LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have made it official, hiring Dave Roberts to be the first minority manager in franchise history.
The team announced his hiring Monday and plans to introduce him Dec. 1.
The 43-year-old former major leaguer served as bench coach for San Diego the past two seasons. Before that, Roberts was a special assistant for the Padres’ front office in 2010 and their first-base coach from 2011-13. He served as manager for one game this season after Bud Black was fired.
Roberts’ father is black and his mother is Japanese.
In a statement, Roberts calls his hiring “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Roberts was the starting center fielder for the Dodgers from 2002-04. He becomes the fourth Dodgers manager to also play for the franchise, joining Tom Lasorda, Bill Russell and Glenn Hoffman.
He succeeds Don Mattingly, who mutually parted ways with the team last month.
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