The Colorado Rockies are searching for a new manager after parting ways with Walt Weiss. With roughly two weeks to feel out the process, here is an update on where the team stands.
The Rockies are still very early in the process of finding a new manager and are not close to making a decision. With that said, there has been a handful of candidates whose names have been thrown into the rumor mill surrounding the vacancy.
Bud Black has confirmed his interest in the managerial void, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. Black, former manager of the division rival Padres, managed in San Diego from 2007 to midway through the 2015 season, winning National League Manager of the Year in 2010.
The Rockies need help with pitching, which is something Black specializes at. He was a pitcher on the 1985 Kansas City Royals World Series squad and has managed before, meaning he has critical experience in the decision making process from a pitching perspective, which has long been the Rockies’ weakest element
The Rockies, though, do like staying in-house when it comes to hiring, making Glenallen Hill a likely candidate to be in the running for the job, Saunder confirmed. Hill is currently the manager of the Rox Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque and has been confirmed to be in the running according to general manager Jeff Bridich.
Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports that Atlanta Braves first base coach Eddie Perez is a possible candidate for the job, too. Perez “acknowledged” he has been contacted by the team, but obviously nothing has come to fruition. Perez has had success as a manager in his native Venezuela, something that could become appealing to some of the players in the Rockies clubhouse.
If Perez were to nab the job, he would become just the third Venezuelan manger in the history of the sport.
The final candidate linked to the Rockies is Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo. Lovullo has managed in the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians minor league system, and managed to post a 28-21 record while taking over the duties for the Red Sox late in the 2015 season.
In a report, Major League sources have confirmed that the Rockies have been asking around about Lovullo.
At this point, the Rockies have just scratched the surface on the managerial search, but some solid candidates have arose. The team keeps their internal workings locked down from the media and public, meaning there’s likely plenty more happening behind the scenes.
With that said, Bridich got his way. The team nearly wiped out their entire coaching staff to give Bridich the opportunity to handpick his guys to lead the charge for years to come.
Keep an eye on the Mile High Sports website and social media feeds for the latest on the Rox managerial search.