eld coordinator (2012-17) and
manager of the GCL Tigers (2018-19). Lopez started his
playing career in 1988 at the age of 17 after signing as
a free agent with the San Diego Padres. He appeared in
parts of 11 MLB seasons with San Diego (1993-94, 1996),
New York-NL (1997-99), Milwaukee (2000-02), Baltimore
(2002, 2004) and Cincinnati (2005) before retiring in 2005.
Craig Bjornson, beginning his 27th year as a professional
coach, enters his 昀椀rst year with the Isotopes and fourth
with the Rockies organization (2009-11, Rookie-League
Casper’s pitching coach). Most recently, he spent three
seasons with the Braves organization as a pitching coach
(Triple-A Gwinnett, 2023), roving pitching instructor (2024)
and bullpen coach (Triple-A Gwinnett, 2025). Bjornson also
spent time in MLB as a bullpen coach with the Houston
Astros (2012, 2014-17) and Boston Red Sox (2018-20),
winning World Series titles with the Astros (2017) and Red
Sox (2018). He also spent 13 seasons (1999-2011) as a
Minor League pitching coach in the Montreal/Washington,
Kansas City, Los Angeles-NL and Colorado organizations.
Bjornson was signed as a free agent by the Houston Astros
in 1991 and played three Minor League seasons. He was
teammates with Manager Pedro Lopez at Arizona Western
Junior College.
Matt Snyder
Hitting Coach
Matt Snyder begins his inaugural season with both the Isotopes and Rockies organization after serving as the hitting coach for
the High-A Jersey Shore Blue Claws, af昀椀liate of the Philadelphia Phillies, last season. He began his coaching career with the
Marlins organization as a hitting coach (High-A Beloit, 2021-22 and Double-A Pensacola, 2023) and Minor League assistant
hitting coordinator (2024). In 2022, he was awarded the Marlins’ “Staff Member of the Year.” Snyder, a 10th round pick by the
Yankees in 2012 out of the University of Mississippi, played eight Minor League seasons with New York-AL (2012-18) and Miami
(2019), reaching Triple-A in 2019. Snyder is the son of Brian Snyder and brother of Brandon Snyder and twin brother of Michael
Snyder, who all played professionally.
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2025 ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES SOUVENIR PROGRAM
