ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES
Pedro Lopez to again lead Isotopes, with revamped staff
Veteran skipper returns for a record sixth season on Albuquerque's bench
Pedro Lopez will become the Albuquerque Isotopes' longest-tenured coaching staff member in franchise history when he suits up for his fourth season at the helm this season.
The Isotopes on Tuesday announced the club's coaching staff, including Lopez as manager and three new assistants — Luis Lopez as bench coach, Matt Snyder as hitting coach and Craig Bjornson as pitching coach.
Albuquerque, the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A affiliate, went 62-87 in 2025, the club's 11th consecutive losing season. The Isotopes' 2026 season begins March 27 on the road in Oklahoma City.
Pedro Lopez, who is in his sixth year overall with the club, served as Albuquerque’s hitting coach in 2021 and bench coach in 2022. The Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, native is beginning his 22nd year as a minor league manager and fifth at the Triple-A level. He's amassed a 1,167-1,238 overall record and made seven playoff appearances as a manager. He played 13 minor league seasons in the San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros organizations.
Luis Lopez enters his first year with the Isotopes and fifth with the Rockies organization. Most recently, Lopez served as Double-A Hartford’s bench coach from 2022-25. He appeared in parts of 11 MLB seasons with San Diego, New York Mets, Milwaukee, Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds before retiring in 2005.
Snyder begins his inaugural season within the Rockies organization after serving as the hitting coach for the High-A Jersey Shore Blue Claws, affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, last season. He played eight minor league seasons with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins organizations.
Bjornson, beginning his 27th year as a professional coach, enters his first year with the Isotopes and fourth with the Rockies organization. Most recently, he spent three seasons with the Braves organization as a minor league pitching and bullpen coach. He was the bullpen coach with the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox in 2018 when those organizations won the World Series. Bjornson played collegiately at Arizona Western Junior College, where he was teammates with Pedro Lopez.
