Torey Lovullo passes Kirk Gibson for most victories by a D-backs manager
May 10, 2022, 9:58 PM | Updated: May 11, 2022, 9:49 am
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Torrey Lovullo is the all-time winningest manager in the history of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arizona’s 9-3 victory Tuesday against the Miami Marlins gave Lovullo his 354th win, passing Kirk Gibson for the top spot.
“This is a we over me thing. That’s how I look at it,” Lovullo told Bally Sports Arizona‘s Todd Walsh and Brandon Webb. “That’s how I looked at it every single day. These players mean the world to me. I can’t do anything without them and we have an incredible bond. We come out here every single day prepared, focused.
“I owe it all to them and there are so many people around me: the scouting department, the front office whose believed in me from day one, the fans, the ownership — it’s all of us. It’s not just me and I’m very thankful for this accomplishment.”
The D-backs hired Lovullo ahead of the 2017 season as Arizona’s ninth manager since its first campaign in 1998.
Lovullo’s squad led by big bats Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez along with starting pitchers Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray won 93 ballgames in 2017, the fourth-most in franchise history.
Arizona won 82 and 85 games, respectively, the following two seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic- shortened 2020 campaign.
The D-backs went 25-35 in 2020 before suffering a 52-100 record last year, their second-worst record as an organization.
Lovullo’s D-backs have jumped out to a strong bounce-back season in 2022, especially after a slow start. Arizona is 16-14 and has won 10 of 13 ballgames.
The 56-year-old has managed the most games in D-backs history as the only one to spend more than five seasons with the team, albeit one of which was shortened.
The D-backs have one more game against the Marlins on Wednesday before turning their attention to the Chicago Cubs for a three-game set at Chase Field over the weekend.
Wednesday’s matinee action begins at 12:40 p.m. You can tune in on ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2.