http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13720118
With a passion for teaching baseball still in his blood, former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle will become the Texas Rangers" new hitting coach.
Hurdle confirmed the move this morning. The Rangers will make an official announcement later today.
Hurdle, who was fired by the Rockies on May 29 after the team started out a sluggish 18-28, beat out three other finalists for the job. The Rangers also interviewed Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Rusty Greer.
Earlier this week, Hurdle talked about why he wanted to continue coaching baseball.
"You still want to be a part of a team, to be a part of that process of building something," he said. "That's still something I want to do."
Hurdle worked as a studio analyst for the MLB Network this past season, and although he enjoyed the job, he said he missed being on the inside of baseball.
Hurdle said that he will still make Colorado his permanent home. Hurdle, his wife, Karla, daughter Madison, and son, Christian, live in Highlands Ranch. The also own a cabin in Breckenridge.
Hurdle instructed Rockies hitters from 1997 to 2002 before he was promoted to replace Buddy Bell as manager on April 26, 2002. Hurdle guided Colorado to the World Series in 2007, but the team struggled in 2008 and in the early part of 2009.
The Rangers have been without a hitting coach since Oct. 14, when Rudy Jaramillo turned down a one-year offer for $545,000 to remain with the club for a 16th season. He signed a three-year deal worth $2.4 million a week later with the Chicago Cubs.