For Immediate Release
January 15, 2025
RED SOX ANNOUNCE RETURN OF MACDONALD, FINALIZE COACHING AND MANAGEMENT STAFF FOR 2026
Regina, Sask. — The Regina Red Sox are pleased to announce the return of Mitch MacDonald as Assistant General Manager, as the Club rounds out its coaching and management staff for the 2026 season.
The Red Sox are also thrilled to welcome back alumnus Zane Pollon as Pitching Coach and alumnus Jackson Alaniz as Assistant Coach. In addition, Braydon Cobb returns for his third season as an Assistant Coach, while Todd Stewart is back for a third consecutive year as Team Trainer.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to work with our coaching staff,” said Red Sox Field Manager Rye Pothakos. “The addition of Jackson Alaniz and Zane Pollon, along with the return of Braydon Cobb, will give us a lot of energy, passion, and knowledge that will transfer directly to our players. They all know this league and understand what it takes to be successful, including the culture and commitment needed day in and day out.
MacDonald returns to the Red Sox for his 12th season with the organization, having served as a player, coach, Manager, General Manager, and now Assistant General Manager. One of the most accomplished alumni in league history, MacDonald managed the Red Sox from 2016-2018 and previously served as an assistant coach in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2022.
MacDonald first joined the Red Sox at just 18 years old as a player in 2006. After a stint in professional baseball with the Miami Marlins organization, he returned to Regina in 2009, playing through 2012. He remains the only player in WCBL history to win the Triple Crown, batting .476 with 8 home runs and 48 RBI, and was a two-time league champion in 2011 and 2012.
“Having Mitch MacDonald return with his experience is a valuable part of our team and management group,” added Pothakos. “He brings a deep understanding of the organization and will be a great resource as we continue to build our program.”
Pollon rejoins the Red Sox as Pitching Coach after playing for the Club in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, he appeared in 22 games, recording a 6.26 ERA in 27.1 innings, posting a 9.2 K/9 rate. He followed that with a strong 2023 season, posting a 2.45 ERA over 58 innings in 16 appearances with just 19 walks and 57 strikeouts.
A member of the Regina Trappers Senior A baseball team, Pollon has competed in two national championships. He trains pitchers during the offseason at RBI Baseball Centre and pitched collegiately at Mount Marty University (NAIA) from 2021–2024. Pollon grew up in Wilcox, Saskatchewan, and played much of his minor baseball in Regina.
Alaniz, a Red Sox alumnus from Laredo, Texas, returns as an Assistant Coach. He played for the Red Sox from 2022-2024, serving as a steady presence behind the plate, as well as his ability to get on-base with a career OBP of .389.
Alaniz is currently a graduate student at Ottawa University (Kansas) and a coach with the Ottawa University Braves. He earned Second Team All-KCAC honours in 2025, finishing his collegiate career with a .355 lifetime batting average and a .435 on-base percentage. Alaniz graduated in May 2025 with a degree in Sports Leadership and is currently pursuing his MBA in Leadership Development.
Cobb returns for his third season with the Red Sox and brings a strong background in both playing and coaching. A student entering his fifth year of Business at the University of Regina, Cobb was part of Team Saskatchewan’s Canadian National Little League championship teams in 2015 and 2016, advancing to the Little League World Series.
He has coached within Regina Athletics, including Little League Baseball and high school football at Sheldon Williams Collegiate, and comes from a proud sporting lineage as a descendant of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame’s Glasser brothers.
Stewart returns for his third season as Team Trainer and is entering his 21st year as a Registered Massage Therapist. A former competitive athlete, Stewart has worked extensively with high-performance programs, including the Regina Thunder, University of Regina swim team, and U of R track and field, and basketball teams.
“We’re looking forward to 2026 and getting to work with a team that our fans and the City of Regina will be proud of,” continued Pothakos.
With the coaching and management staff now finalized, the Regina Red Sox look ahead to the 2026 season with a strong mix of experience, alumni leadership, and local baseball knowledge.
— 30 —
For more details, contact Pats Manager, Broadcast and Hockey Communications Dante De Caria (ddecaria@reginapats.com | 306-519-1436).
Back To News
