Report: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jeff Banister To Be Next Texas Rangers Manager
By Larry Snyder
Pittsburgh Pirates’ general manager Neal Huntington will need to add to Clint Hurdle’s coaching staff as it is being reported that bench coach Jeff Banister has been hired by the Texas Rangers to be their new manager.
While this has not yet been confirmed by the Texas organization, numerous sources, including Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and the MLB Network, and Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, are saying Banister is the next manager.
The Rangers’ new skipper has been with the Pirates organization for 29 seasons. The Weatherford, Oklahoma native began as a 25th-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 1986 and spent the next seven years in their farm system. He also managed for five seasons in the minors for the Bucs.
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During his tenure with the Jolly Roger crew, Banister, 49, served three seasons as the Major League field coordinator and eight as a minor league field coordinator. Also on his list of duties with the ballclub, he was named the team’s bench coach in 2010 and was the interim pitching coach in 2008.
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Banister was selected over interim Texas manager Tim Bogar and Cleveland bullpen coach Kevin Cash. Banister and Cash had second interviews with the Rangers on Wednesday.
From The Clipboard: It is being reported by the Tribune-Review that it will be more expensive to watch the Jolly Roger crew next season at PNC Park as the team is expected to announce next month a nine-percent increase to the cost of season-ticket plans as well as single-game tickets.