Bochy named Rangers manager, signs 3-year deal

ARLINGTON -- A new era of Texas Rangers baseball has begun as the club announced on Friday it hired Bruce Bochy as the 20th full-time manager in franchise history.

The two sides agreed to a three-year deal, covering the 2023-25 seasons, as Bochy returns to a big league dugout for the first time since ‘19, his final year with the Giants. This will be his first time managing an American League club, as he spent all 25 years as manager in the National League West, between San Diego (1995-2006) and San Francisco (2007-19).

Bochy has spent the last three seasons as a special advisor for the Giants, and he managed Team France in the World Baseball Classic qualifier.

Bochy, 67, is one of just 10 managers in AL/NL history to have led their clubs to at least three World Series. Bochy’s Giants won the World Series in 2010 (vs. Texas), 2012 (vs. Detroit) and 2014 (vs. Kansas City), while his Padres won the NL pennant in 1998 before falling to the Yankees in the World Series.

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“On behalf of the entire organization, I want to welcome Bruce and Kim Bochy to the Texas Rangers,” said general manager Chris Young. “In his 25 years with San Diego and San Francisco, Bruce was one of the most successful and respected managers in Major League Baseball. With a calm and steady presence, he has a remarkable ability to connect and communicate with players, coaches, and staff, and his teams have always played with maximum effort. His knowledge of the game, as well as his integrity, is unmatched.

“As we went through the interview process, Bruce’s passion and excitement about returning to the dugout was very evident. It became clear he was the ideal individual to lead our club as we continue to build a championship culture here in Arlington.”

Bochy was Young’s manager during his final season with the Padres in 2006.

Each of the Rangers’ last three managers -- Ron Washington, Jeff Banister and Chris Woodward -- were all first-timers. From 2007-22, Texas had nine losing seasons between the three, including six straight years between Banister and Woodward.

Bochy is the first hire with previous MLB managerial experience since Buck Showalter was hired in October 2002. He’s also the first to join the club having previously won a World Series.

Bochy ranks on MLB leaderboards in multiple managerial categories. He’s one of just five managers to lead a team to three titles in a five year span, joining Connie Mack, Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel and Joe Torre. Bochy’s 2,003 wins as a manager rank 12th most in Major League history, and he needs just 38 more wins to crack the top 10 in that category.

In the postseason, Bochy ranks sixth in MLB history with 44 wins. He’s guided teams to six division titles, four pennants, and three World Series championships. His eight postseason appearances are tied for ninth in MLB history and he’s one of only seven individuals to have won four league titles since the introduction of the League Championship Series in 1969.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining the Texas Rangers,” Bochy said in a press release. “Over the last several days, I’ve had extensive conversations with Chris Young and other individuals in the organization, and I had the chance to meet with Ray Davis. Their vision and commitment to putting together a club that can contend and win year in and year out is impressive, and I became convinced I wanted to be a part of that.

“If I was going to return to managing, it had to be the right situation. I strongly believe that to be the case with the Rangers, and I can’t wait to get started.”