Former professional baseball utility player, coach, and former Major League Baseball manager of the Texas Rangers, Christopher Michael Woodward has been fired as manager of the Texas Rangers after the MLB club missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. SNBC13 revealed that Chris Woodward was fired as manager of the Texas Rangers after the MLB club missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
Woodward was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 54th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft. On June 7, 1999, he debuted in the major leagues by hitting a sacrifice fly in an 8–2 loss to the New York Mets. From 1999 to 2012, Woodward played in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox.
Texas Rangers statement:
The Texas Rangers announced today that manager Chris Woodward has been fired. Tony Beasley, the third base coach, has been named the team’s interim manager beginning with tonight’s game against the Oakland A’s and lasting through the remainder of the 2022 season.
Jon Daniels, president of baseball operations for the Rangers, stated, “Chris Young and I had the very difficult task of informing Chris Woodward of our decision today,” “During his time as Rangers’ manager, Chris worked tirelessly under sometimes challenging conditions.
His efforts to improve the on-field performance of the Texas Rangers have been driven by dedication and passion, which is greatly appreciated. He has portrayed the organization with class and respect.
The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has dismissed manager Chris Woodward. Third base coach Tony Beasley has been named as the team’s interim manager effective with tonight’s game against the Oakland A’s and continuing through the remainder of the 2022 season.
— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) August 15, 2022
“We have had extensive discussions over the past few weeks, and while the current performance of the team is certainly a major factor in this decision, we are also considering the future. As the Rangers continue to develop a winning culture and assemble the necessary components to compete for the postseason each season, we felt that a change in leadership was necessary at this time.
“On behalf of the entire Texas Rangers organization, we thank Chris and wish him and his family the very best.”
Woodward has a record of 211-287 since his appointment as the club’s nineteenth full-time manager on November 3, 2018. Beasley is in his eighth season as a Major League coach for the Rangers, having been hired on November 18, 2014, and is the staff member with the longest tenure. The 55-year-old Beasley has previously served as a Major League coach for Washington (2006) and Pittsburgh (2008-2010), and as a minor league manager for the Pirates (2001-05) and Nationals (2011; 2012-13) for eight seasons.
Who Is Tony Beasley?
Anthony Wayne Beasley, who was born in the United States on December 5, 1966, is currently serving as the interim manager of the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. He is a professional baseball coach. Beasley has held this position since August 15, 2022; prior to that, he worked as a third-base coach for the Texas Rangers, as well as a third-base coach and minor-league manager in the organizations of both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals.
Beasley, who played primarily in the middle infield position, spent nine seasons as a player in the minor leagues. In 854 games, he had a batting average of.260, with 22 home runs and 242 RBI. In the June 1989 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected him in the nineteenth round. In September 1991, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired him from Baltimore in exchange for infielder Tommy Shields. Beasley was selected to play for the Carolina League All-Star team in both 1990 and 1991 while he was still playing in the minor leagues. Additionally, in 1996, he was honored as a Southern League All-Star player.
Beasley started his career as a manager in 2001 with the Williamsport Crosscutters. Under his direction, the team finished the regular season in first place with a record of 46–26 and was named a co-champion of the New York–Penn League along with the Brooklyn Cyclones. He was selected to the South Atlantic League’s mid-season All-Star squad in 2003 and received the Low Class-A Manager of the Year award from Baseball America for two consecutive seasons with the Hickory Crawdads in 2002 and 2003. Beasley was selected to play on the postseason All-Star Team for his league in addition to leading the Crawdads to the South Atlantic League title and the fifth-best record among all minor league teams in 2002.
Photo Credit: USATSI
