Rangers hire Fernandez to assist Daniels

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Texas Rangers have hired former All-Star shortstop Tony Fernandez as a special assistant to general manager Jon Daniels.

Fernandez went to five All-Star games and won four straight Gold Gloves with Toronto, where he spent most of a 17-year career that ended in 2001. He reached the playoffs with five different teams and won a World Series with the Blue Jays in 1993.

The 49-year-old Fernandez was a career .288 hitter and had a .327 batting average in 43 post-season games.

Since he retired, Fernandez has earned several degrees in ministry school and is an ordained minister. He helps run the Tony Fernandez Foundation, a non-profit with offices in Canada, the U.S. and his native Dominican Republic.