Arizona Diamondbacks sign Torey Lovullo to two year extension
By Ben Fadden
According to Mark Feinsand , manager Torey Lovullo has signed an extension through 2021 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Torey Lovullo, 53, has been the Arizona Diamondbacks manager for two seasons and will be heading to Spring Training in a couple of weeks for his third season with the club.
In 2017, Lovullo earned Nationals League Manager of the Year honors and had a record of 175-149, and in his first season he won the National League Wild Card game over the Colorado Rockies, but ultimately getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 2018, there wasn’t as much success as there were some notable injuries leading to a record of 82-80, and finishing 9.5 games back from the National League West.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Obviously, general manager Mike Hazen still liked what he saw and believes Lovullo can guide this team for at least the next three seasons. Perhaps Hazen wanted a guy who was familiar with the big league club, since it seems like the D-backs record will be going down and not up.
There expectations will definitely modest going into the 2019 season. They traded first basemen Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals for pitcher Luke Weaver and former backup to Yadier Molina, Carson Kelly. They also will be leaning on Zach Greinke to lead the pitching staff this year, as they lost Patrick Corbin to the Washington Nationals.
Before Lovullo arrived in Arizona, he was on John Farrell’s coaching staff as his bench coach, which may have helped Lovullo get hired with the D-Backs as Hazen was with the Red Sox as well before coming to Arizona.
“Torey’s leadership and ability to connect with people, specifically our players and coaches, provides the foundation for the culture we continue to cultivate and grow in Arizona,” said D-backs general manager Mike Hazen after the signing was announced. “This is an exciting day for Torey, his family and the D-backs. We can’t wait to get started at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in two weeks.”
Next. Diamondbacks Mount Rushmore. dark
The Arizona Diamondbacks may not be an intriguing team next year as a semi-rebuild is underway, but extending Torey Lovullo has given the organization a solid leader for their ball club.