Coaching Staff

2026 Coaching Staff

Rye Pothakos | Director of Recruiting and Baseball Operations/Head Coach

The Regina Red Sox are pleased to announce that Rye Pothakos will be our head coach for the 2026 season! Rye returns to the Sox for his 11th season in 2026!

Rye has been serving as the Director of scouting and baseball operations for the past 10 seasons.

Rye led the Sox to a 29-27 regular season record in 2025 and managed the Sox to their 3^rd WCBL Championship.

Rye’s long-time involvement in baseball has ensured the Sox field a competitive team each year. Rye is an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals. Rye is a Canadian of Greek Heritage and has Managed, scouted, and coached the Greek National Team from 2017 to 2021 and has been instrumental in building a winning team over the past few years. Rye led the Greek National team back to the European A pool in 2021 and secured a spot in the 2023 A pool. The Saskatoon resident has been Director of Recruiting for Saskatoon Yellow Jackets (WMBL) Thunder Bay Whisky Jacks (NL) Elmira Pioneers (NEL), Regina Cyclones (PL). Rye is an advisor to the USPL in the Independent Professional League based out of Utica, Michigan.

Prospective players should contact Rye at ryendi@icloud.com

Gary Brotzel | General Manager

Gary has served as President of the Red Sox since founding the team as a not for profit in 2005. Highlights of his career are obviously winning the League Championship in 2011,2012 and 2025. Gary was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 as a Builder and the Regina Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. Gary received the Queen Elizabeth (2) Medal for volunteerism in 2022 and the King Charles Medal in 2025 also for community service work. With the transition to private ownership under Queen City Sports and Entertainment Gary takes on the role of General Manager heading into the 2026 Season. Gary’s two grown children have blessed him with 5 beautiful granddaughters which keep him and his wife Denise busy watching all their activities.

Photo Credit Wanda Harron Photography

Mitch MacDonald | Assistant General Manager/Hitting Coach

Mitch returns to the Red Sox for his 12th season either as a player, coach , General Manager and now Assistant General Manger. Mitch will return as General Manger for 2026.  Mitch served as Red Sox Manager in 2016,2017 and 2018 and as an assistant coach in 2014, 2015, 2015, 2015, 2015,2019 and 2022. Mitch started with the Red Sox at age 18 as a player in 2006 and after playing Professional Baseball returned to the Sox in 2009 and played through 2012. Mitch is the only player in League history to win the WCBL triple crown with a .476 batting average, 8 home runs, and 48 RBI. Mitch was a two-time League Champion in 2011 and 2012. Mitch spends his time in the classroom teaching when not on the diamond. When not on the diamond Mitch spends his time teaching and being with his young family.

Photo Credit Wanda Harron Photography

Zane Pollon | Pitching Coach

Zane joins the Red Sox as pitching coach after pitching for the Red Sox in 2022 and 2023. In 2022 Zane appeared in 22 games for the Sox. In 27.1 innings of work Zane had 3 wins, 2 losses and 3 saves with a 6.25 ERA. In 2023 Zane appeared in 16 games pitching 58 innings. He has 2 Wins and 3 losses and had a 2.45 ERA. Zane is a member of the Regina Trapper’s Senior A baseball team and has played in 2 National Championships for the Trappers. He trains pitchers at RBI baseball center in the off season. Zane grew up in Wilcox Sask and played most of his minor baseball in Regina. He pitched for Mount Marty University in the GPAC (NAIA) in 2021,2022, 2023 and 2024. He has a career ERA of 2.38 at Mount Marty.

 

 

 

Braydon Cobb | Assistant  Coach

Braydon will be heading into his 5th year of Business at the University of Regina. Braydon has a varied background in coaching and baseball.  He pitched and played infield for Team Saskatchewan to win the Canadian National Little League Finals in 2015 and 2016. He continued with these teams to the Little League World Series in Bangor, ME and Easley, S.C. as Team Canada. He played summer ball in the QVBL in 2020 until a pitching injury ended his playing career. Coaching and athleticism are in Braydon’s blood as he is a direct descendant of the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Glasser brothers.

Braydon has been involved in Regina Athletics as a coach with Little League Baseball as well as coaching high school football at his alma mater, Sheldon Williams Collegiate, for He will return to Regina for his 3rd year with the Regina Red Sox.

 

Photo Credit Wanda Harron Photography

Jackson Alaniz | Assistant Coach

Jackson is from Laredo Texas and attends Ottawa University in Kansas as a grad student. He is currently a coach with Ottawa University Braves.

Alaniz was a two year letter winner for OU, earning Second Team All-KCAC honors in 2025. In his two seasons as a Brave, Alaniz played in 88 games, making 83 starts. He hit .355 (98-276), scored 32 runs, hit 26 doubles, one triple and 14 home runs. Alaniz drove in 72 runs, had a .609 slugging percentage, walked 25 times, was hit by a pitch 17 times had a .435 on base percentage, and stole three bases. He finished his career at OU with 550 put outs, 37 assists, and a .983 fielding percentage.

Before coming to OU, Alaniz spent two seasons at Cerro Coso Community College where he appeared in 86 games. He hit .240 (70-292), scored 49 runs, and hit 11 doubles, one triple, and one home run. Alaniz had 55 RBI, walked 42 times, had a .361 on-base percentage, and a .305 slugging percentage. Jackson had a lifetime batting average of .301 over his college career.

Alaniz graduated in May of 2025 from Ottawa University with a degree in sports leadership. He is working on his MBA in leadership development.

Jackson played for the Red Sox in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The steady catcher hit .237 in 2022, .291 in 2023 and .264 in 2024.

Todd Stewart | Massage Therapist

Todd will be joining the Red Sox for his 3rd season in 2026. He is entering his 21st season as a Registered Massage Therapist. As a former competitive athlete, he brings experience and knowledge gained through his long career helping many high-performance athletes.  Todd has worked with the Regina Thunder, U of R Swim Team, Track and Field and Basketball teams. In March of 2024, Todd opened Queen City Sports Massage and Associates in downtown Regina. When Todd isn’t working, he spends time with his wife and very active children. Todd enjoys running, biking, trail races and doing Spartan Races in his leisure time.

 

Photo Credit Wanda Harron Photography