The Los Angeles Dodgers officially named Dave Roberts as the 28th manager in franchise history (10th in Los Angeles franchise history) and the organization’s first minority manager.
Roberts is expected to be formally introduced in a news conference at Dodger Stadium on Dec. 1.
At age 43 he becomes the youngest full-time manager in Dodgers history since the club hired Walt Alston as a 42 year old in 1954.
“We’re extremely excited to bring Dave Roberts on board as the next manager of the Dodgers,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in released statement.
“We could not have been more impressed with him through this process. His energy is infectious and he has the rare ability to make a genuine connection with every person he comes across.”
Roberts entered the Dodgers’ managerial search as somewhat of a dark horse, with team director of player development Gabe Kapler viewed as the early favorite. Friedman credited Roberts with being a well-balanced candidate.
“He has developed strong leadership qualities and accumulated a breadth of baseball experience over his career as both a player and coach,” Friedman said.
“He is a “baseball man” and “people person” in the truest sense of those words. We feel fully confident that he will effectively lead our team in pursuit of its ultimate goal — bringing a world championship back to the city of Los Angeles.”
Roberts inherits a team that’s won three consecutive National League West division titles for the first time in franchise history, and posted three straight seasons of at least 90 wins since 1976-78.
He also Roberts returns to the organization he played for in 2002-04. “It’s hard for me to put into words what it means to be named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers,” he said.
“This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. The Dodgers are the ground-breaking franchise of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Maury Wills, Fernando Valenzuela and Hideo Nomo.”
“When I put on this uniform as a player, I understood the special responsibility to honor those that played before me as well as the amazing bond between the Dodgers and their fans.”
Roberts capped off his feelings by expressing a strong sense of desire to lead the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988. “I feel that I have now come full circle in my career and there is plenty of unfinished business left in L.A.”
