Jerry Narron to replace Ron Gardenhire as bench coach
Feb 17, 2017, 4:03 PM
Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire talks to home plate umpire Ted Barrett after being ejected from the game during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, July 29, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Jerry Narron will serve as the interim bench coach for the Diamondbacks with Ron Gardenhire taking a leave of absence due to a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo announced this on Friday, three days after Gardenhire revealed his cancer diagnosis on Tuesday.
Torey Lovullo announces Jerry Narron will step in as interim bench coach when Ron Gardenhire takes his leave of absence. #DbacksSpring pic.twitter.com/RLPmJ9CdnE
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 17, 2017
Narron managed the Texas Rangers (2001-2002) and the Cincinnati Reds (2005-2007). He was most recently named the manager of the Reno Aces, the D-backs’ Triple-A affiliate, on Dec. 30, 2016.
Gardenhire joined the Diamondbacks’ coaching staff in November but will miss the start of the season, as he will likely have surgery for his condition in mid-April.
The 59-year-old will bring his experience to the dugout. He was the manager for the Minnesota Twins from 2002 to 2014, posting a 1,068-1,039 record, and winning the AL Central six times. Gardenhire was the AL Manager of the Year in 2010.
Arizona opens its spring training schedule on Feb. 25, against the Colorado Rockies. Opening Day for the D-backs is against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on April 2.
