The Dodgers new first base coach is their old third base coach.
Chris Woodward rejoins the coaching staff after spending last season as a Dodgers senior advisor to Major League and Player Development.
This will be his second stint on the coaching staff, serving as the Dodgers third base coach from 2016–2018. He helped the Dodgers reach the World Series in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018 before taking over as the Texas Rangers manager in 2019. He managed 498 games for the Rangers, recording 211 wins before his dismissal on August 15, 2022. He began his coaching career in 2012 with the Seattle Mariners, serving various roles throughout his Seattle career, including first base coach in 2015.
“We are thrilled to have Chris Woodward back on the coaching staff,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Gomes. “He has been a staple to this organization, helping us to back-to-back NL pennants and was a key cog to our success last season. Chris will be an invaluable part to the team moving forward as he will take over base running and infield responsibilities while third base coach Dino Ebel will shift over to outfield duties, making for one of the most talented duos in all of baseball.”
The Southern California native played 12 Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (1999–2004, 2011), New York Mets (2005–06), Atlanta Braves (2007), Seattle Mariners (2009–10) and Boston Red Sox (2009). He recorded 33 homers and 191 RBI in 659 games, while playing seven different positions on the field and posting a career .966 fielding percentage.
Woodward takes over for Clayton McCullough, who was hired as the Miami Marlins manager after four seasons coaching first base for the Dodgers from 2021–2024.
Chris Woodward is back as a Dodgers base coach was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.