2013 'Riders Coaching Staff Announced
The 2013 season will mark Buechele's fifth as a Minor League manager after starting his coaching career in 2009 with the California League's Bakersfield Blaze. Last year, he led the RoughRiders to an 80-60 record - the second-best mark in the league - and an appearance in the Texas League Championship Series. Owner of a 306-253 career record, Buechele's teams have made the playoffs in every season he has been a manager. On April 16, 2012, Buechele passed Tim Ireland to become Frisco's all-time winningest skipper with his 155th victory; he now has 231 regular season wins as manager of the RoughRiders. This past season he was also named to the Rangers' 40th Anniversary Team, as he played eight of his 11 big league seasons with Texas.
Andrews will mark his fifth season as Frisco's pitching coach and his 28th as a Minor League instructor. He joined the RoughRiders during the 2009 season and previously served in the same capacity on the Pittsburgh Pirates' Major League staff in 2008. Last year, Andrews' pitching staff tied for the Texas League lead in shutouts and finished in the top half of the circuit in fewest runs allowed, fewest earned runs, fewest hits, fewest home runs, most strikeouts and most saves. Two of Andrews' pitchers, Justin Grimm and Wilmer Font, were promoted directly to the Rangers from Frisco during the 2012 season.
The upcoming campaign will be the second for Hart on the RoughRiders' coaching staff and fifth as a coach in the Rangers organization. He was the hitting coach for Single-A Hickory from 2010-11 and began his coaching career with short-season Spokane in 2009. Last year Hart oversaw an offense that led the TL in home runs and triples and finished in the top three in the league in batting average, runs, hits, fewest strikeouts and slugging percentage. Under Hart's tutelage, infielders Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar were both promoted to Texas from Frisco last season, bypassing Triple-A Round Rock in the process.
The Rangers also announced the return of the RoughRiders' athletic support staff. Carlos Olivas will be back for his third season as Frisco's athletic trainer and his fifth year with the Rangers organization. Strength and conditioning coach Eric McMahon will also return for his third season with the RoughRiders and fifth with the Rangers. Both Olivas and McMahon were honored as the best in the Texas League at their respective positions in 2012.
The regular season begins for the RoughRiders on Thursday, April 4 when Frisco visits the Arkansas Travelers. The 'Riders begin their home schedule on Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. when the Travelers come to Dr Pepper Ballpark. For information on tickets to see the RoughRiders in 2013, please call (972) 731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.