After being a part of the coaching staff with manager Gary Gaetti last season as bullpen coach, former big leaguer Rafael Montalvo returns for his first season as pitching coach and brings thirteen years of professional baseball playing experience to Sugar Land. He spent time in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and California Angels systems.  He pitched one season in the Atlantic League in 1999 for the Atlantic City Surf and went 10-8 in 24 starts with a 3.89 ERA.  Overall he played 12 seasons in the minor leagues and was 49-40 with a 3.72 ERA in 914.0 innings pitched.

Rafael went on to serve as a pitching coach in the Tampa Rays organization from 2000-2009 at all levels ranging from Rookie ball to Triple-A in their minor league system. In 2010 he joined the Road Warriors as a pitching coach in the Atlantic League and served as pitching coach and special advisor from 2011-2015 for both Japan and Mexico Leagues.