The D-backs announced today that they’ve hired former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire as their new bench coach. Rounding out Arizona’s new wave of coaches will be Tony Perezchica (third base), Mike Fetters (bullpen) and Robby Hammock (quality control).
Gardenhire will join the D-backs coaching staff and serve as top lieutenant for new manager Torey Lovullo, who was actually a candidate to replace Gardenhire in Minnesota prior to the hiring of Paul Molitor before the 2015 season. He’ll bring 13 year of managerial experience at the Major League level and another 11 years of Major League coaching experience to the Diamondbacks organization. This past season, Gardenhire served as a special assistant to GM Terry Ryan in the Twins organization, and prior to that he was a finalist in the Padres’ managerial hunt but lost out to Andy Green. He’ll have at least one familiar face on the D-backs roster, as the new job will reunite him with Chris Herrmann, who had somewhat of a breakout season in 2016 (in a limited role) after being traded from Minnesota to Arizona last winter.
Perezchica has spent 15 years in the D-backs organization and has most recently spent the past three years as Arizona’s minor league field coordinator. Fetters was the team’s quality control coach prior to moving up to bullpen coach, and he’ll be replaced by Hammock, who played for the Diamondbacks for parts of six seasons between 2003-11 and served as the manager for the team’s Double-A affiliate for the past two seasons.
Arizona also announced that hitting coach Dave Magadan, first base coach Dave McKay, pitching coach Mike Butcher and coach/interpreter Ariel Prieto will all return to the coaching staff in 2017. Magadan and Butcher are returning for their second seasons, while Prieto will be embarking on his third with the organization and McKay will be entering his fourth in 2017.
This is great news for the D-Backs!!
Ron is a great guy. You’re lucky to have him.
Good idea. I think teams too often look past the value of having an old pro around. Gardy has been there and done that (except win a pennant).
This is disgraceful!
He should be managing!
Maybe he doesn’t want to be a “manager”
Apparently 30 teams disagree
Ya, probably should be. But Luvullo is top-notch in most aspects of the game, and seems wise enough to heed Gardy’s council. Like the Hammock and Fetters moves too…..
You guys got some real management talent there. Nice first step for a rebound.
Wonder if he’ll be a candidate for the managerial job in Detroit once they finally show Ausmus the door.
Hope so. Always liked his managing.
Matt Williams
Keep forgetting that symbols erase the rest of the comment. Matt Williams and Ron Gardenhire as coaches on the Diamondbacks team will be awesome.
Matt Williams has already been let go.
I realized that after posting. Guess reading the whole article would have helped, lol
Mike Fetters briefly pitched for Gardy in 2003.
Great hire by the Diamondbacks – pairing Gardy and Luvollo is a fine idea. Nice to see Gardy back on duty.
Great additions to Diamondbacks staff. Gardenhire will manage again very soon. Look up his Wins Above Expectancy numbers, they don’t lie. He was always one starting pitcher short every year he had his team in the playoffs.
Another good move by the D-Backs. Better days ahead.
Get rid of Butcher, please..
You guys are so right.
Had been praying for the last few years that the Jays would pull their collective heads out of their asses and replace Gibbons with Gardy.
Oh well, congrats to Arizona and Gardy.
Great sign
Great hire!