PHOENIX — Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo was hired Friday as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I appreciate the opportunity to join the D-backs family," Lovullo said in a statement. "I’m excited to get to work with the staff and players to help lead this organization back to title contention."
Lovullo will be introduced at a news conference Mionday. He had been considered a leading candidate for the job after Red Sox assistant general manager Mike Hazen was hired as Diamondbacks GM.
"I’m excited to have Torey as our manager," Hazen said in a statement. "We share the same goals and mindset about how to be a championship-calibre organization."
Lovullo replaces Chip Hale, who was fired after two seasons. Hazen took over from Dave Stewart, who also was dismissed after two years.
The 51-year-old Lovullo has been manager John Farrell’s bench coach in Boston since 2012. He was interim manager for the final 48 games of the 2015 season after Farrell went on medical leave. The Red Sox were 28-20 with Lovullo at the helm.
He was first base coach on Farrell’s staff in Toronto in 2011-12.
Lovullo brings a wealth of experience managing in the minor leagues. His teams compiled a 661-609 record in nine seasons in Boston’s and Cleveland’s systems.
A fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA in 1987, Lovullo played parts of eight seasons in the majors primarily at second base.
Hazen and Lovullo inherit an organization coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in its history.
After signing Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million contract, the Diamondbacks were considered a potential contender in the NL West. But the rest of the pitching staff faltered badly and the Diamondbacks ended with a 69-93 record, 22 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
That led to the dismissal of Stewart and Hale.
Tony La Russa lost his position as chief baseball officer but has been offered an advisory role.
