Arlington — The Texas Rangers have gone in a different direction in naming a manager.
According to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach, Jeff Banister will become the team’s 16th full time manager since moving to Texas in 1972.
Banister, who will turn 50 in January, comes with 29 years of experience in the Pittsburgh organization. He made his one and only major league appearance on July 23rd 1991, pinch hitting for Cecil Espy and registering an infield single. This makes him one of a short list of players to have a career 1.000 batting average in the majors.
Banister will inherit a team that was a disappointing 67-95, finishing in last place after five consecutive seasons of 89 or more wins. The team was crippled by injuries from the start. Virtually every regular player spent time on the disabled list, including substantial time by key off season additions Prince Fielder and Shin Soo Choo.
The managerial change was necessitated by the abrupt departure of Ron Washington on September 5th. Washington, who cited personal matters as his reason for his resignation, was the club’s all-time winningest manager with a record of 664-611.
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