CORAL GABLES, Fla. - University of Miami head baseball coach J.D. Arteaga announced Monday the addition of Danny Casals to the Hurricanes’ coaching staff as director of player development/infielders.

Casals returns to his hometown after spending the previous seven seasons at Christopher Columbus High School, where he served as associate head coach from 2019-26. The Miami native and Columbus graduate will work primarily with the Hurricanes’ infielders while assisting in the program’s overall player development efforts.

Casals has worked with more than 10 players who have gone on to be selected in the MLB Draft, including Jeremy Peña, George Lombard Jr., Jacob Lombard, Antonio Jimenez, Daniel Cuvet and Adrian Santana.

His player development background includes extensive work with Peña, who earned a Gold Glove Award during his first year working with Casals. George Lombard Jr. and Jacob Lombard have also trained with Casals since high school, developing into highly regarded defenders.

Before beginning his coaching career, Casals played at the University of Maine from 2015-19. He earned first-team all-conference honors in 2018 and 2019 and received first-team All-Northeast recognition in 2018.

Following his collegiate career, Casals signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent and spent one season in the organization at the rookie level, batting .333.

Casals’ baseball background also includes experience with USA Baseball. He was selected for Team USA in 2012 and later earned a position on the USA Baseball coaching staff for its identifier series.

Casals earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Maine in 2019 and completed a graduate degree in literacy in 2022. He and his wife, Kristina, have one daughter, Narina.