BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Mets, announce their coaching and player development staff for the 2026 season. Michael Collins takes over as the 5th manager in Binghamton Rumble Ponies history and the 19th manager in the Binghamton Mets/Binghamton Rumble Ponies Era. He is joined by Pitching Coach Matt Carasiti, Hitting Coach Rachel Folden, Assistant Hitting Coach Jake Hager, and Bench Coach Mariano Duncan.
Collins enters his first season at the helm of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, after spending the last eight seasons with the Houston Astros. Collins started in 2018 as a bullpen catcher before becoming the Catching Coach in 2019. Collins managerial career has included working in the San Diego Padres organization as a manager between 2012 - 2017 leading the DSL Padres, AZL Padres, Fort Wayne TinCaps, and Lake Elsinore Storm.
In addition to his extensive coaching career in Affiliated Baseball, Collins has coached the Canberra Calvary in 2012-2013, who won the Claxton Shield as National Champions for the first time. The Australian native also served as a coach for the National Team in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classic, and will return to Team Australia in the upcoming 2026 Classic this March.
Folden begins her first season as the Hitting Coach with the Mets Organization in Binghamton. Folden replaces Nate Irving, who will take over as the Hitting Coach for Triple-A Syracuse. Rachel follows in the footsteps of female coaches Gretch Aucoin and Bree Nasti, who were uniformed in the Minor Leagues for years. Folden comes to the Mets organization after spending five years in the Cubs organization. The California native held a variety of positions in the Cubs organization including: Arizona Complex League Hitting Coach (2021-22), Minor League Hitting Coordinator (2023), Hitting Coach at Double-A Tennessee (2024), and Hitting Coach at Triple-A Iowa last season (2025).
Carasiti begins his first season in the Mets organization after spending last season with the Everett AquaSox in the same capacity. Carasiti pitched in the big leagues for both the Colorado Rockies (2016, 2023-2024) and Seattle Mariners (2019). Carasiti was a 6th round selection by the Rockies in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of St. John’s University (NY).
Duncan begins his fifth year as bench coach with the Rumble Ponies and eighth year in the Mets organization. He was an instrumental part of the Rumble Ponies 2025 run to the Eastern League Championship. He previously served as the bench coach for the Brooklyn Cyclones (High-A) in 2021 and in the same role with Kingsport in 2019. The former infielder played 12 major league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. He is a two-time World Series champion (’90 Reds and ’96 Yankees) and was inducted into the Dominican Republic Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. Duncan also was a member of the 1993 Phillies team that won the National League Pennant.
Hager begins his first season as the Assistant Hitting & Infield Coach for the Double-A Mets affiliate. The utility infielder spent 14 years in the Major Leagues splitting time between short stop, second base, and third base for the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs. Jake retired following the 2024 season with the Iowa Cubs.
Returning for his second season as Strength and Conditioning Coach is Trent McMaster. McMaster is in his fourth season with the Mets organization. Joining McMaster is Athletic Trainer Joseph Parrillo, joining Double-A Binghamton after spending last season in Syracuse.
Rounding out the 2026 support staff is Athletic Training Associate Emily French, Baseball Technology & Video Associate Will Dolan, and Home Clubhouse Manager Michael Vavalle.
The Rumble Ponies open the 2026 season on the road against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays Double-A Affiliate) on Friday, April 3. The Ponies’ home opener is on Tuesday, April 7 against the Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees Double-A Affiliate) at 6:07 p.m.
Season tickets, flex booklets, and ballpark passes are currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Visions Federal Credit Union Starting Gate Box Office at Mirabito Stadium, on the phone at (607)-722-FUNN, or on our website www.bingrp.com
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