White Sox select Joe McEwing as team's new bench coach
Rick Renteria played professional baseball for 15 seasons, has managed in the majors and minors for nine seasons, and has coached another seven years.
"There are a lot of people that I do know, but I did feel extremely comfortable with the guys that have remained," said Renteria, who replaced Robin Ventura as the Chicago White Sox's manager a day after the season ended.
Renteria was the Sox's bench coach this year, and he could have gone outside the organization for his replacement. Instead, he felt comfortable with Joe McEwing, who was the White Sox's third-base coach all five years when Ventura managed.
"I think that Joey, having worked with him all this year, having sat side-by-side going over a lot of game reviews and studying the opposition and setting up defense, I got to know him quite well," Renteria said. "He's a hard worker. He's in there early looking for anything that will give us an edge. His managing experience and coaching experience also allows him an opportunity to be able to serve me well.
"I think it's a good fit. We're both kind of high-energy. Joey might be a little higher energy than me and I didn't think that was possible. He brings a lot to the table."
Renteria is also comfortable with veteran pitching coach Don Cooper, hitting coach Todd Steverson, assistant hitting coach Greg Sparks, first-base coach Daryl Boston and bullpen catcher Mark Salas. They're all returning for the 2017 season.
There will be two new White Sox coaches, and they've both been in the organization for extended stretches.
Nick Capra replaces McEwing as third-base coach and Curt Hasler replaces Bobby Thigpen as the Sox's bullpen coach.
Entering his 22nd season with the White Sox, Capra was the director of player development the last five years. He was also the Sox's minor league field coordinator from 2009-11, assistant director of minor league instruction in 2008, minor league hitting coordinator from 2006-07 and a minor league manager from 1996-2005.
Hasler has been in the White Sox's minor league system for 25 years and was pitching coordinator from 2011-16.