Indians hire Atchison as new bullpen coach

Ex-Indians reliever Scott Atchison is now on the coaching staff. “Atch was so integral in our advance reports and doing a lot of the grunt work that no one wanted to do,” Manager Terry Francona said.

Former Indians pitcher Scott Atchison is the Tribe’s new bullpen coach.

The Indians made the announcement official onNov. 2. Atchison, who worked as the Indians advance scout and staff assistant the last two seasons, replaces Jason Bere.

“Atch was so integral in our advance reports and doing a lot of the grunt work that no one wanted to do,” Indians manager Terry Francona said on a conference call. “And he did it willingly. His content is good because of his experience. He knows the league and he knows our pitchers. His ability to want to do the work is also important.”

Other teams wanted to hire Atchison, so the Indians moved quickly to promote him, Francona said.

Bere did nothing that merited being replaced,

Francona said.

“It really wasn’t what happened with Jason,” Francona said. “I want to make that clear. It’s more of what we saw with Scott Atchison. Unfortunately, we had to tell Jason we were going to have Scott be the bullpen coach and that he (Bere) was not going to be

back. It was not a fun conversation.”

Atchison spent nine seasons as a relief pitcher in the major leagues. He was 17-11 pitching in 298 games with the Mariners, Giants, Red Sox, Mets and Indians. He pitched in 93 games out of the Indians bullpen in 2014 and 2015.

DUANE BURLESON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Scott Atchison, shown with Manager Terry Francona during the 2015season, is the Indians’ new bullpen coach.