New York Mets' Raul Gonzalez (21), runs past Houston Astros Brad Ausmus (11) to score in the fourth inning at Shea Stadium Thursday, April 24, 2003 in New York. Houston Astros Bruce Chen fields the ball in the background. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers cut it close, but they have their manager for the upcoming MLB Draft League season.

The team announced that Raul Gonzalez will lead the team for the 2026 campaign, which begins on June 2 at 7 17 Credit Union Field.

A Puerto Rico native, Gonzalez was drafted in the 17th round by the Kansas City Royals in the 1990 draft. He made his major league debut in 2000 with the Chicago Cubs, and he played his final game with the Cleveland Indians on June 21, 2004.

Beginning in 2011, Gonzalez served as an advance scout for the Detroit Tigers, a hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox (Gulf Coast League) and Kansas City Royals (Burlington Royals) and an Arizona League hitting coach for the San Diego Padres.

During the 2023-24 season, he served as the assistant hitting coach for the Arizona Complex League (ACL) Guardians.

“I am honored to be a part of the 2026 Mahoning Valley Scrappers,” Gonzalez said in a press release. “My mission, alongside the staff around me, is to prepare these young athletes for the next level – professional baseball. We’re excited to bring some great talent to Niles, Ohio.”

Additional members of the coaching staff include former Pittsburgh Pirate Orlando Merced (hitting coach) and Cleveland Indian Jason Stanford (pitching coach).

Stanford also has a local connection. He served as the head coach at Howland from 2010-12 and Youngstown State University pitching coach in 2012.

The Scrappers previously announced that former major leaguer Joe Thurston would be the manager. But Thurston opted to stay at his current position in another league and recently declined the Scrappers’ invitation.

Mahoning Valley is set to open the 2026 season at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood on June 2 against the State College Spikes.