D-Backs hire new bench coach
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo wanted in a bench coach someone who filled the gaps in his skillset, and he believes he found the right person in longtime baseball man Jeff Banister, whom the club named to the position on Monday afternoon.
Lovullo said he hopes Banister, 57, can provide a jolt of energy and personality to the coaching staff and the clubhouse, and he believes Banister’s experience ushering in a group of young players with the Pittsburgh Pirates a decade ago will be useful as the Diamondbacks continue with their own youth movement.
“He helped develop those players,” Lovullo said of a Pirates core that included position players Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Neil Walker. “That’s something that was very intriguing to me.”
Said Banister: “When we started talking and sat down, I could see the excitement in Torey’s eyes when he talked about his players. Just an incredible opportunity to join a group of coaches to help shape and mold some young athletes and help move this organization in a more prominent direction.”
Banister served four years as the manager of the Texas Rangers, winning a pair of division titles in 2015 and 2016. That stint was bookended by 24 seasons working in a variety of coaching and front office roles in the Pirates organization, including serving as thenmanager Clint Hurdle’s bench coach from 2010-2014. Banister spent this year as director of player development for the University of Northern Colorado baseball program.
Lovullo described himself as sometimes stoic to a fault, and he envisions Banister’s personality helping to complement that.
“Sometimes I can be so boring that I want to throw up in my own mouth, you know what I mean?” Lovullo said. “I try to keep a very steady hand and pay attention to what’s going on in front of me and I sometimes get blinders on and don’t see outside of my own little space. I think he does a good job of that. I think he does a good job of adding a little spice, a little bit of personality, and sees the bigger picture than I do.”
Banister is taking over for Luis Urueta, who spent the previous two seasons as the Lovullo’s bench coach. Lovullo said Banister also will assume duties related overseeing the club’s catchers, a role vacated by Robby Hammock. Urueta will return in a still undetermined role; Hammock will not be back.
The Diamondbacks still are in need a pitching coach to replace Matt Herges as well as a trio of hitting coaches to slot in under head hitting coach Joe Mather, who was hired last week. Lovullo said it is possible the club also will hire an assistant pitching coach.