NewsGarcia tabbed as new first-base coach
Former Bucs infielder takes over role of departing coach HillBy Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
10/30/09 5:25 PM ET
The Pirates have filled their final coaching vacancy, naming Minor League infield coordinator Carlos Garcia the team's first-base coach for 2010. Garcia, a former Pirates player, most recently served as the organization's Minor League infield coordinator.Garcia assumes the position left empty by Perry Hill's recent departure. Like Hill, Garcia will be responsible for instructing the team's infielders in addition to his duties as the first-base coach. He will be the fourth first-base coach the Pirates have had in as many years.
Though this marks Garcia's first Major League coaching job with Pittsburgh, he has held a similar position before. Garcia served as the Mariners' infield instructor and third-base coach for three years, beginning in 2005. Before that, Garcia worked as a hitting and infield coach for Triple-A Buffalo from 2003-04.
"Carlos Garcia adds another experienced baseball man to John Russell's staff," general manager Neal Huntington said. "His years as a player, Minor League infield coordinator and Major League coach, combined with his energy and abilities as an instructor make him a great addition to our big league staff."
As a player, Garcia spent parts of seven years with the Pirates after making his Major League debut in Pittsburgh in 1990. He was an All-Star second baseman in 1994 and finished his career in '99 after making stops in Toronto, Anaheim and San Diego.
The rest of Russell's coaching staff from 2009 will remain intact for another season. Also, by using Garcia in an identical role to Hill, the Pirates will not need to shuffle around the responsibilities of anyone else on the staff.
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
