The Pittsburgh Pirates announced the hiring of Tarrick Brock as their first base coach, prying him away from the Los Angeles Dodgers after three seasons in a second stint with the organization. Brock will also also oversee the Pirates’ outfield and baserunning efforts.
Prior to returning to the Dodgers, Brock was first base coach for the San Diego Padres in 2016; he worked as their outfield and baserunning coach the season prior. Brock’s career also includes spending a portion of the 2014 season as first base roach and baserunning instructor with the Houston Astros.
Prior to joining the Astros, Brock spent seven seasons (2007-2013) with the Miami Marlins as the organization’s outfield and baserunning coordinator. He also spent most of 2010 serving as the first base coach after the team underwent a managerial change.
During his time with the Marlins, Brock helped develop Christian Yelich, who won a Gold Glove in 2014 and proceeded to credit Brock’s instruction. Brock began his coaching career in 2006 as hitting coach with Rookie-level Ogden.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned Brock when discussing the wave of rookies who made an impact at the Major League level this season. “When you get up here the expectation, the pressure to perform, it matters, it’s about development,” Roberts said during the National League Division Series.
“So when you get a young player that is familiar with a lot of things that we do in an organization and sometimes more versed than the big league players are, it makes the transition much easier.
“I think that just the guys that we get, from scouting to identify players and our minor league outfield coordinator Tarrik Brock told me we want S.A.T. players: smart, athletic, and tough. So we have a lot of S.A.T. players. To have those type of players and have that intelligence, they can handle a lot.
“We have done a good job as an organization, just the cohesiveness from the Minor League player development side to the big league side, whether it be verbiage, communication, talking to each other, putting eyes on one another during the season, Spring Training.
“And so having guys over in the Minor League games and having them in camp. So it’s just the familiarity, we do a really good job of that, and we just feel that it gives these young players the best chance to perform at a high level.”
The Dodgers have not yet finalized their Minor League coaching staffs.
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