While the Los Angeles Dodgers have had manager Dave Roberts in place for just over three weeks, the coaching staff remains somewhat of a work in progress.
As it stands, the only holdover from Don Mattingly’s tenure with the Dodgers appears to be pitching coach Rick Honeycutt.
Lorenzo Bundy and Tim Wallach joined Mattingly in Miami. Ron Roenicke is with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Davey Lopes is with the Washington Nationals, and Mark McGwire is in San Diego.
It was previously reported Gabe Kapler, fellow finalist for the Dodgers’ managerial position, was set to join Roberts’ staff as first base coach.
However, that now appears to be a position filled by George Lombard, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney:
Locked in: George Lombard will be the first base coach of the Dodgers.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 16, 2015
Lombard, 40, was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Braves in the 1994. After being released by the Cleveland Indians in 2009, ending his career as a player, he spent 2010 as the hitting coach for the Lowell Spinners, Short-Season A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
He then served as manager of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Red Sox from 2011–2012. In 2012 he was promoted by the Red Sox to roving outfield and base running coordinator throughout the team’s Minor League system before being hired by the Braves in September 2015 to fill the same role.
Whether Kapler will remain in his current position as director of player development or leave the Dodgers organization entirely is unknown at this juncture.
At the press conference to introduce Roberts, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Kapler was remaining with the organization.
The Dodgers are expected to name Bob Geren as bench coach, Chris Woodward third base coach, Turner Ward as hitting coach, Tim Hyers assistant hitting coach and Josh Bard as bullpen coach.
