The Milwaukee Brewers announced the complete 2026 coaching staff for the Biloxi Shuckers on Wednesday, highlighted by the return of Mike Guerrero as manager after two seasons as a roving infield instructor.
Gurrero’s staff includes hitting coach Kevin Martir (second season), pitching coach Josh Spence (third), assistant coach Matt Lipka (second), and associate head coach Tyson Cooper (first).
Joe Ayrault, who managed the Shuckers from 2024-25, has been promoted to Brewers Minor League Field Coordinator. Ayrault finished his tenure with a 140-233 record and, alongside Guerrero, became the second Shuckers manager to lead the team to back-to-back playoff appearances, reaching the postseason in his both of his seasons at the helm.
Guerrero enters his ninth season in Biloxi and 27th as an MiLB manager. After reaching 1,400 career wins during the 2023 season, he needs 55 more in 2026 to hit the 1,500 milestone. Guerrero’s 1,445 wins rank sixth among active minor league managers, and with a 492-449 record in Biloxi, he is the winningest coach in the team’s history.
Guerrero’s most recent position as roving infield instructor saw him work with multiple affiliates within the club rather than a single Brewers team.
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During his tenure, Guerrero has managed 71 of the 82 former Shuckers who have gone on to make their MLB debuts, including Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Jackson Chourio, Josh Hader and Brice Turang. In 2018 and 2019, he guided Biloxi to become the first Brewers Double-A affiliate to reach the championship series in consecutive seasons since 2006 and 2007. His honors include Southern League Manager of the Year (2018), the Mike Coolbaugh Award (2013), Florida State League Manager of the Year (2009) and Dominican Summer League Manager of the Year (2001).
Martir enters his eighth season as a minor league coach, his third at the Double-A level and second with Biloxi. In 2025, he oversaw a Shuckers offense that led the Southern League in runs (639), doubles (197), home runs (111), walks (621), on-base percentage (.337), slugging percentage (.362) and OPS (.699). He previously spent five seasons in the New York Yankees organization, serving as hitting coach at Double-A Somerset (2024), High-A Hudson Valley (2023) and Single-A Tampa (2021–22).
Spence returns for his second season as pitching coach and third overall on the Shuckers’ staff. In 2025, he guided a pitching staff that included four Brewers Top-30 prospects, highlighted by 2025 Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year Tyson Hardin, a Mississippi State alum. A native of Australia, Spence played professionally for five seasons, making 188 appearances across MLB, MiLB and independent baseball, including 51 MLB appearances over two seasons with the San Diego Padres from 2011–12.
Lipka enters his second season with Biloxi following a 12-year playing career in which the former outfielder appeared in 1,137 minor league games.
Cooper begins his first season with the Shuckers and second in professional baseball. He previously served as a development coach with the Rookie-level ACL Brewers in 2025.
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, members of the Southern League, and play at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. Their first home game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
