The D-Backs announced they’ve hired Jeff Banister as bench coach. It’s the Snakes’ second key coaching addition in as many weeks, as Arizona recently hired Joe Mather as hitting coach.
Banister picked up one big league plate appearance with the 1991 Pirates, but he’s far better known for his post-playing accomplishments. He received his first professional managerial job at age 30, spending 1994-98 managing at the lower levels of the Pittsburgh farm system. Banister moved into a broader organizational role in 1998 and spent the next decade-plus as a major and minor league field coordinator before landing his first job on a big league staff as Clint Hurdle’s bench coach in 2010.
Over the next few seasons, Banister was frequently mentioned as a strong managerial candidate. That opportunity presented itself after the 2014 campaign, when the Rangers tabbed Banister to succeed Ron Washington. Texas was very successful over his first couple seasons, winning the AL West in both 2015 and 2016. Banister was rewarded with an AL Manager of the Year selection in his first year at the helm, but the success proved short-lived. The Rangers finished below .500 in both 2017 and 2018, and the club dismissed him towards the end of that latter season. All told, Texas went 325-313 (.509 winning percentage) in just under four years with Banister managing.
After spending a couple seasons back in the Pirates’ front office, Banister spent this past year as director of player development for the University of Northern Colorado. After one season in Greeley, he’ll return to a big league staff for the first time since being dismissed by the Rangers. The 57-year-old will be the top lieutenant for D-Backs’ skipper Torey Lovullo, who’s entering his sixth season leading the Arizona clubhouse.
Pfffft
Beat every team to the punch for Bannister!
Way to go moving the needle.
He’s as solid as they come. Hopefully for Torrey Lovullo’s sake, Banister isn’t there as the backup plan.
Lol
Exactly what i was thinking.
That one season at the University of Northern Colorado was the thing that got the deal done. When you can lead player development for a national powerhouse like that which finished with a strong 11-36 record, teams know you have what it takes to help players develop.
How’s your baseball resume look? Bannister probably has you beat.
Pretty strong. High school centerfielder with strong excel skills. The centerfielder doesn’t add much value for finance positions, but I did lead Grand Canyon University to an Online University World Series victory against the University of Phoenix.
However, I haven’t tried to break into the big leagues. Do you think if I managed a below average team to a division title while the rest of the division was rebuilding,I could get such a resume?
Edit:nevermind I’ll just make it up and add it to my resume.
I hear he turned down the Mets GM job offer just before he accepted this job
Sick.
A big rangers fan and have been for 20 years now. Was not a fan of Bannister at the helm.
Some hateful comments on here for a baseball lifer taking a bench coach job. Get a life donkeys.
This lifelong Rangers fan liked Bannister. I’m glad he found his way back to a major league dugout.
D-Backs shoot themselves in the foot yet again. Bannister is about as relevant to the modern game as “where’s the beef’ is to marketing, This guy could bore drying paint into a coma,.
If the D-backs start off terrible meet the new Manager Jeff Bannister.
How about brining in a winner loser with Pirate and Rangers last thing the Diamondbacks need is this guy waiting to take the helm.
Used to love this guy’s tirades when he was with the Rangers.