Diamondbacks name Mark Grace assistant hitting coach
Former Major League first baseman Mark Grace has been named the assistant hitting coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team announced Thursday.
Grace played three seasons with the Diamondbacks from 2001-03 after spending the first 13 seasons of his career in Chicago with the Cubs. Grace posted a career batting average of .303 and recorded 2,445 hits.
Arizona announced last week it had hired A's bench coach Chip Hale to be the team's next manager.
Grace was also part of the Diamondbacks' broadcast team for more than eight years before he was arrested twice for DUI and fired in August 2012. This year the 50-year-old was named the hitting coach of the Diamondbacks' Class A affiliate, the Hillsboro Hops.
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The team also announced several other changes to its coaching staff. Glenn Sherlock, who has been with the team since its inception, was promoted to bench coach. Andy Green, the manager of Arizona's Double-A affiliate was named the third base coach. Henry Blanco, who spent 16 seasons as a major league catcher, including two with Arizona, was named coach/bullpen catcher.
The Diamondbacks finished last in the National League West this season and fired manager Kirk Gibson.
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- Chris Johnson
