The Houston Astros have announced that Ed Romero will become the fourth manager in the history of the Rookie League Greeneville Astros in 2010.

While Greeneville's pitching coach has yet to be determined, Romero now knows he will be joined on the field staff by two people already very familiar with Greeneville. Pete Rancont, who was the hitting coach for the Astros for the team's first three years in Greeneville from 2004-06, returns in the same role.

Meanwhile, Grant Hufford will return for his third consecutive season in the organization as Greeneville's athletic trainer.

"We are thrilled to have Ed Romero manage our team in 2010. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this organization that will translate to the field in helping develop our young talent. It will also be great to work with Pete again, and Grant's familiarity with the team will be a tremendous help," said Greeneville Astros General Manager David Lane.

Ed Romero, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, spent the past two seasons on the Houston Astros coaching staff. He served as the third base coach in 2008 before becoming the Astros bench coach for the 2009 season.

Prior to joining the Astros organization, Romero was the Florida Marlins roving infield instructor for three seasons. Before his tenure with the Marlins, Romero proved his worth as a minor league manager and instructor for eight years with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. During that time, he led Double-A Huntsville to the Southern League co-championship in 2001. He also had a six-season tenure as a Class A manager and infield coordinator with the San Diego Padres organization and managed seven seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Romero's long and successful playing career includes 730 Major League games from 1977-90 with the Milwaukee Brewers (1977-85, '89), Boston Red Sox (1986-89), Atlanta Braves (1989), and Detroit Tigers (1990). During that time, he hit .247 with eight homeruns and 155 RBI while playing in four American League Championship Series and two World Series.

Hitting coach Pete Rancont spent the 2009 season in the same role for the Class A Lexington Legends after a two-year managerial stint with the Class A Short Season Tri-City ValleyCats. His three previous seasons in Greeneville from 2004-06 were preceded by spending the 2003 season with the Class A Salem Avalanche, the 2002 season with Lexington, and 2001 with Class A Michigan.

Rancont, a two-year letterman and standout shortstop for Auburn University during his college playing days, first joined the professional coaching ranks in 2001 after nearly 30 years of coaching at the high school and college levels in Alabama. Among his coaching accomplishments, Rancont won three conference championships during his tenure as head coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Athletic trainer Grant Hufford joined the Astros organization in 2008 from the Lawrence Orthopedic Surgery Clinic in Lawrence, Kansas. While in Lawrence, he served as the athletic trainer at Baldwin High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Benedictine College and finished his Massage Therapy degree from High-Tech Institute in Kansas City.

Several other members of previous field staffs in Greeneville are also still in the Astros organization. Rodney Linares moves up from managing in Greeneville the past three seasons to manage Class A Lexington. He will be joined by hitting coach Stubby Clapp and pitching coach Travis Driskill, who each spent time with Linares in Greeneville.

Meanwhile, last season's pitching coach, Rick Aponte, will be heading to Kissimmee, Fla., to join D.J. Boston, Greeneville's hitting coach in 2008, with the Rookie Gulf Coast League Astros. Bryan Baca, Greeneville's 2007 athletic trainer, will begin his third season in the same role with the Tri-City ValleyCats.