The Hartford Yard Goats will have a new manager next season. The Rockies franchise promoted former major league catcher Robinson Cancel to Hartford after managing Class-A Spokane the past three seasons.
The 49-year-old Cancel had an impressive playing career, playing 20 professional seasons, mostly in the minor leagues, from 1994-2014. He broke into the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999, playing 15 games, then didn’t get another chance until latching on with the New York Mets for 28 games in 2008, and a game in 2009. He went back down to the minors before earning another appearance in the bigs in 2011 with the Houston Astros.
Cancel replaces Bobby Meacham, who led the Yard Goats the past two seasons. He will be introduced at a press conference in Hartford on Wednesday.
This is Cancel’s 10th season as a coach in the Rockies organization, and his first at the Double-A level. The Puerto Rico native was promoted to manage the High-A Spokane Indians in 2023, following playoff berths with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies in both 2021 and 2022. Cancel previously served as a coach with Short-Season Boise in 2017 in his first year with the Rockies and also spent two seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization as the manager of Rookie Level Danville (2016) and the Gulf Coast League Braves (2015). Cancel was drafted by Milwaukee in 1994 and played 45 Major League games over parts of four seasons from 1999-2011.
“We are delighted to welcome Robinson to Hartford, and our Yard Goats family,” Yard Goats General Manager Mike Abramson said. “Robinson has an excellent track record of winning and development, and we are excited to watch him and his coaches guide our club in 2026.”
The Yard Goats open the 2026 season on Thursday, April 2 at Dunkin’ Park.
The Rock Cats are coming back– at least for two games this season