Alumnus Named Texas Rangers Manager
February 12, 2019 - 02:04 PM
Former Mt. SAC baseball player Chris Woodward has been named manager of the Texas Rangers, after serving three years as the Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach.
Woodward, 42, became the 19th full-time manager in Rangers history in November. He received a three-year contract with a club option for 2022.
Woodward was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1994. He was one of more than 115 draft picks from Mt. SAC during legendary coach, Art Mazmanian’s, 31-year career. A former utility infielder, Woodward played in parts of 12 major league seasons beginning in 1999 with the Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox.
Mt. SAC baseball coach John Knott has known Woodward since they were teenagers playing on the same summer team in Covina. Even as a young man, Knott said Woodward was driven to play baseball and that enthusiasm never waned over the years.
“Since he was in high school, Chris has had to work for everything he got; nothing was ever handed to him,” Knott said. “He’s high energy, versatile, likable and disciplined. He loves to train and he’s big into analytics, which is the direction baseball is going.”
After retiring in 2012, Woodward began his coaching career with the Seattle Mariners Organization and managed the New Zealand National Team in 2016, for the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifying. He was named Dodger third-base coach in 2016 and as such, helped guide the team to three National League titles, two National League Championships and two World Series appearances.
Woodward credits the late Tom Quinley, Northview High School baseball coach, for helping him prepare for a career in the big leagues. Quinley, who passed away last year, was more than a coach. He had a profound influence on Woodward as a mentor and father figure.
