Angels promote Florko to big league staff
The Los Angeles Angels have promoted Derek Florko (Abbotsford, B.C.) to their big league staff as an assistant hitting coach. Photo: Rocket City Trash Pandas
January 3, 2026
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
The Los Angeles Angels have promoted Derek Florko (Abbotsford, B.C.) to their big league staff as an assistant hitting coach.
The Canadian batting guru has been in the Angels’ organization for seven seasons. He was initially hired to be the hitting coach for the Inland Empire, the Angels’ Class-A affiliate, in 2019.
Florko then coached for the double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2021 prior to being assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Angels from 2022 to 2025.
He’ll become the third hitting instructor on the Angels’ 2026 staff behind head batting coach Brady Anderson and assistant John Mabry.
“From a hitting standpoint, with Mabry and Florko, we feel pretty good with surrounding them with Brady and what he brings to the table,” Angels GM Perry Minasian told MLB.com. “So we’re excited about that staff.”
Prior to joining the Angels’ organization, Florko spent almost a decade coaching in the Abbotsford Cardinals’ program. He also served as an assistant coach for the Lethbridge Bulls, of the Western Canadian Baseball League, in 2012 and 2013.
He also previously worked as the manager of hitting for AXE Batting Company.
Corey Eckstein, junior head coach of Abbotsford Cardinals, shared his excitement for Florko’s promotion on X.