Today the 2027 Flying Bison Pitching Coach was announced for Abilene’s baseball team, just a couple weeks after the news that Mike Spears signed on as Manager for the 2027 season.
Meet Manny Silva
Manuel “Manny” Silva will join the collegiate summer ball team as Pitching Coach, where the Flying Bison will play their fourth season starting in June. Currently Silva is an assistant pitching coach under Mike Spears at Chattanooga State Community College.
Silva began his coaching career in 2022 at his alma mater, Atkinson County High School. Since then he’s built his coaching experience across high school, collegiate, summer collegiate, and international baseball.
Silva spent two seasons as the Pitching Coach at Citizens Christian Academy, helping lead the program to the 2025 GIAA Class A State Championship. He then moved on to PennWest Clarion where he helped lead one of the program’s most successful pitching staffs, finishing 4th all-time in single-season strikeouts, producing two NCAA Division II Top-150 K/9 pitchers, and ranking 15th nationally in ERA during the first month of the season.
2027 Manager of the Flying Bison, Mike Spears, had this to say about his appointment of Silva as Pitching Coach:
“I’m happy to announce the addition of Manny Silva to the Flying Bison Staff.
Silva was my assistant pitching coach in the Northwoods League, and was the pitching coach at Penn West Clarion (D2) and for the Richmond Flying Mummies (Northwoods) last year. He brings passion and dedication to the game along with an analytical approach. He will have the pitching staff dialed in and ready to go!”
Silva has worked with and alongside multiple MLB Draft selections, including Junior Barajas (Giants, 11th Round, 2025), Kameron Douglas (Tigers, 20th Round, 2025), Blake Bryant (1st Round, 2026), and Zach Crotchfelt (Mets, 14th Round, 2026). He uses TrackMan, Rapsodo, and video analysis to develop players while emphasizing relationships, accountability, and preparing athletes for their next opportunity.
As a former independent baseball player with playing experience in the United States and Australia, Silva brings firsthand experience of the game to his coaching and player-development approach.
The organization is excited to welcome Manny Silva, the 2027 Flying Bison Pitching Coach, to the staff and can’t wait to kick things off in June.
Contact Info@AbileneFlyingBison.com with any questions or media inquiries.